Thomas Jeffrey (surname also recorded as Jeffery, Jeffries, Jeffreys or Jefferies) was a convict bushranger, murderer and cannibal in the mid-1820s in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania, Australia). In contemporary newspaper reports of his crimes he was frequently described as a 'monster'. Jeffrey and three other convicts absconded from custody in Launceston in December 1825 and were subsequently responsible for five murders, characterised by extreme violence, including the killing of a five-month-old infant. Another victim was a member of the gang, killed while he slept and his flesh consumed by his companions. Jeffrey was captured in January 1826; he was tried in Hobart and convicted of various of his crimes. Jeffrey was executed by hanging at Hobart in May 1826.
Biography
Background
Thomas Jeffrey was born in 1791 in Bristol, England, the son of a butcher. He received seven years of schooling, after which he served aboard the British naval warship Achille. After four years and seven months he deserted from the Navy, claiming "cruel usage" as the reason. Jeffrey then went to London where he enlisted in the Army as a drummer. After two years and nine months he deserted again and returned to sea on the frigate Leander.
In 1814 Jeffrey returned to Bristol, where he began to exhibit sociopathic behaviour, stealing from his father and other relatives, before returning to London. There he stole from an uncle and Captain Dower, a relative of his mother's, before leaving London, moving from one place to another. He joined with three men armed with pistols and began robbing farmers as they returned from market. On one occasion, between Lincoln and Gainsborough in the East Midlands, they accosted an old farmer who refused to hand over his money. One of Jeffrey's accomplices shot him dead and they left his body in a ditch, stealing £69 from their victim. The four men drank and gambled until they were apprehended near Hull on suspicion of murdering the farmer. They were detained in gaol for six months and finally released due to a lack of evidence.
After his release Jeffrey returned to his home town, where his sister gave him £5 on the condition he leave Bristol. He returned to the East Midlands where he and three accomplices broke into and stole from a house in Nottingham. One of the men was apprehended a few days later, giving information against the others that led to Jeffrey and the others being arrested at nearby Leicester. At the time of his arrest in 1817 Jeffrey's occupation was recorded as painter and glazier. Thomas Jeffrey was convicted in the Nottingham Assizes on 29 July 1817, receiving a sentence of transportation for life.
Transportation
After a period in gaol Jeffrey was transferred to the prison hulk Retribution, moored at Woolwich on the River Thames. In September 1819 he was transported to the colony of New South Wales aboard the Prince Regent with 161 other convicts. In consideration of his previous experience at sea, during the voyage Jeffrey had his irons removed so he could work as a seaman. The Prince Regent arrived at Port Jackson (Sydney) on 27 January 1820.
Jeffrey was initially assigned to a settler named Brown on the Hawkesbury River. Later he was assigned to work on the crew of a boat based at Cockle Bay on Port Jackson. One night he was apprehended by the police stealing oranges from an orchard on Parramatta River, for which he was sentenced to 100 lashes and two years in the Newcastle coalmines. Jeffrey and six others subsequently absconded from a convict work-gang at Limeburners Creek near the Karuah River (north of Newcastle), and made their way south to the Sydney region. During their journey through the bush two of the escaped convicts were murdered and eaten by the others. The five remaining absconders were apprehended when they reached Parramatta.
Jeffrey was sent "over the Blue Mountains", but absconded after only three weeks with three other prisoners. They made their way to Emu Plains, where they survived by opportunistic stealing. After his companions gave themselves up Jeffrey joined with a large group of escaped convicts in The Cowpastures district, but was betrayed, apprehended and taken to Parramatta Gaol where he was put in irons. Eventually Jeffrey was taken before the magistrate, John Macarthur, to whom he provided information that led to the apprehension of his erstwhile companions (who were later sent to the Port Macquarie penal settlement). Macarthur decided to send the intractable absconder, Thomas Jeffrey, to Van Diemen's Land.