Fancy being on a prison ship in 1827 as a convict ......

This is what happens to one Rufus Dawes aka Richard Devine son of Sir Richard and Lady Ellinor. It was through a twist of terrible circumstances that he is wrongly convicted as a felon. Or maybe it was synchronicity, a life lesson.

This post is the second in my overview of the fiction story "For The Term Of His Natural Life" If you want to catch up just click here - source

Along with 150 convicts crammed into a very small space on a ship called the Malabar, Rufus is suffering atrocious conditions on a six month trip from Southhampton to Hobart, Tasmania. Originally this part of Australia was called Van Diemen's land.

Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, part of Australia. The name was changed from Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania in 1856.source

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Just imagine being a convict on the Malabar? The 180 convicts lived in a space that was 50 feet wide, 50 feet long with a height of 6 feet. Each convict was given 10 inches for a bed. (Men at that time in history were smaller in statue compared to these days, but golly gosh this is an incredibility small small space for a person.) According to the King's regulations only 150 convicts were suppose to be in this space. Rules were meant to be broken.

The convicts were allowed 2 hours of outside on the deck time graciously provided by George (1V). A barricade was set up on deck to keep the convicts away from the crew and the passengers. There was a ladder connecting the convicts quarters on the 'tween deck and the top deck of the ship.


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In comparison, passengers and the Captain, Lieutenant, the Surgeon and the passengers lived in cabins on the upper decks. Just to make life interesting, the Lieutenant's name is Maurice Frere, Rufus Dawes cousin. He is depicted as a mean, bully of a man who is highly envious of his cousin's inheritance from his uncle Sir Richard Devine. He also viciously picks on Rufus, a convict who did not mix or talk with the other convicts. Rufus Dawes is a tall man of good looks, an educated gentleman respected by the other convicts.

Much to the entertainment of the crew, soldiers and the convicts there is a little 6 year old girl called Sylivia who is the daughter of Captain Vickers. She was happily playing with a ball when it rolls under the barricade, Rufus picks it up and hands the ball to her. Frere comes over and belts him with a whip. A cruel and vicious act that Sarah Purfoy, the child's nanny witnesses.

Sarah is actually more than a Lady's maid and nanny, she is in league with a number of convicts who plan to mutiny. She is describes as a beautiful dark haired, dark eyes and red lips that mercilessly flirts with the captain, the lieutenant, solders etc for manipulation and control She is the partner of one of the convicts, John (Jack) Rex.

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Typhus broke out in the convict quarters and John Rex was one of the first to catch it. Sarah visited him with the help of a love sick sentry and hugged him, she inadvertently infects Mrs Vickers and little Sylvia. Rufus falls sick as does a couple of sentries. it is when Rufus is sick that he overhears fellow convicts , Gabbett, Moucher, Vetch and Crowe located in the same berth talks about taking over the ship.

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Rufus manages to tell Surgeon Pine of the proposed mutiny before he collapses with Typhus. Book One ends with the mutiny failing and the offending culprits telling the captain that Rufus Dawes is the brains behind the plan.

End of Book One ends with an extract from a newspaper dated 12 November, 1827.

"The examination of the prisoners who were concerned in the attempt of the Malabar was concluded on Tuesday last. The four ringleaders, Dawes, Gabbett, Vetch and Sanders, were condemned to death, but we understand that by the clemency of his Excellency the Governor their sentence has been communed to six years at the penal settlement of Macquarie Harbour."

Cheers and Blessings