Mark Jefferies
Encyclopedia
Mark Jefferies was a bushranger
, serial killer
and cannibal in the early 19th century in Van Diemen's Land
(now Tasmania
, Australia
). Jefferies was transported as a convict from Scotland, and had there been granted a reprieve from death as he was willing to act as an executioner and scourger. Transferred to Van Diemen's Land, trained in acts of cruelty, he took to the bush, and a terrible story of crime ensued until he was finally captured and executed. The escape and subsequent cannibalistic activities have been portrayed in the movie "Van Diemen's Land".
's gang, but was expelled by Brady for being "a de-humanised monster" and molesting
women. Jefferies was known to have murdered and eaten at least four adults during his escape from Macquarie Harbour
by land. In his escape he took some accomplices along with him, at least one of whom he later ate. Jefferies is remembered to this day for the sheer brutality and barbarity of his crimes. On one particularly horrific occasion after attacking a homestead, Jefferies kidnapped
the mother and father of a five month old baby. Jefferies urged the woman to move along quickly and refused to allow her husband to carry the baby. The baby started crying and this so annoyed Jefferies in his cantankerous murderous state that he seized the child by its legs and smashed its head against a tree. With a cry of desperate rage the baby's father, unarmed, made a rush at Jefferies and was shot dead.
the population turned out to lynch
Jefferies. Safely in jail, he willingly told the Cops all he knew of the locations, movements and habits of other bushrangers. When Matthew Brady
heard about this he had to be argued out of leading his gang in a frontal assault on the Launceston lockup, freeing all the prisoners, dragging Jefferies out and flogging
him to death. Jefferies was hanged on 4 May 1826 at the old Hobart
Jail alongside Brady on the infamous six-man scaffold. Brady complained about being executed in such poor company.
and Mad Dog Morgan
as one of the most infamous criminals in Australia
's colonial history.
Bushranger
Bushrangers, or bush rangers, originally referred to runaway convicts in the early years of the British settlement of Australia who had the survival skills necessary to use the Australian bush as a refuge to hide from the authorities...
, serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
and cannibal in the early 19th century in Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(now Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
). Jefferies was transported as a convict from Scotland, and had there been granted a reprieve from death as he was willing to act as an executioner and scourger. Transferred to Van Diemen's Land, trained in acts of cruelty, he took to the bush, and a terrible story of crime ensued until he was finally captured and executed. The escape and subsequent cannibalistic activities have been portrayed in the movie "Van Diemen's Land".
Crimes
For a brief period Jefferies ran with Matthew BradyMatthew Brady
Matthew Brady was a notorious bushranger in Van Diemen's Land in the early 19th century. Born from two immigrants from Ireland, he was sometimes known as the "Gentleman Bushranger" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims.Originally a corporal in a British regiment, he...
's gang, but was expelled by Brady for being "a de-humanised monster" and molesting
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
women. Jefferies was known to have murdered and eaten at least four adults during his escape from Macquarie Harbour
Macquarie Harbour
Macquarie Harbour is a large, shallow, but navigable by shallow draft vessels inlet on the West Coast of Tasmania, Australia.-History:James Kelly wrote in his narrative "First Discovery of Port Davey and Macquarie Harbour" how he sailed from Hobart in a small open five-oared whaleboat to discover...
by land. In his escape he took some accomplices along with him, at least one of whom he later ate. Jefferies is remembered to this day for the sheer brutality and barbarity of his crimes. On one particularly horrific occasion after attacking a homestead, Jefferies kidnapped
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
the mother and father of a five month old baby. Jefferies urged the woman to move along quickly and refused to allow her husband to carry the baby. The baby started crying and this so annoyed Jefferies in his cantankerous murderous state that he seized the child by its legs and smashed its head against a tree. With a cry of desperate rage the baby's father, unarmed, made a rush at Jefferies and was shot dead.
Death
Mark Jefferies was captured in 1825 without a fight. When he was brought to LauncestonLaunceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
the population turned out to lynch
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
Jefferies. Safely in jail, he willingly told the Cops all he knew of the locations, movements and habits of other bushrangers. When Matthew Brady
Matthew Brady
Matthew Brady was a notorious bushranger in Van Diemen's Land in the early 19th century. Born from two immigrants from Ireland, he was sometimes known as the "Gentleman Bushranger" due to his good treatment and fine manners when robbing his victims.Originally a corporal in a British regiment, he...
heard about this he had to be argued out of leading his gang in a frontal assault on the Launceston lockup, freeing all the prisoners, dragging Jefferies out and flogging
Flagellation
Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok...
him to death. Jefferies was hanged on 4 May 1826 at the old Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
Jail alongside Brady on the infamous six-man scaffold. Brady complained about being executed in such poor company.
Infamy
Jefferies is one of only six people in Australian history to have successfully escaped from Macquarie Harbour. He ranks alongside Alexander PierceAlexander Pearce
Alexander Pearce was an Irish convict who was transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft. He escaped from prison several times, but eventually was captured and was hanged and dissected in Hobart for murder....
and Mad Dog Morgan
Dan Morgan (bushranger)
John Fuller was an Australian bushranger.Fuller was born in Appin, New South Wales, Australia around 1830 to George Fuller and Mary Owen. He was their illigitimate son and from the ages of 2 to 17 he lived with an adoptive father, John Roberts...
as one of the most infamous criminals in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's colonial history.