How do I look?

Derwent River by the shining light of the Bruny lighthouse, only a year old itself, the Layton 3 made anchor. Formalities would have kept the men on board for a few days before they were moved onto the Hobart gaol. At this stage, a description was made of each man in case he escaped.

Ephraim was 5’ 7’’ tall and 27 years old. His mouth and chin were both medium. What does this mean? If I were asked to identify someone from their chin I would be stumped. His head and nose were long and he had a high forehead. Does this mean he was starting to go bald and was already practising the long comb over he wore when a prisoner at Port Arthur? I am sure he felt really good when a note was made of his pockpitted skin. Maybe he had had smallpox or something similar or maybe his teenage acne wasn’t quite yet under control. His little finger was bent, perhaps a childhood accident or he may have broken it when undertaking one of his crimes. Whether he could read or write is not certain but he would have had some instruction in earlier years while on the hulks. Quite a few prisoners could read but not write. I imagine pencils were not readily available and paper was probably not found in every home.

These descriptions could change, depending on who wrote them.  One prisoner I followed through his arrival and a couple of warrants. His hair changed from red to brown to black in only about five years. He also grew and shrank alarmingly. Prisoners were also identified with a number and their ship of arrival was quoted in all correspondence, court records etc. Ephraim description stayed the same but as he aged, his hair and whiskers were described as greying and he changed his coat, I am pleased to say. At one stage, he was described as “well known in the Richmond area”, so he was obviously out and about.

Descriptions were used to advertise for workers who had broken contracts or people who had gone missing. I found one in which the last line stated,” and has exceedingly bad breath.” Several times I have seen ads for people who were normally seen to be wearing odd shoes.( and it wasn’t because they got dressed in a hurry).  I don’t think people changed their clothes as often as we do today!