Thomas Lewis (alias Jones) was born in 1798 in Ledbury and lived in Longhope where he worked as a farmer. He was convicted once for sheep stealing and sentenced to 18 months in prison. On 30 March 1831, at the age of 33, he was sentenced to be transported for life for the theft of an ass. After a spell on a hulk, he was transferred to the Strathfieldsay which set sail for Van Diemen’s Land on 2 Aug 1831 and arrived on 15th November 1831.
On 12 March 1833, he was convicted of being drunk and insolent and given 25 lashes. On 3 February 1834, he was convicted of being drunk with gross misconduct and using threatening language to his master. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour with the Constitution Hill gang. However, he absconded seven times in 1834.
He was given a ticket of leave on 1 June 1841 and recommended for a conditional pardon on 24 July 1844 which was granted on 7 July 1845. Thomas Lewis died on 6 December 1874 at the Brickfields Pauper Establishment, Hobart.