James Rigby was born in Ireland 1809. Eventually settling in Lancashire, he was convicted of attempting to steal one silk handkerchief to the value of two shillings and six pence and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. His sentence was typical and with an over abundance of those meeting the same fate, authorities began housing the convicted in the cramped bowels of moored sailing ships converted to floating prisons. Conditions were harsh and eventually the decision was made to ferry the problem crew to the newly founded colony of Australia. It is estimated that 160,000 men and women found themselves becoming human cargo, unsure where they were going or what awaited them. The horrors described in the pages of this book did happen, and were more vile and brutal than any words can describe. Author Dale McGregor looks at the prison system of Britain at the time and the political situation that led to Australia becoming a penal colony. He candidly describes the conditions of the journey, the duties of those employed to manage the system and that of the convict's fate on arrival. Interwoven is the story of James Rigby and his subsequent pardon to become one of the founding faces of Australia as it is known today.