Jasper Enfield was born on November 27, 1801, in the bustling streets of London, England. His mother, Sarah Enfield, was a seamstress, and his father, Thomas Enfield, was a petty criminal who spent more time in jail than with his family. Jasper was the youngest of three children, with an older brother, James, and an older sister, Mary.

Growing up in poverty, Jasper learned from an early age that he had to be cunning and resourceful to survive. His father, when not incarcerated, taught him the tricks of the pickpocketing trade, and Jasper quickly became adept at lifting wallets and watches from unsuspecting victims. Despite his mother's efforts to keep him on the straight and narrow, Jasper was drawn to the excitement and quick rewards of a life of crime.

At the age of 12, Jasper was caught picking pockets in Covent Garden and was sentenced to six months in a juvenile detention center. Upon his release, he returned to his criminal ways, this time focusing on burglary and lock-picking. He became known among the London underworld as "The Ghost" for his ability to slip in and out of buildings undetected.

In 1820, at the age of 19, Jasper was caught red-handed during a burglary attempt at a wealthy merchant's home. Due to his extensive criminal record and the value of the stolen goods, he was sentenced to transportation to Van Diemen's Land for a term of 14 years.

Upon arriving in Hobart Town in 1821, Jasper was assigned to work as a stable hand at Jeffries Manor under the supervision of William Jeffries Sr. He quickly gained a reputation among his fellow convicts for his quick wit, charming personality, and ability to procure contraband items such as tobacco and alcohol.

Despite his relatively privileged position at the manor, Jasper harboured a deep resentment towards William Sr., who he saw as a symbol of the oppressive system that had condemned him to a life of servitude. He particularly despised William Sr.'s habit of threatening to extend convicts' sentences for minor infractions, believing that the wealthy landowner used this as a tool to keep his workers in line.

In his limited free time, Jasper enjoyed regaling his fellow convicts with stories of his criminal exploits back in London, embellishing the tales to paint himself as a dashing and heroic figure. He also took an interest in gambling, organising secret card games and dice matches among the convicts and occasionally even some of the manor's staff.

As tensions at Jeffries Manor grew in the weeks leading up to William Sr.'s disappearance, Jasper found himself at odds with his master more frequently. He had been caught sneaking out of the manor grounds at night on several occasions, leading to heated confrontations and threats of punishment from William Sr.

Following the mysterious disappearance, Jasper came under suspicion due to his criminal background and his known animosity towards William Sr. Some even speculated that he may have used his lock-picking skills to gain access to the manor house on the night in question. However, despite intense scrutiny from the authorities, no concrete evidence was ever found tying Jasper to the crime.

In the years following the disappearance, Jasper completed his sentence at Jeffries Manor and was eventually granted his freedom. He chose to remain in Van Diemen's Land, settling in the growing town of Launceston. There, he used his charm and cunning to establish himself as a successful tavern owner, catering to the town's rough-and-tumble clientele.

Although he had left his life of crime behind, Jasper never forgot his time at Jeffries Manor and the mysteries surrounding William Sr.'s disappearance. He would often regale his patrons with stories of his days as a convict, always careful to avoid any mention of his own potential involvement in the strange events that had unfolded there. Despite the passing of time, the secrets of Jeffries Manor continued to haunt Jasper, a reminder of the dark shadows that lurked beneath the surface of the seemingly idyllic colonial landscape.