Legal Definitions - bilboes

Bilboes refer to historical devices used for restraining prisoners, particularly on ships. These devices typically took one of two forms: either a heavy iron bar fitted with sliding shackles to secure a person's ankles, or a sturdy wooden board with holes designed to hold both an offender's hands and feet. Their primary purpose was to prevent escape and serve as a form of punishment.

• Imagine a 17th-century merchant ship where a sailor is caught attempting to steal valuable cargo from the hold. To prevent him from causing further trouble or escaping, the ship's captain might order him to be placed in bilboes. This would involve securing his ankles in the heavy iron bar with sliding shackles, effectively immobilizing him on the deck as a public deterrent and punishment.

  This example illustrates the use of the iron bar type of bilboes for immediate confinement and punishment of an individual on a ship.

• Consider a British naval vessel in the late 18th century, where several crew members are suspected of planning a mutiny. After the plot is uncovered, the ringleaders are apprehended. To ensure they cannot communicate or move freely while awaiting a formal court-martial, they might be confined in the wooden board type of bilboes in the ship's brig. Their hands and feet would be secured through the holes in the board, preventing any further coordinated action.

  Here, the example demonstrates the use of the wooden board type of bilboes for more comprehensive restraint of multiple individuals involved in a serious offense, preventing their movement and communication.

• During the era of colonial expansion, ships often transported convicted criminals across vast oceans to penal colonies. To manage a large number of prisoners and minimize the risk of escape during the long and arduous journey, some of the more dangerous or repeat offenders might have been kept in bilboes below deck. Their ankles would be secured by the heavy iron bar and shackles, severely limiting their mobility and preventing any organized escape attempts among the confined group.

  This scenario highlights the application of bilboes, specifically the iron bar type, for long-term confinement and control of prisoners during transport, ensuring security over an extended period.