Jerry Abershawe
Encyclopedia
Louis Jeremiah Abershawe (1773 – 3 August 1795), better known as Jerry Abershawe, was a notorious highwayman
who terrorised travellers along the road between London
and Portsmouth
in the late eighteenth century.
, Abershawe started his life of crime at the age of seventeen, leading a gang based at the Bald Faced Stag Inn, which was for many years the terror of the roads between London
, Kingston
, and Wimbledon
. When in hiding he frequented a house in Clerkenwell
near Saffron Hill
, known as the ‘Old House in West Street,’ which was noted for its dark closets, trap-doors, and sliding panels, and had often formed the asylum of Jonathan Wild
and Jack Sheppard
. All efforts to bring Abershaw to justice for a time proved futile, but in January 1795 he shot dead one of the constable
s sent to arrest him in Southwark
, and attempted to shoot another. He was eventually arrested in London at a public house
, The Three Brewers, in Southwark
. For his crimes he was brought to trial at the Surrey assizes in July of the same year. Although a legal flaw in the indictment invalidated the case of murder against him, he was convicted and sentenced to death
on the second charge of felonious shooting
.
On Monday, 3 August 1795, Abershaw was hanged on Kennington Common; his body was afterwards set on a gallows
on Putney Common — the last hanged highwayman's body to be so displayed.
The coolness with which Abershaw met his death prolonged his notoriety, and his name was commonly used as a synonym for a daring thief in the early years of the nineteenth century. He received his sentence with extraordinary sangfroid, putting on his own hat at the same moment as the judge assumed the black cap, and ‘observing him with contemptuous looks’ while pronouncing judgment. The few days that intervened between his conviction and execution he spent in sketching with cherries on the walls of his cell scenes from his daring exploits on the road. While being driven to the gallows he ‘appeared entirely unconcerned, had a flower in his mouth … and he kept up an incessant conversation with the persons who rode beside the cart, frequently laughing and nodding to others of his acquaintances whom he perceived in the crowd, which was immense’, according to an article in the Oracle and Public Advertiser. In a pamphlet on his career, entitled Hardened Villany Displayed, which was published soon after his death, he is described as ‘a good-looking young man, only 22 years of age.’
Abershawe was sometimes known as 'The Laughing Highwayman' (ref: 'Weird Croydon'):
Anecdotes of Abershaw credit him with the rude generosity commonly ascribed to men of his vocation. On one November night, it is said, after several hours spent upon the road, he was taken ill at the ‘Bald-faced Stag,’ and a doctor was sent for from Kingston. Abershaw entreated the doctor, who was in ignorance of his patient's name, to travel back under the protection of one of his own men, but the gentleman refused, declaring that he feared no one, even should he meet with Abershaw himself. The story was frequently repeated by the highwayman, as a testimony to the eminence he had gained in his profession.
Highwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
who terrorised travellers along the road between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
in the late eighteenth century.
Biography
Born in Kingston-Upon-Thames then in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, Abershawe started his life of crime at the age of seventeen, leading a gang based at the Bald Faced Stag Inn, which was for many years the terror of the roads between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Kingston
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
, and Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
. When in hiding he frequented a house in Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance...
near Saffron Hill
Saffron Hill
Saffron Hill is the name of a street in the south eastern corner of the London Borough of Camden, between Farringdon Road and Hatton Garden. The name of the street derives from the fact that it was at one time part of an estate on which saffron grew....
, known as the ‘Old House in West Street,’ which was noted for its dark closets, trap-doors, and sliding panels, and had often formed the asylum of Jonathan Wild
Jonathan Wild
Jonathan Wild was perhaps the most infamous criminal of London — and possibly Great Britain — during the 18th century, both because of his own actions and the uses novelists, playwrights, and political satirists made of them...
and Jack Sheppard
Jack Sheppard
Jack Sheppard was a notorious English robber, burglar and thief of early 18th-century London. Born into a poor family, he was apprenticed as a carpenter but took to theft and burglary in 1723, with little more than a year of his training to complete...
. All efforts to bring Abershaw to justice for a time proved futile, but in January 1795 he shot dead one of the constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
s sent to arrest him in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, and attempted to shoot another. He was eventually arrested in London at a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, The Three Brewers, in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. For his crimes he was brought to trial at the Surrey assizes in July of the same year. Although a legal flaw in the indictment invalidated the case of murder against him, he was convicted and sentenced to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
on the second charge of felonious shooting
Felony murder rule
The rule of felony murder is a legal doctrine in some common law jurisdictions that broadens the crime of murder in two ways. First, when an offender kills accidentally or without specific intent to kill in the course of an applicable felony, what might have been manslaughter is escalated to murder...
.
On Monday, 3 August 1795, Abershaw was hanged on Kennington Common; his body was afterwards set on a gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
on Putney Common — the last hanged highwayman's body to be so displayed.
The coolness with which Abershaw met his death prolonged his notoriety, and his name was commonly used as a synonym for a daring thief in the early years of the nineteenth century. He received his sentence with extraordinary sangfroid, putting on his own hat at the same moment as the judge assumed the black cap, and ‘observing him with contemptuous looks’ while pronouncing judgment. The few days that intervened between his conviction and execution he spent in sketching with cherries on the walls of his cell scenes from his daring exploits on the road. While being driven to the gallows he ‘appeared entirely unconcerned, had a flower in his mouth … and he kept up an incessant conversation with the persons who rode beside the cart, frequently laughing and nodding to others of his acquaintances whom he perceived in the crowd, which was immense’, according to an article in the Oracle and Public Advertiser. In a pamphlet on his career, entitled Hardened Villany Displayed, which was published soon after his death, he is described as ‘a good-looking young man, only 22 years of age.’
Abershawe was sometimes known as 'The Laughing Highwayman' (ref: 'Weird Croydon'):
- "Although Abershaw was far removed from the romantic image of the lovable rogueLovable rogueThe lovable rogue is a literary trope in the form of a character, often from a dysfunctional or working-class upbringing, who tends to recklessly defy norms and social conventions but who still evokes empathy from the audience or other characters. The lovable rogue is male and is often trying to...
, he possessed a healthy sense of humour, often incorporating his ironic wit into his robberies." An extract from the history book, Local Highwaymen, reads, "Abershaw's humour seemed to be at its best when his personal fortunes were at their worst, for instance, at the time of his trial and eventual hanging a classic example of gallows humour."'
Anecdotes of Abershaw credit him with the rude generosity commonly ascribed to men of his vocation. On one November night, it is said, after several hours spent upon the road, he was taken ill at the ‘Bald-faced Stag,’ and a doctor was sent for from Kingston. Abershaw entreated the doctor, who was in ignorance of his patient's name, to travel back under the protection of one of his own men, but the gentleman refused, declaring that he feared no one, even should he meet with Abershaw himself. The story was frequently repeated by the highwayman, as a testimony to the eminence he had gained in his profession.
In popular culture
- Abershawe appears in The Romany RyeThe Romany Rye-The novel:Largely thought to be at least partly autobiographical, it follows on from Lavengro . The title can be translated from Romany as 'Gipsy Gentleman'. On October 18, 1853, Mrs...
by George BorrowGeorge BorrowGeorge Henry Borrow was an English author who wrote novels and travelogues based on his own experiences around Europe. Over the course of his wanderings, he developed a close affinity with the Romani people of Europe. They figure prominently in his work...
, alongside others such as "Galloping Dick" Ferguson.
External links
- http://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng387.htm
- http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sally.jenkinson/ashmuseum/hartshor.htm