Born Louis Jeremiah Abershawe in Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey, he started his life of crime at the age of 17, leading a gang based at the Bald Faced Stag Inn. He was eventually arrested in London at a public house, The Three Brewers, in Southwark. After a trial at Croydon Assizes in July 1795, he was hanged, aged 22, at Kennington Common.
His body was then taken to his old haunt of Wimbledon Common where it was placed on a gibbet - the last hanged highwayman's body to be so displayed.