The rumble of iron-rimmed wheels on the uneven road, the rhythmic clip-clop of horses’ hooves, the creak of the coach’s wooden frame – these were the sounds that accompanied 18th-century travellers venturing along Hampshire’s winding roads. 

But in the picturesque countryside and charming villages lurked a darker reality - the ever-present threat of highwaymen. 

For those journeying by stagecoach, a trip could range from a bone-jarringly uncomfortable experience to a terrifying encounter with a notorious outlaw.

One name that struck fear into the hearts of travellers was Jerry Abershawe. 

This infamous highwayman haunted the routes connecting London to the south coast, preying on unsuspecting individuals making their way to and from the bustling capital.

Imagine the scene: the stagecoach, perhaps carrying well-to-do merchants or members of the gentry, trundling along a secluded stretch of road. 

Suddenly, a figure would emerge from the dense foliage lining the route, a pistol raised, a commanding voice ringing out: “Stand and deliver!”

Even the esteemed novelist Jane Austen, a resident of Hampshire herself, was not immune to the anxieties surrounding these highwaymen. 

As she prepared for her own journeys to London, she was cautioned to remain vigilant, to keep a watchful eye out for any suspicious activity along the way. While Austen's journeys occurred after Abershawe's demise, the fear he instilled lingered.

Abershawe’s descent into a life of crime began in his youth. He was barely out of his teens when he embarked on his career as a highwayman, and he was still a young man, only in his early twenties, when the long arm of the law finally caught up with him. 

But Abershawe was no ordinary criminal; he possessed an uncanny ability to evade capture, earning him a reputation as the “Houdini” of the criminal underworld. 

He was apprehended on numerous occasions, yet he consistently managed to escape imprisonment, displaying a remarkable audacity and resourcefulness that baffled authorities.

The roads between London and Hampshire were particularly attractive to highwaymen like Abershawe. 

This route served as a vital artery for commerce and travel, with a constant flow of individuals moving between the capital and the coastal towns. Many of these travellers were affluent enough to afford passage on stagecoaches, making them prime targets for robbery.

Historians specialising in the social context of Jane Austen’s era suggest that this route was frequented by wealthy merchants and members of the aristocracy, further increasing its appeal to highwaymen. 

The stagecoaches traversing this route were undoubtedly considered lucrative prizes, laden with potential riches.

It is important to dispel the romanticised image of the highwayman often portrayed in fiction. Forget the dashing, masked figures with impeccable manners and a charming demeanour. 

In reality, highwaymen like Abershawe were often brutal and ruthless, willing to resort to violence to achieve their aims. They preyed on vulnerable travellers in isolated locations, far from the reach of law enforcement.

Jane Austen’s journey from her Hampshire home to London in 1796 occurred after Abershawe’s execution in 1795. However, the pervasive fear of highwaymen remained a palpable presence on the roads leading to the capital. 

The stories of their exploits, the tales of daring robberies and narrow escapes, continued to circulate, fueling anxieties among travellers.

Abershawe’s eventual capture came after a violent confrontation with law enforcement in 1795. He was apprehended after killing a constable and injuring another officer, a testament to his violent nature. He was then incarcerated in Newgate Prison, a notorious London institution that housed criminals awaiting trial and execution.

Records from the time provide a vivid account of Abershawe’s behaviour during his sentencing. 

When the judge appeared wearing the black cap, a symbolic gesture signifying the pronouncement of a death sentence, Abershawe displayed a shocking lack of remorse or fear. Instead, he exhibited “unbridled insolence and bravado,” placing his hat on his head and adjusting his breeches with a vulgar swagger. 

Throughout the sentencing ceremony, which deeply affected all those present except for Abershawe himself, he stared defiantly at the judge, offering a “malicious sneer and affected contempt.” 

He continued this disrespectful behaviour until he was forcibly removed from the dock, bound hand and foot, cursing and insulting the judge and jury for condemning him to death.

The historical record also details Abershawe’s execution, which took place on August 3, 1795. A massive crowd gathered to witness the event, among whom Abershawe recognised many acquaintances and fellow criminals. 

He greeted them with bows, nods, and laughter, displaying “the most unfeeling indifference” to his impending fate. He even had a flower in his mouth and his waistcoat and shirt were unbuttoned, revealing his chest in a display of “vulgar gaiety.” 

Even as he stood on the gallows, he continued to address the crowd, cursing the officers and maintaining his defiant persona until the very end. 

He died as he had lived, the records state, “a ruffian and a brute.” A chilling reminder of the darker side of 18th-century travel in Hampshire and beyond.