 Although his date of birth is apparently unknown, young Abraham was baptised at Colebrooke, near Crediton, on 2 December 1794.Inheriting from his father a love of play, he defeated John Jordan, Flower, Wreyford, Simon Webber, and the other good wrestlers in Devonshire, and carried off the prizes at all the places where he became a competitor.In these matches, he wrestled in the Devonshire fashion, namely, wearing shoes and endeavouring to disable his adversary by violently kicking him on the legs.