He was originally a cobbler like his father, of Church Lane, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England.

[2] At the age of 54 he persuaded the governor of Lincoln Castle Gaol to allow him to conduct an execution.

This was considered more humane than the slow death by strangulation caused by the "short drop" method, particularly distressing to prison governors and staff who were required to witness executions at close quarters following abolition of public executions by the Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868.

Marwood was one of two executioners to give their name to the character of the hangman in the British Punch and Judy puppet show (Jack Ketch being the better known one).

[15] Marwood died in 1883 from pneumonia and jaundice and was buried at Trinity Church, Horncastle, Lincolnshire.