Joseph Williams, 1867 July 5

ging Reddic to follow him. Reddickw walked out the back door and was
—-oing-in_the-oppositedirection—when—Williams—ealled—to—him,—As—he—
turned, Williams aimed and fired his gun, The bullet struck his
heart and Reddick was instantly killed, Williams then calmly walked
into the house, put his rifle in his room and then walked to Freehold
where he turned himself in to the authorities, At his trial, he
attempted to plead guilty but the judge refused to accept the plea
and appointed counsel to represent him, They attempted to show self-
defense but he was convicted and sentenced to die, While awaiting
his execution, Williams was considered an exemplary prisoner and spent
practically all of hisktime in earnest consultation with the clergymen
who visited him. When the Sheriff began reading him the death warrant
on the day of his execution, Bridget Durgen, also under sentence of
death, began wailing and he asked to be allowed to bid her goodbyes
He attempted to comfort her, but his words of. solace only caused her
to scream louder, He went<to his: death calmly and with dignity and
his last words were: "I don't mind this at all = in a little while,
I'll be with Jesus. Today: is one of God's days." He was hanged #
from a gallows behind: an enclosure in the jail yard at New, Brunbwick
Oh oly oe CO. | ee ae ve i eemeg
NATIONAL POLICE GAZETTE, July 13, 1867 (liy3 See CHRONICLES OF NEW
BRUNSWLCK, Ne dey by John P, Walls New Brunswick, N. Je: Anderson-
Thatcher & Cosy 19313 pp 323-32. New Jersey NWU :

ging Reddic to follow him. Reddickw walked out the back door and was

-oing—in_the-oppositedireetion—when-Williams—ealled—te—him,—As—he
turned, Williams aimed and fired his gun. The bullet struck his

heart and Reddick was instantly killed. Williams then calmly walked
into the house, put his rifle in his room and then walked to Freehold
where he turned himself in to the authorities. At his trial, he
attempted to plead guilty but the judge refused to accept the plea
and appointed counsel to represent him, They attempted to show self-
defense but he was convicted and sentenced to die, While awaiting
his execution, Williams was considered an exemplary prisoner and spent
practically all of hisktime in earnest consultation with the clergymen
who visited him. When the Sheriff began reading him the death warrant
on the day of his execution, Bridget Durgen, also under sentence of
death, began wailing and he asked to be allowed to bid her goodbye.

He ec teneed to. Pees her, but his words of. solace only caused her
to scream louder. He went«to his: death calmly and with dignity and
his last words were: "I don’t mind this at all = in a little while,
I'll be with Jesus. Today: is one of God's days." He was hanged aH
from a Cee behind: an enclosure in the jail yard at New, Brunbwick
on July 5, 1867.

NATONAL POLICE GAZETTE, July 13, 1867 (l)) 3 See CHRONICLES OF NEW
BRUNSWECK, Ne Je, by John P, Walls; New Brunswick, N. J.: Anderson=

Thatcher & Cos, 19313 -pp 303-30), New Jersey NWU

ging ae to follow him, Reddickw walked out the back door and vas
As.

turned, ae aimed and cies ee gun. The nie struck his

Heart End eddiok ae instantly killed, Williams then calmly walked
into the house, put his rifle in his room and-then walked to Freehold
where he turned himself in to the authorities, At his trial, he
attempted to plead guilty but the judge refused to accept the plea
and appointed counsel to represent him, They attempted to show self-
defense but he was convicted and sentenced to die, thile awaiting

his execution, Williams was considered an exemplary prisoner and spent
practically all of hisktime in earnest consultation with the clergymen
who visited him. when the Sheriff began reading him the death warrant
on the day of his execution, Bridget Durgen, also under sentence of
death, began wailing and he asked to be allowed to bid her goodbye.

He attempted to comfort her, but his words of. solace only caused her
to scream louder, He went to his. death calmly and with dignity and
his last words werer "I don't mind this at-all = in-a little while,
I'll be with Jesus. today. 3 is one of God's days." He was hanged 2
from a gallows behind an enclosure in the jail yard at New, Brunbwick
on duly 5, 1867.

NATTONAL POLICE. GAZENTES sly. 13, 1867 (l) 3 See CHRONICL#S OF NE
FEET N. Je, by John P, Wall; New Brunswick, N. J.+ Anderson=
Thatcher & Cos, loals PP 323-32. New Jersey Nw

ny ony up nd

= Soe ae cree

ES Ahn BNA, We ASS Sart carne
sy 195s pp 32H-I2he Lepedss ov Nanhai

WILLIAMS, Joseph

Williams, alias Joseph Knox, a, 39-year-old black man was born a slave
in Charleston, 5S. C. Above average intelligence, he was given every
opportunity by a kindly master who made him a house servant. WHEHX
HiXXHHNARK Williams was 18-years-old when his original owner died

and he was then sold to a trader who took him to New Orleans where
his new owner used him harshly, After four years of servitude there,
he and four other malcontented slaves escaped and made their way to
Canada, Williams did not like the cold weather and returned to New
Orleans where he managed to pass as a freedman and obtaindd work on

a sugar plantation, When.New Orleans was occupied by Federal troops
during the Civil War, he was employed by a Union officer as a servant
and after the war's end, he accompanied the officer to New York, He
then moved to Monnoe, Middlesex Co., N. Je, where he worked as a wood
chopper and farm laborer, living in a boarding house which catered

to blacks. His neighbors, across the hall, were Mr. and Mrs. John

A. Reddick, On Dec. 17, 1866, Williams and Mrs. Reddick got into an

argument about her unauthorized use of a pot that belonged to him and
when Reddick entered the argument on his wife's side, Williams went

into his own room, gat his gun and walked, out the front door, challen-

WILLIAMS, Joseph

Williams, alias Joseph Knox, a, 39-year-old black man was born a slave
in Charleston, S, C. Above average intelligence, he was given every
opportunity by a kindly master who made him a house servant. WKEHX
HXXXBKKAKK Williams was 18-years-old when his original owner died

and he was then sold to a trader who took him to New Orleans where
his new owner used him harshly, After four years of servitude there,
he and four other malcontented slaves escaped and made their way to
Canada. Williams did not like the cold weather and returned to New
Orleans where he managed to pass as a freedman and obtaindd work on

a sugar plantation, When.New Orleans was occupied by Federal troops
during the Civil War, he was employed by a Union officer as a servant
and after the warts end, he accompanied the officer to New York, He
then moved to Monpoe, Middlesex Co,, N. J., where he worked as a wood
chopper and farm laborer, living in a boarding house which catered

to blacks. His neighbors, across the hall, were Mr. and Mrs, John

A. Reddick, On Dec. 17, 1866, Williams and Mrs. Reddick got into an
argument about her unauthorized use of a pot that belonged to him and
when Reddick entered the argument on his wife's side, Williams went
into his own room, gat his gun and walked,out the front door, challen-

WILLIAMS, Joseph

villians, alias Joseph Knox, a, 39-year-old black man was born a slave
in Charleston, 5, C. Above average EE TRESS he was given every
opportunity by a kindly,master who made him a house servant.
YAXXMKNAKE Williams was 18-years-old when his original owner died

and he was then sold to a trader who took him to New Orleans

his new owner used him harshly, After four years of servitude there,
he and four other malcontented slaves escaped and made their way to
Canada, ‘illiams did not like the cold weather and returned to New
Orleans where he managed to pass as a freedmen and obtainéd work on

a sugar plantation, When New Orleans was occupied by Federal troops
during the Civil War, he was employed by a Union officer as a servant
and after the war's end, he accompanied the officer to New York, He
then moved to Monpoe, Middlesex Co,, N. J,, where he worked as a wood
chopper and farm laborer, living in a boarding house which catered

to blacks, His neighbors, across the hall, were Mr. and Mrs. John

A. Reddick, On Dec. 17, 1666, Williams and Mrs. Reddick got into an
argument about her unauthorized use of a pot that, belonged to hin and
when Reddick entered the argument on his wife's side, Williams went
into his own room, gat his gun and walked out the front door, challen-|