Connecticut, executions recorded in city and statewide records, 1981, Undated

36 | Statistical Account

who, in the wocds of East-Haven, murdered one of the
colonists in 1700.
_ The next was a black woman, who cut the throat of
her master’s daughter, at Wallingford; apparently with
the hope, that she might cease to be a slave, and retum,
as she said, to her own country.
.- The next was an Indian, Moses Paul, executed for
(XC urdering a Mr. Cook, of Waterbury, in 1772.

The next was Griswold, in 1778. }

The last was a black man, named Joseph Mountain,
executed fora rape, in 1790. Of the whole number,

gf executed during the one hundred and seventy-three

years, which have elapsed since New-Haven was set-
tled,

5 were whites;
5 were Indians ; and
3 were blacks.
Of the whites, all, except Griswold, and one more,
were born in England; and all but Griswold were exe-
cuted during the first twenty-four years after the arrival

of the colonists. It is to be remembered, that, although
the superior classes of the New-Haven colonists were —
distinguished for excellence of character, the peasantry,
and servants, were generally not less distinguished for
vice and profligacy. :

One native of New-Haven, only, has ever suffered for
a capital crime ; a boy 15 years of age; if, indeed, he
was born here. It is to observed however, that, two
children in New-Haven, and one in Milford, were, in the
years 1653, 1656, and 1663, convicted of arson; but
had their lives spared, on account of their tender age.

There have been also thirteen instances of suicide in
this town, since its first settlement. One,a woman, sup-
posed to be under the influence of disappointed love.

One, a man, under the influence of jealousy.

One, a Frenchman, from vexation.

One, a Dutchman, intoxicated.

One, a young gentleman from South-Carolina, who
was studying law at Litchfield, rode to the skirts of this
town; and, having sent his servant forward, alighted un-
der a tree on the western border of the new burying


ot ty

eee _NBW HAVEN EXECUTIONS. oe

35

of the City of New-Haven.
}, and the cir-

that no valuable informa-
existing state of facts.
taken, on the condition
according to 4 speci-

or and the lessee.
y few

here so smal

+The number of tenants 1s
“eumstances are SO far peculiar,
‘tion can be derived from the
“The lands leased are commonly
of returning 2 part of the produce,
fic agreement between the proprict
<They are commonly leased,. only for one, or a Ver
) years.
s: The emigrations from the city of New-Haven are so
‘pregular, as to admit of no correct estimate. ‘The great
‘body of the emigrants are merchants, mechanics or s¢a-
move to other com-

: men; the principal part of whom re

* “mercial towns in the U. States, and the rest to foreign
e countries, for the purpose of carrying on their respective

he “ eccupations to ereater advantage. ‘Lhe places of these

si FO emigrants are continually supplied by immigration ; as

x the fact, that, although new houses are

house is full ; and many
fact is still

the citizens

is evident from
- annually erecte
eontain two or M
more definitely exh
since the year 1800.

Ag New-Haven is the shire town of this county, all the
cof vital, puni nments in the county have been inflicted here-
The whole number of these is thitteen: one of them,
_ however, was the
sentence of a cour
acainst the country, in

In what part of the c
ignorant. He had lately crossed fr

was apprehended somewhere on the coast.
was Griswold.

The first person executed, was
hung for some of his conduct in

was executed in 1639.
The two next were execu

d here, every
ore families. 1 The seme

‘bited, by the increase of

a Pequod ; who was
the Pequod war. He

ted for bestiality, 1n 1642

and 1655.
The next for

in 1655.

sodomy,
in 1662.

bestiality,

UThe next for
Three of these, perhaps t

— land.
- The three next

he four

were Indians; prob

th, came from Eng-

ably Quinnipiacks ;


History of Fairfield County, Lynn Winfield Wilson,S.J. Clarke
Publishing Co., Chicago-Hartford, 1929. Vol. ‘1, pg.. 404

There were two of these public spectacles in Danbury within a
period of twenty years. In March, 1798, Anthony, a free negro
of Greenwich, was indicted for a crime upon the body of Mary Knapp
of said Greenwich, "a maid between sixteen and nineteen years

of age, then and there in the peace of God and of this state."
He was convicted and committed by the court to jail in Danbury,
"and from thence to some open and convenient place for
execution, then to be hanged, between the Heavens and the earth,
until he shall be dead.: On the morning of November 8 the
unfortunate Anthony was taken from jail to the Congregational
Church, where Rev. Timothy Langdon addressed him on the enormity
of his crime, the last part of the sermon being directly spoken
to the culprit, to whom the clergyman vividly depicted the
enormity of his crime.

The scaffold was set up on Gallows Hill, a crowd came from
the towns all about and the miserable man was despatehed. In
1817 Amos Adams, a free black, was hanged for a crime committed
against Lelea Thorp of Weston. He also was taken to the
Congregational Church, where Rev. Mr.. Andrews preached from the
text, "One sinner destroyeth much good." In both cases the
bodies were buried at the foot of the gallows and disappeared
from their graves, being taken, tradition declares, to a medical
college in New Haven.

(Both crimes would appear to be rape, and the medical college
would be Yale.) pa

NEW HAVEN’ COLONY RECORDS¢
‘Sera Genel! Covrr Herp rue 19th oF AvGUSt t+}

| 1644.
*

Captaine Turner and Mr. Malbon were chosen Deputyes
for the Gent!! Court to be held for this jurisdictid about the
tryall of an Indian, (called Busheage,) who is to be arrayned
for murder.* | Pt ae 5

Itt was ordered, thatt whosoever doth pass through a comd
gate or a gato into a comd field and lcavs itt nott well shutt,
shall pay 5* fine and beare all damage wh shall come by such
their neglect. If children or servants shall doe itt, their
parents or governo'® shall pay itt for them, butt the servants
to beare itt out of their wages. .

Itt was ordered, thatt they of the watch who walk the last
round shall call up the drum' an hower before day every
morning to beate the drum. | oe

Itt was desired, thatt secing Mr. Malbon is to be fro home,
thatt the other 8, (viz:) Captaine Turner, Leivtenant Seely
and Antient Newma would perfect the veiw intrusted wth
them the 1t of July last. | ai a os

The marshall is to cry all lost things wch are brought to
him to keep, on the lecture dayes and faire dayes, and to have

1¢ for evty cry, of the partys who shall challeng tho things .

cryed. we
Itt was ordered, thatt the next 5th day shall be a gent!
traying, and the next genr!! trayning to hold notwthstanding.

* For the murder of the woman at Stamford, ante p. 135. He was arrested and
delivered to the English by Wuchebrough a Potatuck Indian. The record of the
trial is lost, but Winthrop informs us that “the magistrates of New Haven, taking
advice of the elders in those parts, and some here, did put him to death. The execu-
tioner would strike off his head with a falchion, but he had eight blows at it before

he could effect it, and the Indian sat upright and stirred not all the time.” Sav.
Winth. il. 189. Rea. U. C. Sept. 1646. ;

»< i ‘ ¢ :

“Namie, And jetaris of previeusiy .
ee ar ‘ ag te ar 223
Mildentified indian at New Haven |,

&,

5

fie

fe Je
ei

Bey
ie
Bi
ag
RS
t

1644) NEWHAVEN® COLONY: RECORDS. 147

[98]. Art’a Ovi tintp arr Newnaved-tim-2¢ or Octonm

Rei xX
rf

1644. 3

__ Roger Knap was discharged of his fine weh was sett upon
his head for want of armes, because the Court was informed
thatt his armes was burnt in Delaware Bay, and after he came
hither he was afflicted wth sicknes and so poore thatt he was
nott able ts buy armes in due time, butt now ho is furnished
wth armes. ve | oS

_. Mrs. Stolyon demaund a debt of 3!-8-6 of Goodman Chapmé,
butt Robt Seely testified thatt Mrs. Stolys had,given him a
note of thatt debt among others, to be payd into the ship on
her behalfe, and accordingly he accepted itt, and thatt the said
John Chapma from thatt time became debttor to the shipp,
butt Mrs. Stolyd affirmed yt afterward she having payd all her
part into the ship, and John Chapmans debt being yett unpayd,
she desired Mr. Attwater, (who was then to receive the ships
pay,) to lett John Chapma know thatt now she expected the
8!-8-6, should be payd into her owne hands, and to strike out
his name out of the aforesaid note, «ch Mr. Atwater affirmed

at Fairdield Cona.tn (65 3. Reveals that they
Cane From helaware area and were VE ry poor,

y js ia

ECE «SBC, act cum aspen ; ;
I RGAE <p nmate id
ma Wikis anaes

ne ne era

ee att

DULCE Abd ENGL} RE FUGEE,

i

a3
upon oath he had done, and thatt John Chapma said to him =
then that he cared nott, for he had as leave pay itt to Mrs, ae
Stolyon herselfe, whereupon itt was ordered, thatt John Chap- 4;
ma shall pay the 3!-8-6 to Mrs. Stolys. ae s
- Arr a Gentll Court HELD THE 21th or OcTOBER _ 3
7 + 1644, “OA
Thomas Lupton, Witt Russells and Henry Glover were ad- -
mitted members of the Court. oe
-. Itt was ordered thatt the Secretary shall write to all the
Plantations in this jurisdictis to lett them know thatt att tho a
Court of Elections considoratid will be had of chusoing the us
comission'* for the collonyes att the said Court by the vote of =z
all the freemen, thatt accordingly their deputyes may como =
Prepared, gag G
Mr. Malbon atid Oaptainé Turner were chosen Deputyes for
the Gent!l Court next ensuing. a Cy
p eee " Lod fee LOMP ASC
Be Husoand oF woman erecuted doe wiencenery

pe 4 i eae Pr Ramaby, oct Soa, Ta ee yy. — a a
Fey TAINS elie ORI oh ea TS WS: STE T ER mn; aul

hae be
aa 9 i Sat atnanihd 4

Fics

ety be x eur a a ra
Ei Sip ae: Pah BS
‘ ’ Su: mela
bo A

Ne rf or

cl POE Sone, ftg a +3 te ie Wiig

a

i> :
ae Rotel LIT TY that rat?
Sa at Pan ge aE lees ane

en.

‘ . oT - boas
61 F SE ty lm ee

e.

’

DANBURY, CONNECTICUT, EXECUTIONS.

History of Danbur¥,James Montgomery Bailey, Burr Printing House,
NEW ZOrK, 1626, Og. 116-118, 362.

There have been two executions in Danbury. The first was
a man named Anthony, a free negro, living in Greenwich. He
perhaps had no other name, as Anthony is alone used in the
indictment and the warrant for execution. His crime was

committed on March 7th, 1798, and he was hanged in November following.

At ten o'clock on the morning of November 8th, 1799, Anthony
was removed from the jail and taken to the Congregational Church,
late the Concert Hall building. The church was crowded to
overflowing with spectators, as, despite the tragic character
of the event, the town assumed a holiday appearance. Anthony
was placed at the front, under the pulpit, during the preaching
of the sermon. Rev. Timothy Langdon was the pastor, and
delivered the discourse. He took for his text the thirty-fifth
and thirty-sixth verses of the thirty-second chapter of Deuter-
onomy: "To Me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot
Shall slide in due time; for the day of their calamity is at
hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. For
the Lord shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His
se-vants." The greater part of the sermon had a general appli-
cation, and was the same as the reverend gentleman would have
Said in treating of the text to his regular congregation. Upon
the close of this he personally addressed the prisoner. He said:

“Anthony, it is by your request that I speak on this occasion,
and this is the last address which I shall ever make to you.

From the sentence pronounced upon you by the court, and from

the preparations with which you are surrounded, you must see that
you have but a very, very short time to live. Your situation

is truly deplorable. Whatever your crimes may have been against
God and human society, yet seeing your present condition, I pity
you aS a man, I pray for you as a Christian, and am now to
address you as a minister of the Gospel. I must therefore be
faithful, and use great plainness of speech."

Then followed a description of the enormity of his sin,
committed in the light of knowledge, and after that an earnest
exhortation to the sinner to repent, to look to Christ, to die
"in a Christian temper."

We judge from these words that Anthony was in an impenitent
frame of mind, and that he was doggedly meeting his wretched fate.

The Rev. Mr. Langdon was an eminently sensible man. Ina
few remarks to the "brethren and friends" present he said:"What
but the sustaining grace of God has made us to differ, in our
present situation, from the unhappy prisoner? What is it owing
to but this, that we have not committed enormous crimes?"

he

On the close of the sermon the civil authorities carried
the prisoner to the place set apart for his execution. This was
at the head of Elm Street, near the pond. The gallows was erected
on land belonging to Samuel Dibble, and from the fact of this
execution the place took the name of "Gallows Heil.”

There was a great crowd present, of course, as it was a
public execution, and the first ever had here. People from quite
a distance were in attendance, and nearly all the town folks
were present.

Sheriff Dimon, of Fairfield, was the county sheriff, and he
officiated.

At the gallows Rev. S. Blatchford, from Bridgeport, we believe,
made a short address ,principally dwelling upon the evil of the
deed, the need of repentance, the unhappy condition of the
prisoner, and the justice of the law, summing up with a warning
to those present to avoid sin and to seek after righteousness.

Amos Adams, the second cujprit, was executed on November
13th, 1817. A procession, accompanied by two military companies
as guards, formed at the jail, and with the prisoner marched to
the Congregationai Church at the foot of West Street, where
religious services were held. These consisted mainly of a
full-fledged sermon, which the preacher launched at the
congregation for the benefit of the prisoner. The building was
filled to suffocation. After ther sermon the procession
reformed and marched up West Street on its way to the scaffold,
which was erected at a point near the head of Elm Street, then
an open country.

The crowd of people was immense. They came from a distance
of twenty-five miles to witness the execution, and as there were
no railroads in that day, we may gather in what esteem a hanging
was held by the populace. From the country and the neighboring
owns the teams flocked into Danbury from early in the morning,
many reaching here the night before in their eagerness to be on
time. .

The procession moved up West Street, led by fife and drun,
and to their music the prisoner and his guards kept step,
while the teams of visitors were in the line, and the walks filled
with a dense crowd.

The ground about the scaffold was thronged with people,
and all the trees in the neighborhood were filled with the more
venturesome of the crowd. Several of the limbs gave way by the
weight, precipitating the contents somewhat Suddenly and
promiscuously to the ground. Here and there were stands for the
refreshment of the people, and with the exception of the
scaffold, there was nothing to indicate the presence of an awful
tragedy.

The cutting of the rope was done by a Sword, and Adams
dangled in the air, dying easily. He was but twenty+eight
years of age.

Moses Hatch came to Danbury from Kent. —He as an able lawyer and
defended the negro Amos Adams, who was hanged at Danbury in 1817.
He soon after removed to Kent, where he died.


9 G ee A a a
2 Gi ke Ano f LOD
EXECUTIONS IN CONNECTICUT

Me. Aun Auda

-*

12-18-1745

eel
Elizabeth Shaw _ (ET cod

NCurt™ @ es pow Com

ATE NAME AGE RACE LOCATION OFFENSE
(er ee = I New Haven murder
04-08-1642“ George Spencer ae W New Haven bestiality

1646 Unidentified Indian i New Haven unknown,
05-26-1647" Alse Youngs W Hartford witchcraft
06- 06- 1650 Mary samen he ¥ Hast Hartford witchcraft
06- -1651 Goodwife Basset UL W__Stratford witchcraft
eae ee Fo pm enn sR nn ene
03-19-1653 John Carrington po Ge Ww Hartford witchcraft
03-19-1653 Joan Carrington Ose fs W. Hartford ____—-witcheraft _
oe ;

L6a5 Goodwife Knapp W Fairfield witchcraft
1Z2- -1654 ~= Lydia Gilbert fens” W Hartford murder by witchcraft
ee -1655 Walter Robinson W New Haven bestiality
06- -1655 John Knight /em<£ tdalir ow We New Haven pederasty
eT serpentine eons ~
06-06-1662 William Potter Pe W New Haven bestiality
06- -1662 Mary Sanford W Hartford witchcraft
Nc nes: enna ; ees
01-25-1663 Rebecca Gs ie W Hartford witchcraft

1- A H i E
0 25-1663 Nathalie. freemen GAL W Hartford _s—switchera ..

e -1663 Mary Barnes oo &. W Hartford _.witchcraft

z cas TTAB tea ag AS ayccpai oS 2 ses — Danan es
10-16-1667 Peter Abbott W Hartford murder
10-18-1672 Thomas Rood S eo. < W Hartford incest

ad A |
06-01-1675 "Cloyes"- Pew , > B Hartford murder
06-01-1675 Henry Green W Hartford murder
06-13-1677 Benjamin Tuttle W Hartford murder
10-09-1678 John Stoddard W Hartford murder
06-28-1682 “Allumchoyse" iE Hartford murder
03-02-1686 "Squampam" I Hartford murder
10- -1694 Daniel Matthews W Hartford rape
05- -1708 Abigail Thompson W Hartford murder
05-15-1711 "Young Squamp" Ak Hartford murder
05-15-1711 "Waisoiusksquaw" (female) ii Hartford murder———
05-03-1738 Katherine Garrett 27 I New London infanticide
ll- -1743 Aart ae Mew? B Hartford rape
ll- -1743 Kate! nnn CHartford Ani gps

) Eee ee _infanticide ——

05-1749 _ "Guee" se UE gs ES _rape
ie21-1/55 Sarah Bramble mn W New London infanticide
09-07-1768 Isaac Frasier hae, OCT: 28. W Fairfield -~——burglary
11-12-1768 John Jacob 3 I Litchfield ~ murder
09-17-1772 Moses Paul 30 I New Haven manslaughter

oe


cy The last execution took place on 13 June 1834. A man named Sherman
was hanged for the murder of his wife and infant child. Nothing I
/ have gives his first name or race. He committed his crime in Nor-
wich but was tried in New London and then hanged here, but quietly
with no fanfare, by the walls of the old prison in the middle of
town.

This is the extent of what I know about executions in New London,
but the list is complete. I guess after the last one, executions
were taken over by the state and carried out elsewhere. I rather
think that Hannah Occuish was the youngest persen to ever be exe~
cuted in the United States.

I might add that justice was swift in those days. I have papers
| that show arrest, trial and punishment all carried out on the same
day, but of course not for murder.

I hope this will further your project, and I am glad I could be of
assistance to you.

Sincerely yours,

‘ahet 10 Laue

(Mrs.) Elizabeth B. Knox
Secretary & Curator

| sa

ee et:
al NEW LONDON EXECUTIONS.
x"
THE NEW LONDON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
2 . INCORPORATED 1870
SHAW MANSION NEW LONDON, CONN. 06320 11 BLINMAN STREET

17 November 1981

Mr. Watt Espy
Law Library, Box 6205
University, Al. 35486

Dear Mr. FEspy,

There were five executions in New London prior to 1894. There was
one murderer, who had killed a New London wife and her children, in
the 17th century, but I think the judicial system hadn't been estab-
lished in the separate towns at that time and he was sent to Hart-
ford for trial and subsequent hanging.

/ On 3 May 1738, Katherine Garret was hanged on Town Hill for the mur-
/ der of her infant. She had committed the murder in Saybrook, six
/ months earlier, but brought to New London for confinement in the gaol
Vand the execution was ordered to be here, too. Katherine was called
Indian Kate, being a Pequot of the North Stonington reservation, and
only twenty-seven years old. She had been brought up in Saybrook and
given a fairly good education.

Cn 21 November 1753, Sarah Bramble was hanged outside of town, and
/the then-path is still called Gallows Lane. This was the only public
execution of a white person in New London. About 10,000 people came
to watch. (Can you imagine?) She had midered her child the day it
was born, in April 1752, tried by the superior court, the following
September, but kept in prison for another year for the jury didn't
agree in their verdict. She was finally sentenced 3 October 1753.

Incidentally, her child was illegitimate.

On 20 Necember 1786, Hannah Occuish was hanged for the murder of |
Funice Bolles, who was only six and a half years old. Hannah was
only twelve years and nine months old. Hannah and Eunice hdd got-
‘ten into an argument over some strawberries in July, and a few days

[/ later on 21 July, Hannah stoned Eunice to death. She, Hannah, was
an Indian of Pequot parents.

November 4, 1807, Harry Niles was hanged for the murder of his wife.
‘This was another big spectacle with thousands coming to witness it.
/ Harry was a Narragansett Indian, with a quarter of African blood.
vA He too had belonged to the North Stonington Reservation. He had
been well taught and trained in the family that gave him his name,
but couldn't cope with alcohol and in a drunken fight with her, he
‘ killed her.

Oe ee. ie. eee i Se ee

“2

Beginning on page 75: "Elizabeth's Shaw'f family lived in Canada Parish, which was

later to be called Hampton.
‘was pretty enough and liked to joke & giggle with men.

The neighbors said she wasn't quite all there but she

When she was 17 shé€eeese | -

t

Town Meeting Couniry

went out in the woods once too often with one of them. It is
hard to explain how she hid her pregnancy. Perhaps her mother
took pity on her and helped. For Jared Shaw was a hard man
who believed that sinners should be punished; yes, all of them,
even the ones who weren’t bright.

Not only did Elizabeth Shaw conceal her condition from her
father, but she bore the child, and apparently he still suspected
nothing. But she knew that she couldn’t keep a baby hidden for
long in the house, so she took it to the grim Cowhantic rocks
half a mile away and left it there. Again there is a mysterious
break in the story. Perhaps Mrs. Shaw told her husband about
Elizabeth; perhaps he knew more than the girl thought; at any
rate, he too went to the Cowhantic ledges and found a dead

_ body.

Elizabeth Shaw was arrested, tried, and condemned to be
hanged. No mercy was shown, or asked, for a girl who wasn’t
bright. Her execution was the first public occasion of its kind
in Windham County, and many people attended.

During the early years of the eighteenth century Joshua Hemp-
stead of New London wrote down interesting bits of local news.
Now and then he reported having seen justice meted out.

“. . . in the aftern I rid up to the Cross Highway above Jno.
Bolles to see Sarah Bramble Executed for the Murdering her
Bastard child in March last. . . . She was hanged at 3 clock. A
crowd of Spectators of all Sexes and nations yct are among us
from the neighbouring Towns as well as this: Judged to be Ten
Thousand. It rained moderately most of the day.” .

In the Brookfield, Massachusetts, cemetery is the grave of
Joshua Spooner, who was murdered in 1778 by three Revolu-
tionary soldiers, urged to the deed by Joshua's wife, Bathseba.
All four culprits were apprehended and tried. Their. hanging
was a gala event for Worcester County. It is recorded that dur-
ing the long sermon on the inevitable fate in hell fire of mur-
derers, a terrific thunderstorm broke over the multitude. After
the sermon and the heavenly affirmation were over, the hanging
took place to the “‘great edification of all present.”

There you have three murders and the swift final punishment
of all the guilty people except, of course, the fathers of the bas-
tards. But murder was punished without mawkish concern or
delay. Today the reader of these three accounts will probably

4

‘
TOWN MEETING COUNTRY, by Clarence M, Webs ,

- New York

The Town Grows | 77

be most impressed by the fact that the executions were public
and, furthermore, attended by a large, probably quite jolly
holiday throng. Undoubtedly our ancestors were a tough-minded
lot, but that quality of spirit revealed itself in more than one
way. It enabled them to turn a hanging into an illustrated ser-
mon or a family picnic; it also told them to string up the guilty
person promptly. Of course, they now and then included a

“Thou shalt not kill” makes no exceptions. neha

Once in a great while, however, Puritan justice failed, =
for apparently the same reasons we discover today if we poke
into these malodorous affairs. In 1747, the quiet town of Pom-
fret, Connecticut, gave its county a famous and long-remem-
bered scandal. In April a popular and beautiful young woman,
daughter of one of the town’s best families, had died, declared
Dr. John Hallowell, the attending physician, of natural causes.
But three months later, an older sister came to the Pomfret
i} authorities with a terrible story. The other girl, she said, had
died because Dr. Hallowell had performed an illegal operation.
She herself had known all about her sister's shame; in fact, she
had helped her conceal it and also persuade Dr. Hallowell to do
what he did. Right here the story is embellished by the folk tale
that the repentant sister whispered of a small body, still breath-
ing, that was thrown into the blazing fire. This, however, she
did add: that she knew the father of the child, and she named

n of another prominent Pomfret family.

ee a drama of colonial high life, and undoubtedly the
H humbler Pomfret citizens predicted that the whole affair would
be hushed up. “There’s one law for rich folks and another for
folks like us.” At first, such cynics seemed to be wrong. For the
doctor was tried and sentenced to sit in the gallows in public for
two hours with a rope around his neck and then receive twenty-
nine lashes on his naked body. After that he was to be remanded
back to prison to wait for another court session where final
judgment, foretold by the rope around his neck, would be
passed. But soon the dirty work began, and the skeptics were
vindicated. — o

Either the Windham County jail was flimsy, or a jailer was
corrupt; in any case, Hallowell escaped and fled to Rhode Is-
land. Nor was he taken back to Pomfret. That is not the only

Duell, Sloan & Pearce, 19:5,

feeble-minded girl among the convicted, but the injunction .


CONNECTICUT.

ROBINSON, Walter WM15 New Haven
Beastiality 3-3-1654/55

Slave CUFF (Tuttle) BM15 New Haven
Rape, WF15 ge 21-1749

OCUISH, Hannah NAF12 New London
Murder, WF6 12-20-1786

JENNINGS, Michael WM17/18 New Haven
Murder, WF43 7+iL1-1854

CROSS, Charles B. WM17/18 Fairfield
Murder, WF60 7-20-1900.

LEWIS, Raymond WM17/19 Hartford
Murder, WM53 10-1-1946

1
2

“4

“ae
Spencer:

Source material for Connecticut

New Haven Colony Records & Chronicles of the New Haven Green. 1898.
New Haven Colony Records & Criminal Justtce tn Colontal Amerteca by
Bradley Chapin. 1983.

3. _Indian,1646: Chronicles of the New Haven Green. 1898,

4 Youngs: ’ The Witeheraft Deluston tn Colontal Connecticut by Taylor. 1908

a. Johnson: Ibid. Also Mather's Magnalia & Connecticut Colonial Records.

6 Basset: Ibid. Also New Haven Colonial Records.

7 Carrington: Records of the Particular Court 1639-1663. Also Hartford County
Probate Records which detail the settlement of the estate and date
of their execution.

8. Knapp: New Haven Cotontal Records. See also Taylor.

9. Gilbert: Records of the Particular Court 1639-1663. Also Entertatning Satan
by John Demos, 1982. (the most scholarly and meticulously researched
treatise on colonial witchcraft cases that I've ever read.)

10. Robinson: New Haven Coltontal Records. Also Criminal Justice in Colontal America
1606-1660 by Chapin.

Li. Knight: Ibid.

12. Potter: Ibid. Also Cotton Mather's Magnalta Christi Americana.

13. Sanford: Records of the Parttcular Court 1639-1663.

The Witeheraft Delusion in Colontal Connecticut by Taylor
A Case of Witcheraft at Hartford. Connecticut Magazine, 1899.

14. Greensmith: Ibid. Also Increase Mather's Remarkable Provitdences

15. Barnes: Ibid. (She is an enigma. The Records of the Particular Court contain
her indictment and notice of conviction but further details are lost.
She was caught up in the Hartford witch-hunt of 1662-1663 along with
others but was not mentioned until her conviction. That she was in
fact executed is certain because the sherrif was afterwards granted
his fees for keeping her at the same time as he collected for keeping
the Greensmiths.

16. Abbott: Records of the Court of Asststants 1665-1711 (Lacy Transcripts) These
court records have never been published and are kept under restricted
access at the Connecticut State Library.

17. Rood: Ibid. Also Conneetteut Colonial Records.

18. Cloyes: Records of the Court of Assistants 1665-1711 (Lacy Transcripts)

19. Green: Ibid.

20. Tuttle: Ibid. Also Tuttle Genealogy by Jacobus.

Zi. Stoddard: Ibid. Also Crimes & Misdemeanors, a collection of documents dealing
with crime in Colonial Connecticut at the State Library.

22.  Allumchoyse: Records of the Court of Asststants 1665-1711.

23. Squampam: Ibid.

24. Matthews: Ibid. Also Crimes & Misdemeanors.

25. Thompson: Records of the Court of Asststants 1665-1711.

Connecticut Colonial Records.
Hartford County Probate Records.
26. Young Squamp:Records of the Court of Assistants 1665-1711

a4 Waisoiusksquaw: Ibid. Both Young Squamp and Waisoiusksqauw were condemed for killing
their respective spouces on May 8th 1711. A sherrif's return attached
to their death warrants states that both were executed on May 15th.

28. Garrett: History of New London by Caulkins. Also Crimes & Misdemeanors.

29, Jack: Crimes & Misdemeanors Also: The Colontal Htstory of Hartford by ?
30. Kate: Ibid.
31. Shaw: History of Windham County, Connectteut by Larned. 1874

Crimes & Misdemeanors. Also: A reference in the 1772 Connecttcut

32. Cuff:
Courant (newspaper) account of the execution of Moses Paul. "This was
the first New Haven execution since 1749."

45.

14,

Bramble:
Frasier:

Jacob:
Paul:
Dunbar:
Thompson:

Dennis:

Blair:

Farnsworth:

Smith:
Jones:

Davenport:

McDowell:
Goss:
Occuish:
Mountain:

Doane:
Starr:
Anthony:

Adams:
Niles:
Babcock:
Lung:
Adams:
Watkins:
Teller:
Reynolds:
Sherman:
Hall:
Potter:
Foote:

McCaffrey:

Jennings:
Toole:

Starkweather:

Wilson:
Hoyt:

Hamlin:
Smith:

Pallidona:

Swift:
Scheele:

Borjesson:

Petrillo:

History of New London by Caulkins 1895.

Crimes & Misdemeanors Also The Connecticut Courant, contemporary

newspaper account. Also several execution pamphets in the Readex

Corp. micro-card series of Early American Imprints.

Ibid.

Ibid.

The Connectteut Courant

Crimes & Misdemeanors.

The History of Fairfield County by ?

The Connecticut Courant

I cannot recall the exact source for this one. But I do know that

it is certain.

The Connecticut Courant

Ibid.

See No. 43

The History of Fairfield County by ? (1 can't recall the author.)

These were military executions carried out in the camp of General

Israel Putnam, then at Redding. Smith was shot and Jones was hung.

The Conneetteut Courant and various pamplets in the Readex Micro-

Card series of Early American Imprints. This was a particularly

grusome case and it made the sensational rounds accordingly.

The Connecticut Courant Also The Colonial History of Hartford by ?

A broadside in the Readex Collection. Also Crimes & Misdemeanors.

History of New London by Caulkins. 1895

The Intent of Capital Punishment. A sermon preached at New Haven on

October 20th 1790: being the day that Joseph Mountain was executed

for a rape. Beinecke Rare Book Library, Yale University.

Records of the State of Connecticut. Also The Hartford Courant.

Ibid. |

Crimes & Misdemeanors

The Hartford Courant (newspaper)

The History of Fatrfield County by ?

History of Windham County by Larned.

Htstory of New London by Caulkins.

The Hartford Courant (newspaper)

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

The New Haven Register (newspaper)

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

The Hartford Courant

Ibid. Also The New York Times

Ibid.

Ibid. Also The New Haven Regtster & Bridgeport Republtcan Farmer

Note: From this point on, all three Connecticut newspapers carried
lengthy accounts of the remaining county executions.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Ibid.

Lbid.

Ibid.

) UW. eleor ot 74 BAS.

= nog ee th ob ide ~ |

fur Rin Preowerta 1 77F — oe

E
, DATE NAME Spud Sin OFFENSE
03-19-1777 Moses Dunbar Jo W Hartford treason
6-09-1777 Robert Thompson W Newtown espionage
\ 08-08-1777 John Dennis W Norwich murder
11-10-1778 John Blair “W Warttord counterfeiting
11-10-1778 David Farnsworth \ 4 W Hartford espionage
02-08-1779 John Smith iN ee. W Redding desertion
02-08-1779 Edward Jones : # W Redding espionage
05-08-1780 Barnet Davenport W Litchfrera ~~ murder
Se ee el enapnetl LIDS ~—_Hartford _ _desertion

11-07-1785 __Thomas Goss C4 Asti sas hota _litchfield murder _
2 50-1786 Hannah Occuish i New pele, murder
?
ist) 1730s Joseph Moumnatn ay 9 DeladrttilteeA  sepe
06-10-1797 Richard Doane W Hereeford murder
06-14-1797 Thomas Starr oi ES W Haddam murder
11-08-1798 "Anthony" B Danbury rape
11-20-1803 Caleb Adams 18 W Windham murder
11-04-1807 Harry Niles gt New London murder
06-06-1816 Miner Babcock W Norwich murder
06-20-1816 Peter ie W Middletown murder
@.. 13-1817 ean B Danbury rape

08-02 02-1831 aes Watkins W Brooklyn murder (last public)
09-06-1833 William Teller ~ W Hartford murder
09-06-1833 Caesar Reynolds Hartford murder
06-17-1834 David Sherman #L_aeig WwW New London murder __
06-20-1844 ee Lucian Hall —- 35 Cote : 26 W Middletown meee 2
07-20-1 20> 1846 Andrew Potter ff gle} Les 25 f B) New Haven murder
10-02-1850 Henry Foote W New Haven murder
10-02-1850 James McCaffrey Bete. ee peg Haven. murder 2.
07-11-1854 “Michael Jennings — W New Haven murder
C9-19=1862_ Gerald 1 Toole Bice Alita! Cone > Ww Hartford murder 2
08-17-1866 Albert Starkweather D5 W Hartford murder
10-13-1871 James Wilson 47 W Hartford murder
05-13-1880 Edwin Hoyt Her) = Wo Brigsepert minder.
05-28-1880 Henry Hamlin W Hartford murder
09-01-1882 James Smith Line, fa, fines W New Haven murder
10-05-1888 Philip Parlidoas W Bridgeport murder
4-18-1889 John Swift 24 W Hartford murder
06-18-1891 Jacob Scheele 63 W Bridgeport murder
01-29-1892 Andrew Borjesson a2 W Litchfield murder
11-14-1892 Angelo Petrillo 26 W New Haven murder

TIDBITS:

CONNECTICUT

1752:

1783:

1799:

1668:

Jabez Green of Norwalk CT under sentence of
death for blasphemy. Repreived.

Levi Strong of Litchfield under sentence of
death for rape. Granted castration in lieu of
execution.

Caleb Smith, aged 84, under sentence of death
for bestiality. Repreived.

There is strong, though non-conclusive, circum-
stantial evidence that a woman named Ruth Briggs
was executed at New Haven in 1668 for infanticide.
She appears with regularity as a litigant in both
town and colony records up to 1668 when an entry
in Crimes & Misdemeanors, (a compendium of loose
legal papers at the state library), shows that she
was committed on that capital charge. The records
of the Court of Assistants are missing for the year
1668. However Ruth Briggs vanishes without a trace
from both city and colony records in 1668 whereas
she had been previously cited with regularity.