List of Executions in Rhode Island, 1670 to 1845

[From the Editor:  The author of this terrific piece has been a great source of assistance for many historians and researchers at the Rhode Island State Archives for decades.  Ken has been the archivist in charge of references services at the State Archives for the last 29 years.  During that time, he has collected material on 48 men who have been executed by the colony (later state) of Rhode Island.  Ken has almost solely relied on materials at the State Archives. Accordingly, this piece is not complete and is not intended to describe the background of each execution listed. Doing that for all of the condemned would require a book.  Still, Ken’s work is fascinating to read and will be useful information for researchers.

A few things jump out from Ken’s article.  First, of the categories of crimes for which the executed men were convicted, 32 were for piracy (three separate events), 9 were for murder, 2 were for rape (one other was for rape and murder, counted here as a murder), 3 were for burglary or robbery, 1 was for arson, and 1 was for being a spy.  Not counting the three pirate hangings, 16 men were hanged from 1670 to 1845.  This amounts to, on the average, about one execution every 11 years.  No women were hanged.  Again, not counting the three pirate hangings, 11 of the hanged men were whites, 3 were Blacks (then called Negroes), and 2 were Indians.  All the convicted men were hanged, but Thomas Carter’s body was also placed in a gibbet.  Two men, Amos Miner and Charles Brown, for entirely separate crimes, were hanged in Providence, conveniently on the same day and at the same location.

The fact that three men were executed for burglary or robbery is particularly disturbing.  Perhaps in response to this, in 1795, the death penalty was abolished in Rhode Island.  But then it was re-enacted in 1798.  Rhode Island abolished the death penalty for good, following the hanging of John Gordon.  On February 14, 1845, Gordon became the last victim of capital punishment in Rhode Island.  Gordon was almost certainly the victim of an unfair trial and excessive anti-Irish Catholic prejudice. Rhode Island abolished the death penalty in 1852. In a Rhode Island report on capital punishment, the following snippet was included from the French aristocrat the Marquis de Lafayette, who fought in the Continental Army during the Rhode Island Campaign in 1778 and visited Rhode Island during his triumphant tour of the United States in 1824.  (Lafayette Village, North Kingstown, is named for him.)  “Gentlemen,” said Lafayette, in the French Chamber of Deputies, in 1830, “I shall ask for the abolition of capital punishment, until I have the infallibility of human judgment proved to me.”

Included at the end of this article of sources for further readings on several of those who were hanged.  Books on Thomas Cornell and John Gordon make convincing cases that they were innocent.  Several of the articles listed below are available on smallstatebighistory.com. More articles on this topic will be forthcoming in the next few weeks on smallstatebighistory.com.]

1. Thomas Flounders (alias Flonders) – Hanged for Murder at Newport, Nov. 2, 1670

·       Indicted for murder of Walter House, July 11, 1670

·       Meeting, Newport, Monday, July 13, 1670 – it is determined that the body of Walter House was illegally buried and it is ordered unearthed & an inquest be made

·       Meeting, Newport, July 15, 1670 – Flounders is brought to answer upon the murder of Walter House; he is suspected of being guilty and is remanded to prison until next court of trials

·       Proceedings of General Assembly at Newport, Oct. 13, 1670 – summons concerning Mary, widow of Walter House at Narragansett

·       Proceedings Oct. 26, 1670 – order concerning estate of and allocations to widow Sarah

·       Thomas Flounders sentenced to death by hanging, to be carried out on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1670, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m.

(Proceeding of the Court of Trials, Oct. 19, 1760)

(C#0558 – Governor & Council Records, 1667 – 1753, p. 34, 41-43)

(C#0260 – Proceedings of the General Assembly, Vol. 2, 1669 – 1671, p. 251, 278, 300)

2. Indian Punneane, alias John, for Rape and Murder & Thomas Cornell for Murder and Matricide – Hanged at Newport, May 23, 1673

·       General Court of Trials held at Newport, May 12, 1673 – upon indictment for murder of mother Rebecca Cornell, Feb. 25, 1672 & Indian Punneane alias John upon indictment for rape & murder of Lettice Bulger, wife of Richard of Portsmouth, Mar. 21, 1673 – verdict of guilty & sentenced to death by hanging Friday, May 23, 1673 at about 1:00

·       29th day, Third Month- £2 to the executioner for hanging the Indian that killed his wife, May 29,1674; 20 shillings remaining of his due for the executing T.C. and the other Indian £1

·       20th day, 3rd month – for 15 & silver paid to Edward Marshall & 2 other men for bringing the Indian that broke prison that committed the rape on R. Bulgar’s wife

·       22nd day 3rd month, by rum to the guard & charge the day of the execution of Thomas Cornell to the provisions of the executioner & other officers

·       27th day, 4th month – by £3 to Robert Butterworth for the hanging the two prisoners

·       1673 – £1.3 by money allowed to John Potter of Warwick for taking the Indian prisoner that was executed in May 1673

·       21st day, 8th month – £2 to the executioner for hanging the Indian 29th day, 3rd Month, 1674 paid now by me and not discovered before

·       20th day, 2nd month 1675 – £1.10 by money to Robert Butterworth paid and discounted with him for services done by executioner

(Newport, Court Book A, Supreme Court Judicial Records Center, Pawtucket, pp. 10 – 11)

(C#0614 – General Treasurer’s Accounts, 1672 – 1711, pp. 1-2)

3. Peter Pylatt [Black Man] – Hanged for Rape and Assault at Newport, Nov. 10, 1679, between 2:00 & 3:00 pm

·       General Court of Trials held at Newport, Oct. 22, 1679 – charged with assaulting, battering & ravishing Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher Holder; verdict of guilty / sentenced to death by hanging [Peter Pylatt was a “Negro Servant” (i.e., slave) of Christopher Holder of Newport]

·       Sept. 13, 1679 – to John Cook for his Indian hanging the Negro… & March 15, 1680

(Newport, Court Book A, Supreme Court Judicial Records Center, Pawtucket, p. 49/51)

(C#0614 – General Treasurer’s Accounts, 1672 – 1711, pp. 42, 56)

4. Piracy Trial & Execution of 26 Pirates at Newport, July 19, 1723

Benton, Sheriff J.              1723                £138.2 received “executing of the Pyrates”

Bissill, Jobe                       1723                £1.2 received “his bill relating to Pyrates”

Barker, William                 1723                £1.15 received “his bill relating to Pryates”

Borden, [Joseph]              1723                £2 received “for …of ye rope about ye gallows”

Clarke, Richard                 1723                £64.1.1 received “on the account of Pyrates”

Harris, John                      1723                £30 received “for looking after ye wounded Pirates”

Jackson, James                1723                £22.8 received “dinners for ye judges of Pyrates”

Updike, Daniel                  1723                £5 received “allowed on account of ye Pyrates”

Valentine, John                 1723                £10 received “ye order on account of ye Pyrates”

Simonds, Nicholas            1725, June      £10 received “ye order”

(C#00614 – RI General Treasurer Accounts, 1712 – 1731, pp. 141-2, 144-45, 150, 179)

·       Paid out of the General Treasury on account of the Pirates, 1723

1. to Jahleel Brenton his account £7.11 & for executing the Pirates £138.2
2. to Bissell Job £16.44.6 & William Bark £1.5, blacksmiths
3. to Joseph Borden for the use of his tackle £2
4. to Richard Clark prison keeper on account of the pirates £64.1.1
5. to John Harry for looking after them £44.16.6
6. to James Jackson for dinners for the judges £22.8
7. to John Valentine £10. & Daniel Updike £5, orders of assembly
8. to Richard Ward’s account £14.13.6 & order of Assembly £6.

Total £333.1.7, p. 1

(C#00184 – Maritime Papers, Colonial Wars, 1723 – 1760, p. 1)

·       June, 1724, Simonds & Barlow allowed cash £10 of the general treasury “Voted that Nicholas Simonds and Jonathan Barlow two men that had been forced by the Pirates and were Instrumental in retaking the Ship John & Mary from ye Pirates sometime in December last have £10 each allowed them out of the General Treasury”

(C#00204 – Records of the Colony of Rhode Island (John Bartlett, ed.), Vol. 4, 1715 – 1729, p. 466)

·       1723 – An Act for the better securing the pirates, now in His Majesties jail, in Newport.  Forasmuch as there are thirty pirates brought into this harbor by Capt. Solegarr, commander of His Majesty’s ship the Grey Hound, and now in His Majesty’s jail, in Newport, and it being suspected that they may endeavor to escape from thence, unless they are watched and guarded by night. For the preventing of which, be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the authority of the same it is enacted, that the field officers of the regiment of the militia on the islands, shall, and they are hereby empowered to order and set a military watch of such and so many men as they shall deem needful and necessary, to secure the said pirates from making their escape if attempted, and to set such penalties on default of not watching, as to them shall see needful; and that the charge of the watch be paid out of the general treasury; any former law, custom or usage to the contrary hereof, in any wise notwithstanding – Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, the 18^th day of June 1723.

·       1723 – Voted, that the accounts of the charges of the trial and executing of the pirates, and their keeping, &c., which are exhibited to this Assembly, and by the lower house endorsed “allowed,” be paid out of the general treasury.  Voted that Mr. Valentine be allowed £10, out of the general treasury, and Richard Ward £6, for their service in attending the trail of the said pirates. (Proceedings of the General Assembly held for the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, at Newport, second Tuesday of September 1723)

·       Sept. 1723, Voted that Mr. Daniel Updike, Attorney General have £5 allowed him out of the general treasury for this service in attending on the trial of “ye Pirates”

(C#00481 – RI Public Notary Records, Vol. 4, 1721 – 1741, pp. 414, 471, 418)

5. Peter Legrand, Thomas Davis, Peter Jesso / Jesseau & Francis Bowdine / Bowdoin –                     Hanged for Piracy at Newport, Nov. 3, 1738

·       Account of Joseph Lock, Constable for apprehending; attending & watching, July 18, 1738; traveling & transporting to Newport, July 19, 1738; account dated New Shoreham, July 22, 1738

·       Account of Charles Paxton, Marshall for serving warrant & transporting to court, Legrand & Davis; account dated Newport, Oct. 12, 1738

·       Account of William King, Deputy Marshall for attending court & trial

·       Account of Margaret Doge for eating & Liquor for the prisoners & the watchers for two days, New Shoreham, Sept. 1738

·       Account of William Brown for transforming person suspected of piracy from Block Island to Newport, Sept. 18, 1738

·       Account of Charles Paxton Marshall for 8 days attendance in preparing; hiring two carts & men & executing

·       Account of John Warkman for putting on & taking off irons to be carried to the places of execution, Sept. – Nov. 1738

·       Account of William King under Marshall to Jeremiah Lawton for digging four graves; digging holes for gallows & waiting & tending at [Nov. 3, 1738]

·       Account of Ezbon Sanford for erecting & taking town gallows & for Philip Wanton for carting, Nov. 1738

·       Account of James Davis, Newport Gaol keeper for time attending to time of execution, account dated Feb. 16, 1738/9

·       Account of Martin Howard Constable for attending criminals & trial, Sept. 19,1738 & Oct. 1738

·       Account of Jona. Nichols Sheriff for attending men until execution, Sept. 19 to Nov. 3, 1738

(General Treasurer Accounts, 1739)

(See also bills for cost of trial of pirates / accounts for execution of)

(C#00184 – Maritime Papers, Colonial Wars, 1723 – 1760, pp. 3 – 8 & C#00204 – Records of the Colony of Rhode Island (John Bartlett, ed.), 1723 – 1745, p. 348))

6. Thomas Carter – Hanged for Murder at Tower Hill, South Kingstown, May 10, 1751

·       Resident of Newport; prisoner, South Kingstown Gaol; murder of William Jackson of Virginia committed February 24, 1751; executed May 10, 1751

·       Petition of Thomas Hazard, keeper of South Kingstown Gaol for additional compensation in securing, June 10, 1751

(Petitions to the General Assembly, vol. 8 # 28) / Proceedings of the General Assembly, October Session, 1751, p. 263)

·       Mariner of Newport, husband of Abigail – petition of Sarah Harris Newport, wife of Joseph Harris of Newport, mariner vs. Thomas Carter & wife Abigail, administrators, estate of Thomas Fry of Newport, mariner, to set aside judgment with notation executed for murder May 10, 1751

 (Petitions to the General Assembly, vol. 9.2 #2)

·       April 2, 1751 – Account of Joseph Hull for securing in Kings County Gaol; meals for watch; taking May 10 & constructing & transmitting [body] to gibbet

(General Treasurer Accounts Approved, August 1751)

7. Samuel Parks & Benjamin Hawkins – Hanged for Piracy at Newport, Thursday, August 21, 1760

·       Mariners, schooner Francis; Wednesday, July 23, 1760, minutes of the Court of Admiralty – pleas of not guilty; assigned Martin Howard Jr. Esquire; Thursday July 24, pleas retracted – adjudged guilty of piracy, robbery & felony & sentenced to death by hanging Thursday August 21, 1760

(At Newport, p. 145 / examinations of April 5, 1760, pp. 146, 148; accounts of George Gardner, sheriff concerning, p. 155; petition to Governor Stephen Hopkins for clemency, July 25, 1760, p. 158 – (C#00180 – Admiralty Papers, Volume 8, 1751–1770, pp. 145–158)

·       Account of George Lawton for one week board & turn keys for each 43 pound 8 shillings, Newport, Oct. 27, 1760 with notation “the last four weeks for the above name criminals the Gaol keeper has received no pay, attest George Gardner sheriff”

(Accounts, Oct. 1760)

·       Aug. 21, 1760 – for taking irons of [off] two men going to be executed £2, John Warkman

(Accounts, August 1760)

8. Fortune Price [Black Man] –  Hanged for Arson at Newport, May 14, 1762

·       Accounts of George Lawton – prison fees, Newport for from February 20 to May 8, 1762; eleven weeks at £5 a week & one week & one turnkey £5.14

·       Account of Joseph G. Wanton for attendance at trial & execution; expenses for offices; £50 paid to hangman; 39 pound 8 shillings for timber to build gallows; £10 cash paid to negroes to assist in erecting gallows & digging grave, 1762

(General Treasurer Accounts, June 1765)

·       Account of John Warkman for putting on / taking off irons of the “negro man” to meetings, to hear sentence; after condemned, to place of execution, etc. March 1762 – May 14, 1762

(General Treasurer Accounts, May & August 1762)

9. John Sherman / Shearman – Hanged for Burglary at Newport Friday, Nov. 16, 1764

·       Prisoner, Newport Gaol under sentence of death for burglary (first person so sentenced in colony) – for remission of death sentence with references, Ezra Stiles & Gardner Thurston, First Wednesday of May, 1762; stay of fourteen months granted; Aug. 28, 1762, request for removal of irons from arms & legs; granted; Boston, Mar. 17, 1764, S. Greenleaf, Sheriff of Suffolk County notification of apprehension of for theft, commitment to Gaol at Boston; Aug. 27, 1764, S. Greenleaf, Sheriff communication to Samuel Brenton concerning charges upon, conduct, attempts to escape; Sept. 11, 1764, request for mercy; Sept. 13, 1764, General Assembly order, Chief Justice to issue warrant for execution Friday, Nov. 16, 1764

(Petitions to the General Assembly, Vol. 11 #32, #52 & #142) / RI Colony Records, Vol. 8, p. 7)

·       Accounts of George Lawton – prison fees, Newport for from Feb. 26 to May 7, 1762; ten weeks at £5 a week & from May 7 to Aug. 13; fourteen weeks at £5 week & from Aug. 13 to Sept. 17; five weeks at £5 a week

(General Treasurer Accounts, May, August & September, 1762)

·       Account of John Warkman for putting on / taking off irons of March – May 1762

(General Treasurer Accounts, September 1762)

·       June 16, 1764, resolution – sheriff to receive from Boston Gaol & confine at Newport

(Acts & Resolutions of the General Assembly, Vol. 9, p. 139)

·       Account of Baulston Brayton Sheriff for transporting & committing John Shearman from Massachusetts to Gaol at Newport Aug.15, 1764; Account of George Lawton, Gaol Keeper, Newport, for attending John Shearman from Aug. 16 to Nov. 16, 1764

(General Treasurer Accounts Approved 1764)

10. Caezar Hazard [Black Man] – Hanged for Murder at Little Rest, November 15, 1771

·       Jeremiah Albro for boarding of prisoner at the King’s suite 6 weeks from May 25 to July 4, 1771; for boarding from Sept. 29 to Oct. 31, 1771, being 4 weeks, 4 days; Account dated Oct. 31, 1771, and approved Nov. 2, 1771

·       George Tefft’s Account for making irons & hand cuffs for fitting of, etc., June 25, 1771; Sept. 30, 1771 & Oct. 8, 1771; account dated Oct. 30, 1771 and approved Nov. 2, 1771

(General Treasurer Accounts Oct. 1771)

·       Beriah Brown for petit jurors to try; to Jeremiah Sheffield for making coffin; to Jeremiah Albro for boarding of Oct. 31 to Nov. 15, 1771

(General Treasurer Accounts May, 1772)

11. Daniel Wilson – Hanged for Rape at Providence, April 29, 1774

·       Account of Paul Tew, Deputy Sheriff – advertising for & for pay to George Bruce for retaking of Jan. 12, 1774; for advertising escape from Gaol, Feb. 22, 1774; for pay to Silas Linkon for retaking; Mar. 9, 1774; to Benjamin Man for gallows / carting & erecting same; for expenses in apprehending at Mendon; for horse & cart carrying to gallows & executing; to Comfort Bardine for coffin, April 28, 1774; to John Hoppen, Providence Gaol Keeper for billeting from Dec. 19, 1773 to April 29, 1774, 18 weeks, 6 days & for firewood & candles for guard etc.

(General Treasurer Accounts Approved, June & Oct. 1774)

·       Petition of Caleb Aldrich & Arnold Pain of Smithfield, claim for reward in apprehending Daniel Wilson, escaped prisoner & delivering to Providence under proclamation of Darius Sessions, April 17, 1774

(Petitions to the General Assembly, Vol. 15, #120)

·       Daniel Wilson’s name appears on petition of May, 1756 for dividing fourth company of militia of West Greenwich

(Petitions to the General Assembly, Vol. 9.2 #96)

·       Upon proclamation of deputy governor promising reward of one hundred pounds to apprehension of Daniel Wilson, who broke out of Providence Gaol; payments to 18 individuals

(August session, 1774, p. 80 – printed schedules)

12. John Hart – Hanged for Treason and as a Spy, May 17, 1777

·       Council of War:  “council having had John Hart before them and examined him are of opinion that he ought to be proceeded against according to Marshal [Martial] Law, and do recommend it to the Honorable Major General Spencer to cause him to be tried accordingly”

(Council of War Minutes, Thursday, May 16, 1777, vol. 1, p. 170)

·       Account of Oliver Arnold approved – “victuals & drink provided to the gentlemen who examined John Hart & others”

(Council of War Minutes, Friday, Oct. 9, 1777, v. 2, p. 131)

13. Thomas Mount – Hanged for Burglary, May 27, 1791, at Little Rest in South Kingstown

• Prisoner, Newport Gaol (death sentence) – May 10, 1791, statement & confession concerning innocence of John Read of Newport, falsely convicted of receiving stolen goods under his & wife Catherine’s false statements; petition of John Read concerning

(Petitions to the General Assembly, Vol. 25 # 116)

• Accounts of Thomas Tew, 1791 for securing / putting on / taking off irons on April & May; victuals for watch; conveying the prisoner from Newport to Little Rest to be executed
• Account of William W. Pollock, Gaol keeper for board; making coffin & gallows; meals & victuals for guard etc., May 1791
• Account of Beriah Brown for aid in executing, May 27, 1791
• Account of Elisha R. Gardner, Dep. Sheriff for himself & watch guarding Washington County Gaol, April
• Account of Edward Murphy for leg irons April, 1791
• Account of Henry Sherburn 1791 for services in examining & drawing warrants
• Account of Robert Sands, Deputy Sheriff, Washington County, attending & transporting April
• Accounts of David Melville, Edward Thurston & Edward Thurston, John Richards for services in transporting / assisting from Newport & Washington County Gaols April 1791
• Account of William Davis, Sheriff with State of Rhode Island, January Session 1792 – boarding Thomas Mount prisoner confined for burglary from Dec. 19 to May 26, 1790, 22 weeks and 6 days; boarding Katharine Mount for same, et al.

(General Treasurer Accounts Approved, 1791 – 1792)

14. David Comstock – Hanged for Murder at Providence, May 27, 1791, between 12:00 & 3:00 pm

• Residence Gloucester, yeoman; indicted for the murder of Ephraim Bacon of Gloucester, yeoman Dec. 27, 1790 at Gloucester; jury trial –copy of May 1791 sentence & warrant; executed by Sheriff N. Knight, May 17, 1791

(General Assembly, Prisoner / Judicial Petitions, May 1833, C#1184)

• Request for postponement of death sentence of Tuesday, May 13, 1791 with fifteen references; sentence rendered third Monday of March 1791; signed Providence Goal, April 25, 1791; postponement of two weeks granted

(Petitions to the General Assembly, 1789 – 1791, Vol. 25 #96)

15. Hopkins Hudson Hanged for Murder at Providence Oct. 26, 1798

·       Vote of General Assembly – accounts approved: Levi Wheaton & Thomas Greene for visiting, examining, dressing wounds & furnishing medicines for State Prisoner; Jesse Whitmore for boarding, furnishing guard for Goal in Providence during confinement

(Printed Acts & Resolves, June Session, 1799, pp. 3, 7; General Treasurer Accounts Paid – June 1799)

·       Levi Wheaton account for service Nov. 10, 1798; Thomas Green account for attending prisoner from Sept. 13, 1798, to Oct. 26, 1798; Jesse Whitmore account for services in acquiring watch / rum

·       William Rhodes to returning 42 men for jury in case of Governor & Company vs. Hopkins Hudson as special Sheriff at Superior Court for County of Providence, Sept. Term 1798 including horse hire $10.00

(General Treasurer Accounts, Oct. Session, 1798)

·       Oct. 26, 1798 – Account of Jabez Gorham – paid 2 drummers and 2 fifers for the guard at the execution of Hopkins Hudson by a request from the high sheriff of Providence County – $2.00 each

·       Account of Jesse Whitmore with State – Oct. 26, 1798 – paid $24.00 to supporting in goal Hopkins Hudson for 6 weeks and 6 days; $44.00 for attendance on Hopkins Hudson from Sept. 12, to Oct. 26; and $0.50 paid to S. Dana for repairing irons for use of the goal; $8.00 for blankets for goal; $1.50 for straw be and $1.75 for shirt while in prison

·       Deputy Sheriff Jabez Knight Jr. account for execution of Hopkins Hudson; Oct. 24, 1798 – paid to West & Butts for rope for the execution of Hopkins Hudson; cash paid for horse and cart to attend said execution; to cash paid boy for loading said horse from the goal to place of execution; Nov. 3, 1798 paid Darius Allen’s Bill for making gallows and coffin; paid to James Harvey for trucking gallows from Allen’s Shop to the north end of Providence where the execution was to have been then from north end of town to Cooper’s Common on the South end of town and help to erect gallows then taking down gallows and removing to land of Colonel Christopher Olney; taking gallows and trucking back to the court house;  Thomas Hull’s bill for erection gallows for execution of Hopkins Hudson removing from place to place as mention in said Harvey’s account; to stores of liquor for workmen on the day at time employed in business

• Additional reference: Hopkin Hudson’s name appears on petition of Joseph Potter et al for charter for Cranston Independent Company of Militia, May 1, 1790

(Petitions to the General Assembly, Vol. 25 #35)

16. Miner, Amos – Hanged for Murder at Providence, Friday, Dec. 27, 1833

• Resident of Foster, Providence Co. Jail; March term 1833, sentenced to hang, Friday, July 5, 1833 for the murder of John Smith of Foster; request for commutation of death sentence, May 2, 1833; June 29, 1833 sentence postponed by General Assembly until last Monday of October 1833; for commutation of death sentence, October 1833

(Committee on Prisoner / Judicial Petitions, May & Oct. 1833)

• Execution of July 5, 1833 postponed; executed between 8:00 & 2:00 Dec. 27, 1833; body delivered to the saxon of the city of Providence to be deposited in a vault at the request of friends until burial

(Providence County Jail – Criminal Book, p. 116)

• Murder of John Smith of Foster June 21, 1832 – Amos Miner executed Dec. 27, 1833

(Foster Town Vital Records, Vol. 1, p. 69)

17. Charles Brown – Hanged for Robbery at Providence, Friday, Dec. 27, 1833

• Charles Brown, mariner & Moses Simmons, man of color, laborer of Providence – committed to the Providence County jail, Feb. 13 & 21, 1833 – complaint of Richard Smith of Providence for assault & theft Feb. 11, 1833; Judgment of guilty / death sentence rendered third Monday of September, 1833; Oct. 22, 1833; Jan. 1834, upon petition of sentence commuted to life

(Providence County Jail – Criminal Book, pp. 58, 60, 111, 118)

·       Prisoner, Providence County Jail (robbery); March term 1833, sentenced to hang; execution of July 5, 1833 – request for commutation of death sentence, May 1 1833 [his mark]; June 29, 1833, execution postponed by order of General Assembly until Friday preceding last Monday of October

(C#1184 – Petitions to the General Assembly #18) / for commutation, death sentence, Oct 1833 (C#0165 – Petitions to the General Assembly #17)

• Prisoner, Providence County jail for robbery; sentence of death ordered third Monday of March, 1833; execution of July 5, 1833 delayed to Nov. 1, 1833 per order of General Assembly; executed between 8:00 & 2:00 on Dec. 27, 1833; body delivered to the saxon of the city of Providence to be delivered to friends for burial

(Providence County Jail – Criminal Book, pp. 75, 117)

• Account of John Freeman – $10.00 for use of land for execution of Miner & Brown
• Account of Church & Sweet – $50.00 work & materials for construction of gallows (Oct. 14 – Dec. 27 1833), J. Butts bill for rope & John Hopkins bill for coffin
• Account Isaac Fish – $5.00 for four horse team to carry Miner & Brown to place of execution
• Account of William Thurber for putting on / taking irons off, etc.
• Account of Thomas Stone – $16.00 for making two coffins & burying / extra assistance at place of execution
• Account of Richard Knight sheriff to service in execution $50.00
• Account of Richard Knight – $72.00 for 24 men who assisted in execution

(General Treasurer Accounts, Jan. 1834)

18. Amasa E. Walmsley [Indian] – Hanged for Murder at Providence Friday, June 1, 1832

• Resident of Smithfield, laborer; committed to Providence County jail, April 10,1832; execution ordered Friday June 1, 1832 between hours of 9:00 & 12:00; body delivered to friends upon his request.

(Providence County Jail – Criminal Book, p.9)

• May 3,1832 – request for postponement of death sentence [his mark]; indicted with brother Thomas Jefferson Walmsley for the murder of John Burk & Hannah Frank; convicted upon the latter & sentenced to hang June 1, 1832

(General Assembly, Judicial Petitions, May 1832)

• Account of Ellen Field – $8.20 payment for damage done to her fence, June 1 by crowd assembled to witness the execution taking place on her land
• Account of Church & Sweet – $44.72 work & materials for construction of gallows (May 15 – June 1), J. Butts bill for rope & John Hopkins bill for coffin
• Account of H. G. Mumford – $5.00 for cash paid to Thomas Stone for conveying body & burial
• Accounts of Rebeca Smith & Thomas R. Holden for clothes for Amasa Walmsley

(General Treasurer Accounts, May – Aug. 1832)

19. John Gordon – Hanged for the Murder of Amasa Sprague, Friday February 14, 1845, 11:00 am

• Gordon, John, prisoner, Prov. Co. jail (murder of Amasa Sprague)

(Petition for Reprieve, Jan 1845 C#0869)

• Gordon, John, prisoner, Prov. Co. jail (murder), inhab. for postponement of sentence, Jan 1845 (C#0869)

Providence County Jail Commitment Ledger, 1844:

• Gordon, Ellen. Jan. 2, 1844. Held for appearance (E.3)
• Gordon, John. Jan. 2, 1844. Held for appearance Jan. 9 (E.2)
• Gordon, John. Jan. 9, 1844. Held for appearance Jan. 12 (E.7)
• Gordon, John. 12, 1844.  3rd Monday Held for Supreme Court, March 18, Monday (E.11)
• Gordon, John. 9, 1844.  Executed, Friday, Feb. 14, 1845, 11 a.m. (E.198)
• Gordon, Nicholas S., John & William. Writ of habeas corpus.  27, 1844.  Held by order of Supreme Court. (E.49)
• Gordon, Nicholas S. 12, 1844.  Held for appearance, Jan. 15, 1844. (E.12)
• Gordon, Nicholas S. 2, 1844.  Held for appearance, Jan. 9, 1844. (E.1)
• Gordon, Nicholas S. 9, 1844.  Held for appearance, Jan. 12, 1844. (E.7)
• Gordon, Nicholas S. 15, 1844.  Held for appearance, Supreme Court (E.13)
• Gordon, William. 2, 1844.  Held for appearance Jan. 9.  (E.2)
• Gordon, William. 9, 1844.  Held for appearance Jan. 12 (E.6)

 

For Further Reading:

Thomas Cornell and Punneane:

Elaine Forman Crane, Killed Strangely: The Death of Rebecca Cornell (Cornell University, 2002)

Pirates, 1723:

“Twenty-Six Pirates Hanged at Newport in 1723,” online smallstatebighistory article at http://smallstatebighistory.com/twenty-six-pirates-hanged-at-newport/

Thomas Carter:

Karen R. Ellsworth, “Jackson was Murdered and Carter was Hanged for It—But That is All We’re Sure About,” online smallstatebighistory article at http://smallstatebighistory.com/jackson-murdered-carter-hanged-sure/

John Hart:

“The Hanging of John Hart, Spy,” in Christian McBurney, Spies in Revolutionary Rhode Island (History Press, 2014), pp. 27-32.

Thomas Mount:

“Thomas Mount Hanged at Little Rest for Burglary,” in Christian McBurney, A History of Kingston, R.I., Heart of Rural South County (Pettaquamscutt Historical Society, 2006) [this article will also be published on smallstatebighistory.com next week]

John Gordon:

Paul Caranci, The Hanging and Redemption of John Gordon, The True Story of Rhode Island’s Last Execution (History Press, 2013)

Charles and Tess Hoffman, Brotherly Love: Murder and the Politics of Prejudice I Nineteenth Century Rhode Island (University of Massachusetts Press, 1993).

Ken Dooley, The Murder Trial of John Gordon (A play, performed in 2011)