Mr. Andrews has confined his account of curious punishments mainly to England and Scotland. Our Puritan ancestors must, we think, have seen some of the instruments of torture here described, and perhaps some of our great-great, etc., grandmothers may have been "ducked" or "silenced by a brank" many years before the sailing of the "Mayflower"
or the "Lyon" or the "Angel Gabriel."
It was once the custom in New England for a sermon to be preached before the prisoner upon the day of his execution. In the "Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette," Dec. 26, 1786, is the following notice:--
SALEM, _Dec._ 23. Thursday last, being the day appointed for the execution of Isaac Coombs, an Indian, with whose crime and sentence the publick have before been made acquainted, the unfortunate criminal was in the forenoon conducted to the Tabernacle, where a Sermon, which we are told was well adapted to the melancholy occasion, was preached by the Rev. Mr. Spalding, from Luke xviii. 13,--"G.o.d be merciful to me a sinner!" After which he was returned to the prison. Between the hours of 2 and 3 in the afternoon, he was guarded to the place of execution by a company of 40 volunteers (consisting princ.i.p.ally of the members of the Artillery Company lately formed in this town, and commanded by Captain Zadock Buffinton) under the direction of the proper civil officers. The Rev. Mr. Hopkins prayed at the gallows; and at 3 o"clock the cart was led off, and the unhappy sufferer made the expiation which the law required for his horrid and unnatural crime.
His behaviour, through the whole, was firm, but decent, penitent and devotional.
This is the only execution which has taken place in the county of Ess.e.x for near 15 years, and but the second since about the close of the last century. The concourse of people was consequently great; and the general decorum which was observed, evinced their sympathy for a suffering individual of the species.
The conduct of the military corps was highly applauded.
On the way to execution the following paper was delivered to the Rev. Mr. BENTLEY, by one of the officers, with a request from _Isaac_, that he would read it publickly at the place of execution, at the time he should signify to him; accordingly, when the sheriff told the criminal his time was expired, as the last thing, he made the motion, and it was read to the people.
As it is so contradictory to the declaration he made before of himself, we have printed it _verbatim_ as it is written, to avoid the charge of any alteration.
"I Who has ben Called by the name of Isaac c.u.mbs Being Now Called to the place of Execution in the 39th year of my age, I Declare I was born at South hampton Long Island and am a Native of the said South hampton and my Right Name is John Peters and Leaving the said South hampton about 14 years ago, and comeing to St. Mertains Vineyard am Ben a traveller Eversince till I have Now arrived to this unhappy Place of Execution My advice is to all Spectators to Refrain from lying Stealing and all suchlike things But in particular Not to Break the Sabbath of the Lord or Game at Cerds or get Drunk as I have Don. this is My advice and more in particular to mixt coulard people and youths of Every Kind. May the Blessing of G.o.d Desend upon you all Amen."
In the "Ess.e.x Gazette," Jan. 15, 1771, is an advertis.e.m.e.nt of a poem upon an execution.
_To be sold at the Printing-Office_, Salem.
A POEM on the Execution of
_William Shaw_, at _Springfield_, December 13, 1770, for the Murder of _Edward East_, in _Springfield_ Gaol.
We have seen an account of an execution where a sermon was preached at the prisoner"s request.
BOSTON COMMON AS A PLACE OF EXECUTION.
Boston Common was formerly often used for such a purpose. Quakers were hanged there in the middle of the seventeenth century, and we find in the "Salem Mercury" for Tuesday, Nov. 27, 1787, that the previous Thursday one John Sheehan was executed for burglary in this noted locality. Sheehan was a native of Cork in Ireland. With its cows and its executions, the Common must have presented a somewhat different appearance in those days from what it does at this time.
British convicts shipped to America in 1788.
Last week arrived at Fisher"s Island, the brig Nancy, belonging to this port, Capt. Robert W---- (a half-pay British officer) master, and landed his cargo, consisting of 140 convicts, taken out of the British jails. Capt. W. it is said, received 5l.
sterling a head from government for this job; and, we hear, he is distributing them about the country. Stand to it, houses, stores, &c., these gentry are acquainted with the business. Quere, whether a suit of T---- and F---- should not be provided for Capt. W. as a suitable compliment for this piece of service done his country?
_Salem Mercury_, July 15, 1788.
From the "Salem Gazette," 1784.
_July_ 30. During the long reign of Queen Elizabeth, it does not appear on record, that forty persons suffered death for crimes against the community, treason only excepted.
BOSTON, September 16, 1784.
At the Supreme Court held here on Thursday last, Direck Grout was tried for Burglary, and found guilty: sentence has not yet been pa.s.sed upon him.
The following prisoners were also tried last week for various thefts, found guilty, and received sentence, viz.
Cornelius Arie, to be whipt 25 stripes, and set one hour on the gallows.
Thomas Joice, to be whipt 25 stripes, and branded.
William Scott, to be whipt 25 stripes, and set one hour on the gallows.
John Goodbread, and Edward Cooper, 15 stripes each.
James Campbell, to be whipt 30 stripes, and set one hour on the gallows.
Michael Tool, to be whipt 20 stripes.
Three notorious villains yet remain to be tried for burglary, and several others for theft.
BOSTON, September 27.
Thursday last ten notorious villains received publick whipping, after which three of them were escorted, with halters round their necks, to the gallows, on which they sat one hour. They are again committed for costs, &c.
"Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette," 1786.
Johnson Green was executed, on Thursday last, at Worcester, for burglary. A greater thief and burglar was perhaps never hanged in this country.
From "Ma.s.sachusetts Centinel," Oct. 6, 1786.
BACKS "DRESS"D."
HARTFORD, October 2.
On Wednesday last, David Stillman, John Hawley and Thomas Gibbs were committed to jail in this city, for counterfeiting and pa.s.sing publick securities; and on Thursday last, Jonathan Densmore, of East-Hartford, was committed for stealing a horse.
Stillman and Hawley belong to the county of Hampshire, state of Ma.s.sachusetts. They are now in a fair way to have their grievances (and backs) dress"d and re-dress"d.
From "Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette," May 15, 1786.
NEW-YORK, May 6.
_Extract of a letter from Washington_ (North-Carolina), _March_ 27.