List of people executed in Massachusetts

This is a list of at least 351 people executed in Massachusetts, United States.[1][2] Capital punishment in Massachusetts was ruled unconstitutional and effectively abolished in 1984.[3]

1630–1699

Bracketed question marks ( [?] ) denote that only part of a person's name is known.

1630-1699: 103 executions
# Name Age Race Gender Occupation Crime Date of execution Method of execution County
1 John Billington 40 White Male ? Murder of John Newcomen 1630-09-30 Hanging Bristol
2 John Williams White Male Carpenter Murder-Robbery 1637 Hanging Worcester
3 William Schooler White Male Guide Murder 1637-09-23 Hanging Plymouth
4 Thomas Jackson White Male Indentured Servant[4] Murder-Robbery (part of the Peach Gang) 1638-09-04 Hanging Plymouth[5]
5 Arthur Peach 18-20 White Male Indentured Servant[4] Murder-Robbery (part of the Peach Gang) 1638-09-04 Hanging Plymouth[5]
6 Richard Stinnings White Male Indentured Servant[4] Murder-Robbery (part of the Peach Gang) 1638-09-04 Hanging Plymouth[5]
7 Dorothy Talbye White Female Housewife Murder 1638-12-06 Hanging Plymouth
8 William Hackett 18 White Male Servant Sodomy/Buggery/Bestiality 1641-12-10 Hanging Plymouth
9 Thomas Granger 17 White Male Servant Sodomy/Buggery/Bestiality 1642-09-08 Hanging Suffolk
10 James Britton White Male ? Adultery 1643-03-21 Hanging Suffolk
11 Mary Latham 18 White Female Housewife Adultery 1643-03-21 Hanging Plymouth
12 William Franklin White Male Farmer Murder 1644-04-08 Hanging Suffolk
13 Mary Martin 22 White Female Servant Murder 1646 Hanging Suffolk
14 Alice Bishop White Female ? Murder 1648 Hanging Suffolk
15 Margaret Jones White Female Housewife Witchcraft 1648-06-15 Hanging Suffolk
16 [?] Kendall White Female Housewife Witchcraft 1651 Hanging Plymouth
17 Mary Parsons White Female Housewife Witchcraft 1651-05-29 Hanging Suffolk
18 Ann Hibbens White Female Widow Witchcraft 1656-06-19 Hanging Middlesex
19 William Robinson White Male ? Being a Quaker/Boston Martyr 1659-01-22 Hanging Suffolk
20 Marmaduke Stevenson White Male ? Being a Quaker/Boston Martyr 1659-01-22 Hanging Suffolk
21 Mary Dyer White Female Housewife Being a Quaker/Boston Martyr 1660-06-01 Hanging Suffolk
22 William Leddra White Male ? Being a Quaker/Boston Martyr 1661-03-14 Hanging Suffolk
23 Samuel Bellamy ? Male Pirate Piracy 1661 Hanging Suffolk
24 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1661 Hanging Suffolk
25 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1661 Hanging Suffolk
26 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1661 Hanging Suffolk
27 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1661 Hanging Suffolk
28 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1661 Hanging Suffolk
29 [Unknown] Native American Male ? Murder 1670 Hanging Suffolk
30 [Unknown] (son of Matoonas)[6] Native American Male ? Murder 1671 Hanging Suffolk
31 William Forrest ? Male Pirate Piracy 1672 Hanging Suffolk
32 Alexander Wilson ? Male Pirate Piracy 1672 Hanging Suffolk
33 John Smith ? Male Pirate Piracy 1672 Hanging Suffolk
34 Tom Native American Male ? Rape 1674 Hanging Suffolk
35 [Unknown] ? Male ? Murder 1674-01-18 Hanging Suffolk
36 [Unknown] ? Male ? Murder 1674-01-18 Hanging ?
37 Benjamin Gourd 17 White Male ? Sodomy/Buggery/Bestiality 1674-04-02 Hanging Suffolk
38 Samuel Guile White Male ? Rape 1675-01-16 Hanging Suffolk
39 Nicholas Feavor White Male Servant Murder 1675-03-18 Hanging Suffolk
40 Robert Driver White Male Servant Murder 1675-03-18 Hanging Suffolk
41[7] Tobias Native American Male ? Murder 1675-06-08 Hanging Plymouth
42[7] Mattashunnamo Native American Male ? Murder 1675-06-08 Hanging Plymouth
43[7] Wampapaquan Native American Male ? Murder 1675-06 (after June 8) Shooting Plymouth
44 John Littlejohn Native American Male ? Murder 1675-09-22 Hanging Suffolk
45 Samuel Guile, Jr.[8] 32 White Male ? Rape 1675-10-16 Hanging Suffolk
46 Basto (Cox) Black Male Slave Rape 1676 Hanging Suffolk
47 Matoonas Native American Male ? Murder 1676-07-27 Shooting Suffolk
48 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
49 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
50 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
51 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
52 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
53 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
54 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
55 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 Shooting Suffolk
56 Daniel Goble White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk
57 Stephen Goble White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk
58 Daniel Hoare White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk
59 Nathaniel Wilder White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk
60 Marja (Lamb) Black Female Slave Arson 1681-09-22 Burning Suffolk
61 Jack (Wolcott) Black Male Slave Arson 1681-09-22 Hanging Suffolk
62 William Cheney White Male Planter Rape 1681-09-22 Hanging Suffolk
63 Mrs. Henry Lake White Female Housewife Witchcraft 1684 Hanging Suffolk
64 James Morgan White Male ? Murder 1685-03-11 Hanging Suffolk
65 Ann Glover White Female Housewife Witchcraft 1688-11-16 Hanging ?
66 Samuel Watts ? Male Pirate Murder 1689 Hanging Suffolk
67 William Coward ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-17 Hanging Suffolk
68 Thomas Johnson ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-17 Hanging Suffolk
69 James Hawkins White Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
70 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
71 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
72 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
73 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
74 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
75 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
76 [Unknown] ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk
77 Pammatoock Native American Male ? Murder 1689-09-26 Hanging Suffolk
78 Hugh Stone White Male ? Murder 1690 Hanging Suffolk
79 Rebecca Nurse 71 White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Dukes
80 Susannah Martin White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Essex
81 Elizabeth Howe White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Essex
82 Sarah Wildes White Female Housewife Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Essex
83 George Jacobs, Sr. White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex
84 John Willard White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex
85 John Proctor White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex
86 Martha Carrier White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex
87 George Burroughs White Male Clergyman Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex
88 Giles Corey White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-16 Pressing Essex
89 Mary Parker White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
90 Alice Parker White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
91 Mary Eastey White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
92 Martha Corey White Female Housewife Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
93 Ann Pudeator White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
94 Wilmot Redd White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
95 Margaret Scott White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
96 Samuel Wardwell White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
97 Bridget Bishop White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
98 Sarah Good White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex
99 Elizabeth Emmerson 28 White Female ? Murder (Infanticide)[9] 1693-06-08 Hanging Essex
100 Grace [?][9] Black Female Indentured Servant[9] Murder (Infanticide)[10] 1693-06-08 Hanging Essex
101 Susanna Andrews White Female ? Concealment of birth 1696 Hanging Suffolk
102 Sarah Threeneedles[11] ? Female ? Murder 1698-11-17 Hanging Suffolk
103 Sarah Smith White Female ? Murder 1699 Hanging Plymouth

1700–1799

1700-1799: 107 executions
# Name Age Race Gender Occupation Crime Date of execution Method of execution County
1 Esther Rodgers 21 White Female Servant Murder 1701-07-15 Hanging Suffolk
2 Finch Native American Male ? ? 1704 Hanging Suffolk
3 John Lambert White Male Pirate Piracy 1704-06-30 Hanging Essex
4 John Miller White Male Pirate Piracy 1704-06-30 Hanging Nantucket
5 Erastus Petersen White Male Pirate Piracy 1704-06-30 Hanging Suffolk
6 John Quelch White Male Pirate Piracy 1704-06-30 Hanging Suffolk
7 Peter Roach White Male Pirate Piracy 1704-06-30 Hanging Suffolk
8 Christopher Scudamore White Male Pirate Piracy 1704-06-30 Hanging Suffolk
9 Josias [?] Native American Male ? Murder 1709-01-12 Hanging Suffolk
10 Joseph [?] Native American Male ? Murder 1709-01-12 Hanging Suffolk
11 Betty [?] Black Female ? ? 1712 Hanging Suffolk
12 David Wallis White Male Sailor Murder 1713-09 Hanging Suffolk
13 Margaret Callahan ? Female ? Murder 1715-06-04 Hanging ?
14 Jeremiah Fenwick White Male ? Murder 1717 Hanging Suffolk
15 Thomas Baker White Male ? Piracy 1715-11-15 Hanging Suffolk
16 Peter Hoof White Male ? Piracy 1715-11-15 Hanging Suffolk
17 John Brown White Male ? Piracy 1715-11-15 Hanging Suffolk
18 John Shuan White Male ? Piracy 1715-11-15 Hanging Suffolk
19 Simon Van Vorst White Male ? Piracy 1715-11-15 Hanging Suffolk
20 Hendrick Quintos White Male ? Piracy 1715-11-15 Hanging Suffolk
21 Joseph Hanno Black Male ? Murder 1721-05-25 Hanging Suffolk
22 [Unknown] Black Male ? Arson 1723 Hanging Suffolk
23 John Archer 27 White Male Seaman Piracy 1724-06-02 Hanging Suffolk
24 William White 22 White Male Seaman Piracy 1724-06-02 Hanging Suffolk
25 Samuel Cole ? Male Seaman Piracy 1726 Hanging Suffolk
26 William Fly White Male Seaman Piracy 1726 Hanging Suffolk
27 Henry Grenvil ? Male Seaman Piracy 1726 Hanging Suffolk
28 [Unknown] Black Male Slave Murder 1729 Hanging Suffolk
29 Richard Wilson White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1732-01-13 Hanging Suffolk
30 Quincy Julian Native American Male Slave Murder 1733-03-22 Hanging Middlesex
31 Rebekah Chamblit 27 White Female ? Infanticide 1733-09-27 Hanging Suffolk
32 Amaziah Harding White Male ? Murder 1734-06 Hanging Suffolk
33 Matthew Cushing 22 ? Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1734-10-17 Hanging Suffolk
34 John Ormsby ? Male ? Murder 1734-10-17 Hanging Barnstable
35 Sabo J. Nobby Native American Male ? ? 1736 Hanging Suffolk
36 Hugh Henderson 30 White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1737-11-26 Hanging Suffolk
37 Philip Kennison ? Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1738-09-13 Hanging Nantucket
38 Heppy Comfort Native American Male ? ? 1739 Hanging Worcester
39 [Garnier] Black Male Slave Arson 1741-01 Hanging Middlesex
40 Jeffrey [?] Black Male Slave Murder 1745 Hanging Nantucket
41 [Unknown] Black ? Slave ? 1749 Hanging Suffolk
42 [Unknown] Black ? Slave ? 1749 Burning Worcester
43 Henry Jude Native American Male ? ? 1750 Hanging ?
44 David [?] Black Male Servant Murder 1751-05-16 Hanging ?
45 William Welch ? Male ? Murder 1754-04-11 Hanging Nantucket
46 William Weir ? Male ? Murder 1754-11-19 Hanging Suffolk
47 Mark Codman Black Male Slave Murder 1755-09-18 Hanging Suffolk
48 Phillis Codman Black Female Slave Murder 1755-09-18 Burning Suffolk
49 John Harrington White Male ? Murder 1757-03-17 Hanging Middlesex
50 Bristol [?] 16 Black Male ? Murder 1763-12-01 Hanging Middlesex
51 Joseph Lightley ? Male ? Murder 1765-11-21 Hanging Middlesex
52 Nathan Quibby Native American Male ? Murder 1768-05-26 Hanging Bristol
53 Arthur [?] 21 Black Male Slave Rape 1767-10-20 Hanging Middlesex
54 Richard Ames White Male Soldier Desertion 1768-01-31 Shooting Nantucket
55 Tom Ichabod Native American Male ? ? 1769 Hanging Worcester
56 Joel Elisa Native American Male ? ? 1769 Hanging Suffolk
57 Simon Hews Native American Male ? ? 1769 Hanging Nantucket
58 William Lindsay ? Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1770-01-25 Hanging Nantucket
59 William Shaw White Male ? Murder 1770-12-13 Hanging Nantucket
60 Bryan Sheehan 39 White Male ? Rape 1772-01-16 Hanging Worcester
61 Levi Ames White Male ? Murder 1773-01-21 Hanging Hampden
62 Valentine Ducat White Male Soldier Desertion 1774-09-01 Shooting Essex
63 William Ferguson White Male Soldier Desertion 1774-12-24 Shooting Suffolk
64 Elijah Woodward White Male Soldier Desertion 1777-01-05 Shooting Suffolk
65 William Brooks White Male Soldier Murder 1778-07-02 Hanging Suffolk
66 James Buchanan 30 White Male Soldier Murder 1778-07-02 Hanging Suffolk
67 Ezra Ross 16 White Male Soldier Murder 1778-07-02 Hanging Worcester
68 Bathsheba Spooner 32 White Female Housewife Murder 1778-07-02 Hanging Worcester
69 Robert Young 29 White Male Soldier Rape 1779-11-11 Hanging Worcester
70 William Huggins White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1783-06-19 Hanging Worcester
71 John Mansfield White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1783-06-19 Hanging Worcester
72 Cassumo Garcelli 23 White Male ? Murder 1784-01-15 Hanging Worcester
73 Dirick Grout (or Dirach Grout)[12] 36 White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1784-01-28 Hanging Worcester
74 Francis Coven (or Francis Couvin)[12] 22 White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1784-01-28 Hanging Suffolk
75 John Dixson (or John Dixon)[12] White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1784-11-11 Hanging Suffolk
76 Alexander White 22 White Male Seaman Murder-Robbery 1784-11-18 Hanging Suffolk
77 Richard Barrick ? Male ? Robbery 1784-11-18 Hanging Bristol
78 John Sullivan ? Male ? Robbery 1784-11-18 Hanging Middlesex
79 Thomas Archibald ? Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1785-05-05 Hanging Middlesex
80 William Scott ? Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1785-05-05 Hanging Hampshire
81 Hannah Piggen (or Hannah Piggin, or Hannah Pigeon)[11] ? Female ? Concealment of birth 1785-07-21[12] Hanging Hampshire
82 Johnson Greene (or Johnson Green)[12] 29 Black Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1786-08-17 Hanging Suffolk
83 Isaac Combs (or Isaac Coombs)[12] 39 Native American Male Peddler Murder 1786-12-21 Hanging Suffolk
84 Peter Wilcox, Jr. ? Male ? Murder ? Hanging Berkshire
85 John Sheehan (or John Shean)[12] 24 White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1787-11-22 Hanging Worcester
86 John Bly White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1787-12-06 Hanging Essex
87 Charles Rose White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1787-12-06 Hanging Suffolk
88 William Clarke ? Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1787-12-06 Hanging Hampshire
89 Joseph Taylor ? Male ? Robbery 1788-05-08 Hanging Berkshire
90 Archibald Taylor ? Male ? Robbery 1788-05-08 Hanging Berkshire
91 Abigail Converse (or Abiel Converse,[11] or Abiah Converse)[12] 32[13] White[13][a] Female ? Murder of her illegitimate child[14] 1788-07-06 Hanging Suffolk
92[12] John O'Neil ? Male ? Murder 1788-09-04 Hanging Bristol
93 William Danesse (or William Denossee)[12] ? Male ? Robbery 1789-10-08 Hanging Suffolk
94 William Smith ? Male ? Robbery 1789-10-08 Hanging Hampshire
95 Rachel Wall 29 Female Pirate Robbery 1789-10-08 Hanging Suffolk
96 Edward Vail Brown[12] White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1790-10-14 Hanging Suffolk
97 John Bailey Black Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1790-10-14 Hanging Suffolk
98 Samuel Hadlock ? Male ? Murder 1790-10-28 Hanging Lincoln
99 Samuel Frost 29 White Male Farmhand Murder 1793-10-31 Hanging Suffolk
100 John Baptiste Collins ? Male Pirate Piracy and Murder on the High Seas 1794-07-30 Hanging Suffolk
101 Emanuel Furtado (or Manuel Furtado, or Edmund Fortis)[12] ? Male Pirate Piracy and Murder on the High Seas 1794-07-30 Hanging Worcester
102 Augustus Palacha (or Augustus Poleski) ? Male Pirate Piracy and Murder on the High Seas 1794-07-30 Hanging Suffolk
103 Pomp [Furbish] Black Male Slave Murder 1795-08-06 (or 1795-08-10)[12] Hanging Suffolk
104 Henry Blackburn (or Henry Blackbourne)[12] White Male Chimney Sweep Murder-Robbery 1796-01-14 Hanging Suffolk
105 John Stewart White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1797-04-06 Hanging Essex
106 Stephen Smith[15] 28 Black Male Escaped Slave Housebreaking/Burglary 1797-10-12 Hanging Essex
107 Samuel Smith ? Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1799-12-26 Hanging Middlesex

1800–1899

1800-1899: 80 executions
# Name Age Race Gender Occupation Crime Date of execution Method of execution County
1 Jason Fairbanks 21 White Male ? Murder 1801-09-10 Hanging Suffolk
2 Ebenezer Mason White Male Laborer Murder 1802-01-07 Hanging Suffolk
3 John Battles (or John Battes, or John Battis)[12] 19 Black Male ? Murder-Rape 1804-11-08 Hanging Norfolk
4 Ephiram Wheeler (or Ephraim Wheeler)[12] White Male ? Rape 1806-02-06 Hanging Hampshire
5 Dominic Daley 36 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1806-06-05 Hanging Norfolk
6 James Halligan 28 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1806-06-05 Hanging Norfolk
7 Joseph Drew ? Male ? Murder 1808-07-21 Hanging ?
8 Ebenezer Ball ? Male ? Murder 1811-10-31 Hanging ?
9 Samuel Tully 42 White Male Pirate Piracy 1812-12-10 Hanging Hampshire
10 Henry Pyner Black Male ? Rape 1813-11-05 Hanging Suffolk
11 Ezra Hutchinson ? Male ? Rape 1813-11-18 Hanging Berkshire
12 Henry Phillips White Male Seaman Murder 1817-03-13 Hanging Berkshire
13 John Williams 30 White Male Seaman Piracy and Murder on the High Seas 1819-02-18 Hanging Hampshire
14 Francis Frederick White Male Seaman Piracy and Murder on the High Seas 1819-02-18 Hanging Suffolk
15 John P. Rog 30 White Male Seaman Piracy and Murder on the High Seas 1819-02-18 Hanging Suffolk
16 Peter Peterson (or Nils Peterson) 20 White Male Seaman Piracy and Murder on the High Seas 1819-02-18 Hanging Suffolk
17 Peter Johnson Black Male ? Rape 1819-11-25 Hanging Suffolk
18 Michael Powers 51 White Male Laborer Murder 1820-05-25 Hanging Suffolk
19 Warren Fawsett (or Thomas Warrington) ? Male Pirate Murder on the High Seas 1820-06-15 Hanging Berkshire
20 William Holmes ? Male Pirate Murder on the High Seas 1820-06-15 Hanging Suffolk
21 Edward Rosewaine ? Male Pirate Murder on the High Seas 1820-06-15 Hanging Suffolk
22 Stephen Clarke (or Stephen M. Clark) 16 White Male ? Arson 1821-05-10 Hanging Suffolk
23 Michael Martin 46 White Male Highwayman Robbery 1821-12-20 Hanging Suffolk
24 Samuel Clisby ? Male ? Robbery 1822-03-07 Hanging Essex
25 Gilbert Close ? Male ? Robbery 1822-03-07 Hanging Middlesex
26 Samuel Green 26 White Male Convict Murder 1822-04-25 Hanging Suffolk
27 Perez Anthony (or Perry Anthony) Black Male Seaman Murder 1824-12-21 Hanging Suffolk
28 Horace Carter White Male ? Rape 1825-12-07 (or 1825-12-08) Hanging Suffolk
29 John Holloran White Male ? Murder 1826-03-03 Hanging Suffolk
30 Samuel Chase (or Samuel P. Charles) Native American Male ? Murder 1826-11-22 (or 1826-11-26) Hanging Worcester
31 Duncan White White Male Seaman Piracy 1827-02-01 Hanging Suffolk
32 Winslow Curtis White Male Seaman Piracy 1827-02-01 Hanging Berkshire
33 John Boies White Male ? Murder 1829-07-07 Hanging Suffolk
34 John F. Knapp 20 White Male Shipmaster Murder 1830-09-28 Hanging Suffolk
35 Joseph J. Knapp, Jr. White Male Shipmaster Murder 1830-12-31 Hanging Norfolk
36 Joseph Gadett Black Male Pirate Piracy 1831-07-01 Hanging Essex
37 Thomas Collinet Black Male Pirate Piracy 1831-07-01 Hanging Essex
38 Henry Joseph Black Male Seaman Piracy 1834-12-02 Hanging Suffolk
39 Pedro Gibbert Hispanic Male Seaman Piracy 1835-06-09 Hanging Suffolk
40 Manuel Boyga Hispanic Male Seaman Piracy 1835-06-09 Hanging Suffolk
41 Manuel Castello Hispanic Male Seaman Piracy 1835-06-09 Hanging Suffolk
42 Angel Garcia Hispanic Male Seaman Piracy 1835-06-09 Hanging Suffolk
43 Juan Montenegro Hispanic Male Seaman Piracy 1835-06-09 Hanging Suffolk
44 Francisco Ruiz Hispanic Male Seaman Piracy 1835-09-12 Hanging Suffolk
45 Simeon Crockett 27 White Male Carpenter Arson 1836-03-16 Hanging Suffolk
46 Stephen Russell White Male Carpenter Arson 1836-03-16 Hanging Suffolk
47[b] Thomas Barrett White Male ? Murder-Rape 1845-01-03 Hanging Suffolk
48 Washington Goode ? Male Seaman Murder 1849-05-25 Hanging Middlesex
49 Daniel H. Pearson[16][c] 41 White Male ? Murder 1850-07-20 Hanging Worcester
50 John White Webster White Male Medical professional Murder 1850-08-30 Hanging Suffolk
51 James Clough 29 White Male ? Murder 1854-04-28 Hanging Suffolk
52 Thomas Casey 22 White Male ? Murder 1854-09-29 Hanging Suffolk
53 James McGee ? Male Convict Murder 1858-06-25 Hanging Bristol
54 Alexander Desmarteau White Male ? Murder-Rape 1861-04-26 Hanging Middlesex
55 George Hersey 29 White Male Cobbler Murder 1862-08-08 Hanging Suffolk
56 James Callender Black Male ? Murder-Rape 1863-11-06 Hanging Norfolk
57 Edward Green 33 White Male Postmaster Murder-Robbery 1866-04-13 Hanging Norfolk
58 Silas James 31 White Male Gambler Murder-Robbery 1868-09-25 Hanging Berkshire
59 Charles James 22 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1868-09-25 Hanging Middlesex
60 James McElhaney White Male ? Murder 1873-03-21 Hanging Worcester
61 Albert Smith White Male ? Murder 1873-06-27 Hanging Worcester
62 William Sturtevant White Male Factory Worker Murder-Robbery 1875-05-02 Hanging Suffolk
63 James Costley White Male Innkeeper Murder 1875-06-25 Hanging Hampden
64 George Pemberton ? Male ? Murder 1875-01-08 Hanging Plymouth
65 Thomas W. Piper 27 White Male Church janitor Murder-Rape 1876-05-26 Hanging Norfolk
66 Samuel Frost White Male ? Murder 1876-05-26 Hanging Suffolk
67 John Ten Eyck 46 Black Male Laborer Murder-Robbery 1878-08-16 Hanging Suffolk
68 William Devlin White Male Mill foreman Murder 1879-03-13 Hanging Worcester
69 Alan Adams 44 White Male Whaler Murder 1881-04-16 Hanging Berkshire
70 Joseph Loomis ? Male ? Murder-Robbery 1883-03-08 Hanging Middlesex
71 Charles Williams Black Male ? Rape 1886-01-08 Hanging Hampshire
72 Samuel Besse ? Male ? Murder-Robbery 1887-03-10 Hanging Hampden
73 James Nowlin 18 White Male Milkman Murder-Robbery 1888-01-20 Hanging Middlesex
74 Walter Holmes ? Male ? Murder 1893-02-03 Hanging Plymouth
75 William Coy White Male Wood chopper Murder 1893-03-03 Hanging Middlesex
76 Daniel Robertson 49 White Male Carpenter Murder 1894-12-04 Hanging Hampden
77 Angus Gilbert White Male ? Murder-Rape 1896-02-21 Hanging Berkshire
78 Jack O'Neill White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1898-01-07 Hanging Bristol
79 Lorenz Barnes ? Male ? Murder-Burglary 1898-03-04 Hanging Suffolk
80 Dominique Krathofski 29 White Male ? Murder 1898-12-30 Hanging Franklin

1900–1947

In 1900, Massachusetts installed an electric chair in the Charlestown State Prison; all Massachusetts executions in the 20th century, and the remainder of Massachusetts' executions prior to abolition, were carried out by electrocution.[3]

1900-1947: 65 executions
# Name Age Race Gender Occupation Crime Date of execution Method of execution County
1 Luigi Storti 26 White Male ? Murder 1901-12-17 Electric chair Middlesex
2 Franciszek Umilian 34 White Male Farmhand Murder 1901-12-24 Electric chair Hampden
3 John Cassels 34 White Male Bike repairman Murder 1902-05-06 Electric chair Suffolk
4 John C. Best 37 White Male Farm laborer Murder 1902-09-09 Electric chair Essex
5 Charles Tucker 25 White Male Handyman Murder-Robbery 1906-06-12 Electric chair Hampden
6 John Schidlofski 29 White Male Barber Murder 1906-07-09 Electric chair Essex
7 Woon Hom 37 Asian Male Tong member Murder 1909-01-12 Electric chair Middlesex
8 Sing Min 31 Asian Male Tong member Murder 1909-01-12 Electric chair Middlesex
9 Gong Leong 19 Asian Male Tong member Murder 1909-01-12 Electric chair Suffolk
10 Napoleon Rivet 32 White Male ? Murder 1910-07-28 Electric chair Suffolk
11 Wassili Ivankowski 22 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1911-03-07 Electric chair Suffolk
12 Andrei Ipson 19 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1911-03-07 Electric chair Middlesex
13 Silas Phelps 39 White Male Paper worker Murder 1912-01-26 Electric chair Essex
14 Clarence Richeson 36 White Male Clergyman Murder 1912-05-21 Electric chair Essex
15 Harry Marshall 25 White Male Fireman Murder 1912-06-06 Electric chair Franklin
16 Bertram Spencer 31 White Male Clerk Murder-Burglary 1912-09-17 Electric chair Suffolk
17 Chester Jordan 33 White Male Vaudeville Murder 1912-09-24 Electric chair Plymouth
18 Stefan Borasky 26 White Male ? Murder 1913-06-24 Electric chair Hampden
19 William Door 31 White Male Businessman Murder 1914-03-24 Electric chair Middlesex
20 Biago Falzone 23 White Male ? Murder 1915-05-11 Electric chair Hampden
21 Anton Retkovitz 37 White Male ? Murder 1916-03-16 Electric chair Essex
22 Francis Ducharme 27 White Male Laborer Murder-Rape 1917-09-11 Electric chair Middlesex
23 Francisco Feci 37 White Male Laborer Murder 1920-08-16 Electric chair Bristol
24 Paul Dascalakis 30 White Male Waiter Murder 1923-07-14 Electric chair Hampden
25 Cyrille Vandenhecke 51 White Male Loom fixer Murder 1924-07-30 Electric chair Middlesex
26 Richard Stewart 32 Black Male ? Murder 1926-05-05 Electric chair Suffolk
27 John McLaughlin 30 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1927-01-06 Electric chair Essex
28 John Devereaux 25 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1927-01-06 Electric chair Middlesex
29 Edward Heinlein 26 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1927-01-06 Electric chair Middlesex
32 Nicola Sacco 36 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1927-08-23 Electric chair Norfolk
30 Bartolomeo Vanzetti 33 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1927-08-23 Electric chair Middlesex
31 Celestino Madeiros 24 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1927-08-23 Electric chair Middlesex
33 Jerry Gedzium 23 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1928-02-28 Electric chair Norfolk
34 Herbert Gleason 21 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1928-03-13 Electric chair Norfolk
35 Nathan DeSatnick 25 White Male Fruit peddler Murder 1928-07-17 Electric chair Middlesex
36 George Taylor 47 White Male Barber Murder-Rape 1929-03-06 Electric chair Middlesex
37 Frederick Knowlton, Jr. 37 White Male Businessman Murder 1929-05-14 Electric chair Worcester
38 Charles Trippi 22 White Male Convict Murder 1929-12-03 Electric chair Essex
39 Paul Hurley 20 White Male ? Murder 1931-09-15 Electric chair Middlesex
40 Joseph Belenski 38 White Male Farmhand Murder 1931-01-21 Electric chair Worcester
41 Sylvester Fernandes 24 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1932-08-12 Electric chair Norfolk
42 Ahmed Osman 37 Other Male ? Murder-Rape 1934-01-23 Electric chair Middlesex
43 Henry Bull 22 ? Male ? Murder 1934-02-22 Electric chair Barnstable
44 Herman Snyder 21 White Male ? Murder 1934-02-22 Electric chair Norfolk
45 John Donnellon 24 White Male ? Murder 1934-02-22 Electric chair Franklin
46 Alexander Kaminski 25 White Male Jail prisoner Murder 1935-02-19 Electric chair Middlesex
47 Abraham Faber 25 White Male Businessman Murder-Robbery 1935-06-07 Electric chair Middlesex
48 Irving Millen 22 White Male Criminal Murder-Robbery 1935-06-07 Electric chair Hampden
49 Murton Millen 25 White Male Criminal Murder-Robbery 1935-06-07 Electric chair Norfolk
50 Miller Clark 44 White Male Truck driver Murder-Rape 1936-01-14 Electric chair Norfolk
51 Newell Sherman 27 White Male Machinist Murder 1936-08-04 Electric chair Norfolk
52 Anthony Distasio 25 White Male ? Murder 1938-01-18 Electric chair Suffolk
53 Frank Distasio 52 White Male Candy dealer Murder 1938-01-18 Electric chair Worcester
54 Edward Simpson 43 White Male Ex-convict Murder 1938-05-13 Electric chair Middlesex
55 Walter St. Saveur 22 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1939-08-02 Electric chair Middlesex
56 Wallace Green 22 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1939-08-02 Electric chair Middlesex
57 Joseph Rousseau 29 White Male ? Murder 1941-04-22 Electric chair Middlesex
58 Paul Giacomazza 19 White Male ? Murder 1942-06-30 Electric chair Middlesex
59 James Nickerson 22 ? Male ? Murder 1942-06-30 Electric chair Norfolk
60 Joseph E. Sheppard 25 White Male Mental patient Murder 1943-06-25 Electric chair Middlesex
61 Donald Millard 19 White Male Mental patient Murder 1943-06-25 Electric chair Middlesex
62 Robert Hayward Gray[17] 34 Black[18] Male Handyman[17] Murder-Robbery[19] 1943-06-25 Electric chair Suffolk
63 Raphael Skopp 36 White Male ? Murder-Robbery 1946-08-16 Electric chair Plymouth
64 Philip Bellino 32 White Male Gangster Murder 1947-05-09 Electric chair Suffolk
65 Edward Gertsen 35 White Male Gangster Murder 1947-05-09 Electric chair Suffolk

Notes

  1. ^ The source states that Abigail/Abiel Converse's family lineage can be traced back to Edward Convers, one of the earliest settlers of the Plymouth Colony in 1630, making it highly likely Abigail/Abiel Converse was white.
  2. ^ The Espy Files list a 13-year-old boy as having been hanged for arson in Suffolk County on an unknown day in 1837. M. Watt Espy's notes state that this boy was an "Irish orphan" who was executed by hanging in Suffolk County according to the Times-Picayune located out of Louisiana. Further digging shows this boy's name was Michael Monohon (or Michael Monohan). Some reports say Michael was hanged in Lowell, Massachusetts, on either 06/10/1837, or 06/17/1837. Other reports state that his sentence was commuted to a lifetime of hard labor very shortly before he was scheduled to be executed. Due to the uncertainty around this case, he will not be included in this table or in the final count of Massachusetts executions.
  3. ^ The Espy Files list his name as just "Pierson," without providing a first name, age, or race.

References regarding Michael Monohon[20][21][22][23]

References

  1. ^ "The Espy Files" (PDF). Death Penalty Information Center. 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  2. ^ Report of the Select Committee of the House of Representatives (PDF). Boston, Massachusetts: Massachusetts House of Representatives. 1831-01-06. pp. 91–93. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-13.
  3. ^ a b "Massachusetts". Death Penalty Information Center. Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-06-04.
  4. ^ a b c "From Thanksgiving to War: Native Americans in Criminal Cases of Plymouth Colony, 1630-1675". University of Virginia. Archived from the original on 2021-11-30 – via University of Illinois.
  5. ^ a b c "Crime and Punishment in Plymouth Colony". Mayflower History. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2023-07-28. Arthur Peach, Thomas Jackson, Richard Stinnings and Daniel Cross were convicted of murdering an Indian named Penowanyanquis in 1638: the motive was robbery. Daniel Cross escaped custody, but the others were executed by hanging. The triple-hanging sent a strong message that Plymouth Colony would treat the murder of Native Americans equally.
  6. ^ Hanson, Robert Brand (1976). Dedham, Massachusetts: 1635–1890. Dedham, Massachusetts: Dedham Historical Society. p. 90.
  7. ^ a b c Ronda, James P.; Ronda, Jeanne (Summer 1974). "The Death of John Sassamon: An Exploration in Writing New England Indian History". American Indian Quarterly. 1 (2): 91–102. doi:10.2307/1183890. JSTOR 1183890 – via JSTOR.
  8. ^ Noble, John (1901). Records of the Court of assistants of the colony of the Massachusetts bay, 1630-1692, Vol. 1. Boston: County of Suffolk. p. 50.
  9. ^ a b c "Puritan Child Killers: Hannah Duston and Her Sister". New England Historical Society. Archived from the original on 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
  10. ^ Roach, Marilynne K. (2002). The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community under Siege (1st Taylor Trade Publishing ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. pp. 398–406. ISBN 1589791320.
  11. ^ a b c Jones, Ann (2009). Women Who Kill. New York: The Feminist Press at CUNY. ISBN 9781558616523.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Smith, J.S. (1890). Hale, Edward Everett (ed.). Lend a Hand: A Record of Progress. Vol. 5. Boston: J. Stilman Smith & Co. p. 67.
  13. ^ a b "The Hanging of Abiel Converse" (PDF). Chester Historical Society. 1 (1): 2–3. March 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-07-15.
  14. ^ Bascom, Aaron (1788). A sermon, preached at the execution of Abiel Converse, who was executed at Northampton for the murder of her infant bastard child, July 6th, 1788. / By Aaron Bascom, A.M. Pastor of the church in Chester. Northampton, Massachusetts: William Butler.
  15. ^ Rogers, Alan (2008). Murder and the Death Penalty in Massachusetts (PDF). Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press. pp. 39–63. ISBN 9781558496330. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-06-21.
  16. ^ "Execution of D.H. Pearson for the Murder of His Wife and Twin Children". Boston Evening Transcript. 1850-07-26. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
  17. ^ a b "Gray Appeals Sentence to Electric Chair". Boston Globe. 1942-11-14. p. 16. Archived from the original on 2023-07-16. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  18. ^ "Three Executed at Bridgewater; 'Letter' Probe Looms". Athol Daily News. 1943-06-25. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2023-07-16. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  19. ^ "COMMONWEALTH vs. ROBERT HAYWARD GRAY". Justia. 1943-05-28. Archived from the original on 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  20. ^ "JUDICIAL CRUELTY". The Times-Picayune. 1837-07-04. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Judicial Vengeance". The Baltimore Sun. 1837-06-19. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "On Judicial Vengeance". The Baltimore Sun. 1837-06-27. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-12 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "We understand that Michael Monohan, the lad who was recently sentenced to be hung..." The Baltimore Sun. 1837-07-14. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-12 – via Newspapers.com.