Loading your reading…

The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman: Who Murdered Their Master at Charlestown, Mass., in 1755; for Which the Man Was Hanged and Gibbeted, and the Woman Was Burned to Death. Including, Also, Some Account of Other Punishments by Burning in Massachusetts — John Shaqi

History

The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman: Who Murdered Their Master at Charlestown, Mass., in 1755; for Which the Man Was Hanged and Gibbeted, and the Woman Was Burned to Death. Including, Also, Some Account of Other Punishments by Burning in Massachusetts

Name: The Trial and Execution, for Petit Treason, of Mark and Phillis, Slaves of Capt. John Codman: Who Murdered Their Master at Charlestown, Mass., in 1755; for Which the Man Was Hanged and Gibbeted, and the Woman Was Burned to Death. Including, Also, Some Account of Other Punishments by Burning in Massachusetts
Author: Goodell, Abner Cheney

Goodell, Abner Cheney

African American criminals -- Massachusetts; Mark (Slave) -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Phillis (Slave) -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Treason) -- Massachusetts

By the Honoble. Stephen Sewall Esqr: Chief Justice
                               Benjamin Lynde[4] }
                               John Cushing &    } Esquires Justices
                               Chambers Russell  }

[Footnote 4: Judge Lynde makes a memorandum of this trial, and of the
particulars of the executions, in his diary under date of July 9,
1755.--Lynde Diaries (privately printed, 1880), p. 179.--EDS. OF
PROCEEDINGS.]

[_After reciting the words of the indictment, the record proceeds as
follows, being, as far as where the record of the trial and sentence
begins, an extension of a memorandum on the indictment._]

Upon this Indictment the said Phillis was arraigned and upon her
arraignment pleaded not guilty and for trial put herself upon God and
the Country and the said Mark was also arraigned upon this Indictment
and upon his arraignment pleaded not Guilty and for trial put himself
upon God and the Country, a Jury was thereupon Sworne to try the issue
Mr. John Miller Foreman and fellows who having fully heared the
Evidence went out to consider thereof and returned with their verdicts
and upon their oath's say'd that the said Phillis is Guilty, and that
the said Mark is Guilty, upon which the prisoners were remanded, and
being again brot and set to the Bar, the Kings Attorney moved the
Court that Judgment of Death might be given against them, whereupon
they were asked by the chief Justice if they had ought to say why
Judgment of Death should not be given against them, and having nothing
material to offer Judgment of Death was pronounced against them by the
chief Justice in the name of the Court in form following that is to
Say that the said Phillis go from hence to the place where she came
from, and from thence to the place of Execution & there be burnt to
Death, and that the said Mark go from hence to the place where he came
from, and from thence be drawn to the place of Execution and there be
hanged by the neck until he be dead and God Almighty have mercy upon
their Souls. Ordered that these Sentences be put into Execution upon
thursday the eighth[5] day of September next between the hours of one
and five of the Clock in the Afternoon.

[Footnote 5: An error. It should have been "eighteenth."]

Warrant issued Sep. 6. 1755.


[_Writ of execution, or death-warrant._]

PROVINCE OF THE   } _George the second by the Grace of God of
MASSACHUSETTS BAY }  Great Britain France and Ireland King
MIDDLESEX ss.     }  Defender of the Faith &Ca_

SEAL.  To Richard Foster Esqr. Sheriff of our County of Middlesex
       in Said Province

Greeting

No reviews yet