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]
Bracketed question marks ( [?] ) denote that only part of a person's name is known.
1630-1699: 102 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 Talby 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 Basto (Cox) Black Male Slave Rape 1676 Hanging Suffolk 46 Matoonas Native American Male ? Murder 1676-07-27 Shooting Suffolk 47 [Unknown] Native American Male ? ? 1676 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 Daniel Goble White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk 56 Stephen Goble White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk 57 Daniel Hoare White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk 58 Nathaniel Wilder White Male ? Murder 1676 Hanging Suffolk 59 Marja (Lamb) Black Female Slave Arson 1681-09-22 Burning Suffolk 60 Jack (Wolcott) Black Male Slave Arson 1681-09-22 Hanging Suffolk 61 William Cheney White Male Planter Rape 1681-09-22 Hanging Suffolk 62 Mrs. Henry Lake White Female Housewife Witchcraft 1684 Hanging Suffolk 63 James Morgan White Male ? Murder 1685-03-11 Hanging Suffolk 64 Ann Glover White Female Housewife Witchcraft 1688-11-16 Hanging ? 65 Samuel Watts ? Male Pirate Murder 1689 Hanging Suffolk 66 William Coward ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-17 Hanging Suffolk 67 Thomas Johnson ? Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-17 Hanging Suffolk 68 James Hawkins White Male Pirate Piracy 1689-01-27 Hanging Suffolk 69 [Unknown] ? 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 Pammatoock Native American Male ? Murder 1689-09-26 Hanging Suffolk 77 Hugh Stone White Male ? Murder 1690 Hanging Suffolk 78 Rebecca Nurse 71 White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Dukes 79 Susannah Martin White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Essex 80 Elizabeth Howe White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Essex 81 Sarah Wildes White Female Housewife Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-07-19 Hanging Essex 82 George Jacobs, Sr. White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex 83 John Willard White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex 84 John Proctor White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex 85 Martha Carrier White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex 86 George Burroughs White Male Clergyman Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-08-19 Hanging Essex 87 Giles Corey White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-16 Pressing Essex 88 Mary Parker White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 89 Alice Parker White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 90 Mary Eastey White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 91 Martha Corey White Female Housewife Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 92 Ann Pudeator White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 93 Wilmot Redd White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 94 Margaret Scott White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 95 Samuel Wardwell White Male ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 96 Bridget Bishop White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 97 Sarah Good White Female ? Witchcraft/Salem witch trials 1692-09-22 Hanging Essex 98 Elizabeth Emmerson 28 White Female ? Murder (Infanticide )[ 8] 1693-06-08 Hanging Essex 99 Grace [?][ 8] Black Female Indentured Servant[ 8] Murder (Infanticide)[ 9] 1693-06-08 Hanging Essex 100 Susanna Andrews White Female ? Concealment of birth 1696 Hanging Suffolk 101 Sarah Threeneedles[ 10] ? Female ? Murder 1698-11-17 Hanging Suffolk 102 Sarah Smith White Female ? Murder 1699 Hanging Plymouth
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 Rebecca Chamblett 27 White Female ? Concealment of birth 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)[ 11] 36 White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1784-01-28 Hanging Worcester 74 Francis Coven (or Francis Couvin)[ 11] 22 White Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1784-01-28 Hanging Suffolk 75 John Dixson (or John Dixon)[ 11] 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)[ 10] ? Female ? Concealment of birth 1785-07-21[ 11] Hanging Hampshire 82 Johnson Greene (or Johnson Green)[ 11] 29 Black Male ? Housebreaking/Burglary 1786-08-17 Hanging Suffolk 83 Isaac Combs (or Isaac Coombs)[ 11] 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)[ 11] 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,[ 10] or Abiah Converse)[ 11] 32[ 12] White[ 12] [ a] Female ? Murder of her illegitimate child[ 13] 1788-07-06 Hanging Suffolk 92[ 11] John O'Neil ? Male ? Murder 1788-09-04 Hanging Bristol 93 William Danesse (or William Denossee)[ 11] ? Male ? Robbery 1789-10-08 Hanging Suffolk 94 William Smith ? Male ? Robbery 1789-10-08 Hanging Hampshire 95 Rachel Wall ? Female ? Robbery 1789-10-08 Hanging Suffolk 96 Edward Vail Brown[ 11] 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)[ 11] ? 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)[ 11] Hanging Suffolk 104 Henry Blackburn (or Henry Blackbourne)[ 11] 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[ 14] 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: 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)[ 11] 19 Black Male ? Murder-Rape 1804-11-08 Hanging Norfolk 4 Ephiram Wheeler (or Ephraim Wheeler)[ 11] 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[ 15] [ c] 41 White Male ? Murder 1850-07-20 Hanging Worcester 50 John 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
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 Hampshire 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[ 16] 34 Black[ 17] Male Handyman[ 16] Murder-Robbery[ 18] 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
^ 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. ^ 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. ^ The Espy Files list his name as just "Pierson," without providing a first name, age, or race. References regarding Michael Monohon[ 19] [ 20] [ 21] [ 22]
^ "The Espy Files" (PDF) . Death Penalty Information Center . 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-06-04 . ^ 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. ^ a b "Massachusetts" . Death Penalty Information Center . Archived from the original on 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2023-06-04 . ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ Hanson, Robert Brand (1976). Dedham, Massachusetts: 1635–1890 . Dedham, Massachusetts: Dedham Historical Society. p. 90. ^ 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. ^ 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 . ^ 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 . ^ a b c Jones, Ann (2009). Women Who Kill . New York: The Feminist Press at CUNY . ISBN 9781558616523 . ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ 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. ^ "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 . ^ 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 . ^ "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 . ^ "COMMONWEALTH vs. ROBERT HAYWARD GRAY" . Justia . 1943-05-28. Archived from the original on 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-16 . ^ "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 . ^ "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 . ^ "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 . ^ "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 .