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.

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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.

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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.

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    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
    passed 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.

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    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.

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“Massachusetts Gazette,” 1786.