Bathsheba Spooner
First woman to be executed in the United States by Americans
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Q: Who was Bathsheba Spooner?
A: Bathsheba Spooner (February 15, 1746 – July 2, 1778) was the first woman to be executed in the United States following the Declaration of Independence. She was convicted of the murder of her husband, Joshua Spooner, on March 1, 1778.
Q: What was the motive for Bathsheba Spooner's crime?
A: Bathsheba wanted to kill her husband because she was having an affair with a British soldier named Ezra Ross, and she believed that by killing Joshua, she could marry Ross and escape to the British lines.
Q: What was the process of Bathsheba Spooner's trial?
A: During her trial, Bathsheba Spooner was defended by Josiah Quincy, Jr. — later the father of the celebrated President of Harvard Josiah Quincy and grandfather of President Grover Cleveland's wife, Frances Folsom. Nevertheless, the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and she was sentenced to death by hanging.
Q: When and how was Bathsheba Spooner executed?
A: On July 2, 1778, Bathsheba Spooner was hanged in Worcester, Massachusetts, becoming the first woman to be executed in the United States since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Q: What were the reactions to Bathsheba Spooner's execution?
A: The execution of Bathsheba Spooner received extensive attention at the time, as it was highly unusual for a woman to be charged with and convicted of murder, let alone sentenced to death. Some believed that her execution would deter future crimes, while others sympathized with her situation and considered her punishment too severe.