The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from Ilchester, May 9.

"Yesterday Mary Norwood, for poisoning her husband, Joseph Norwood, of Axbridge, in this county, was burnt here, pursuant to her sentence, in the presence of about eight thousand spectators. She was brought out of the prison about three o'Clock in the Afternoon, bare foot : she was covered with a tarr'd cloth, made like a shift, a tarr'd bonnet on her head; as her legs, feet, and arms had tar on them : the heat of the weather melting the tar on the bonnet, it ran over her face, so that she made a shocking appearance : she was put on a hurdle, and drawn on a sledge to the place of execution, which was very near the gallows. After spending some time in prayer, and singing a hymn, the executioner placed her on a tar-barrel, about three feet high : a rope (which ran in a pulley through the stake) was fixed about her neck, she herself placing it properly with her hands ; this rope being drawn extreme tight with the pulley, the tar-barrel was then pushed away, three irons were fastened round her body (to confine it to the stake, that it might not drop when the rope should be burnt) ; as soon as this was done, the fire was immediately kindled, but in all probability she was quite dead before it reached her, as the executioner pulled her body several times whilst the irons were fixing, which was about five minutes. There being a great quantity of tar, and the wood in the pile being quite dry, the fire burnt with amazing fury ; notwithstanding which, great part of her could be discovered for near half an hour. Nothing could be more shocking than to behold after her bowels fell out, the fire flaming between her ribs, and issuing out at her ears, mouth, eyeholes; &c. In short. It was so terrible a sight, that great numbers turned their backs and screamed out, not being able to look at it."