First Hanging in Montgomery County, Montgomery, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/montgomery/newspapers/hanging.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Larry E. Caver, Jr. ================================================================================ September 2002 I came across a "historic clipping" from 1867 regarding the first hanging in Montgomery. The item is a follow up to one that was included in my book, Death, Marriage And Probate Notices From Montgomery, Alabama Newspapers (1821-1865) [See page 18]. This newer item gives more genealogical information on both the victim and the murderer's families. It is noted that Mathew WILLIAMS died in or prior to 1829. There was a probate notice published in 1829 on his estate (see page 241). Perhaps the murder was precipitated by some action involving the estate of Mathew WILLIAMS. This is only theory. Also, Silas GOREE had a son named Ephraim. There was another Ephraim GOREE noted in Montgomery in 1823 (see page172). I suspect that Silas GOREE was the son of this older Ehpraim GOREE. Anyway, just some "tid bits" to pass on in case anyone is researching either of these families... Larry E. Caver, Jr. Daily State Sentinel (Montgomery, Alabama) June 29, 1867: Historic Item The first hanging, according to law, in Montgomery County, was the execution on the gallows of Coleman WILLIAMS, by Sheriff GREGORY, for the murder of Silas GOREE, constable. The murder was perpetrated on the 1st day of January 1829, near the door of the old courthouse… Mr. WILLIAMS was executed publicly on Friday, the 27th of January 1832… The culprit was a son of Mr. Mathew WILLIAMS, who immigrated to this county in 1818 from the Eastern Shore of Maryland… Mr. Silas GOREE was a quiet, inoffensive citizen and an efficient constable… His son, Ephraim GOREE, well known to many of our citizens, was killed at Seven Pines or in one of the battles around Richmond in 1862.