The following is a list of people executed by the U.S. state of West Virginia. Capital punishment in West Virginia was abolished in 1965.
1788–1863 The following executions, all by hanging, took place in the counties that now constitute West Virginia prior to their separation from the state of Virginia.
+NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorCharles DonaldsonWhiteMJune 19, 1797MonongaliaMurderWilliam Donaldson, white (son)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJames WoodMillayBlackFSeptember 1, 1798MonongaliaArsonDavid Robs, white (owner)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedAaronBlackMApril 5, 1799HampshireHorse stealingIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJerry HamiltonWhiteMJuly 12, 1799HardyRapeTacey Brady, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJack NealBlackMJanuary 7, 1803KanawhaMurderBennett Rogers (owner) and Ralph Elliotts, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn PageJamesBlackMJuly 30, 1803JeffersonRapeElizabeth and Elizabeth Perception Jr., whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedAbramBlackMDecember 17, 1803KanawhaMurderJames Howard, white (owner)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedIsaacBlackMJerryBlackMJuly 5, 1805BerkeleyHighway robberyDavid Horn, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohnBlackMAbel ClemmonsWhiteMJune 30, 1806MonongaliaMurderNine people, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedWilliam H. CabellMosesBlackMMarch 29, 1811MonroeMurderWill, blackIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJames MonroeThomas QueenWhiteMJune 11, 1813HarrisonMurderFemale, white (cousin)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJames BarbourJane TygartWhite70+FNovember 18, 1814MonroeMurderMale, white (husband)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJimBlackMFebruary 12, 1818HampshireHighway robberyJames Little, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJames Patton PrestonEllisBlackMNovember 17, 1820TylerMurderPatrick Wilson, white (owner)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedThomas Mann Randolph Jr.NathanBlackMMay 1, 1821JackBlackMDecember 26, 1822WoodRapeBarbara Carpenter, 6, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJames PleasantsTomBlack17MMarch 13, 1824GreenbrierMurderJames Newton, white (owner)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedRebeccaBlack12FJuly 2, 1825MonroeMurderAdeline Coalter, 4, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJoshuaBlackMAugust 17, 1827MonongaliaRapeTilpha Collins, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedWilliam Branch GilesEbenezer CoxWhiteMAugust 27, 1830JeffersonMurderCol. T. B. Dunn, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn FloydLucyBlackFSeptember 28, 1832TylerMurderMary Ann Fletcher, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedThomas WintringerWhiteMJuly 22, 1836OhioMurderJesse Chrismann, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedWyndham RobertsonNedBlackMSeptember 9, 1836PrestonMurderJames Marston, white (owner)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedBoon LongWhiteMSeptember 23, 1836OhioMurderJesse Chrismann, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedHarryBlackMJanuary 12, 1838HampshireRapeIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedDavid CampbellJohnBlackMFebruary 26, 1841BerkeleyMurderIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedThomas Walker GilmerWilliam HudsonWhiteMDecember 18, 1846PendletonMurderSix people, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedWilliam SmithBillBlackMFebruary 18, 1848LoganMurderAnne Lawson, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedMichael WhalenWhiteMSeptember 1, 1848OhioMurderFemale, white (wife)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedCharles GreenWhite21MJuly 12, 1850JacksonMurder-RobberyTimothy Fox, whiteCharles Green, 1850 July 12John B. FloydLewis UelBlack21MAugust 30, 1850KanawhaRapeBecky Skyles, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedGeorgeBlackMMay 20, 1853JeffersonAttempted murderSamuel Howell Brown, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJoseph JohnsonThomas BoardWhite30MOctober 28, 1853BarbourMurderStrickler I. H. Crhislip, white (nephew)Thomas Board, 1853 October 28CharlesBlackMJanuary 6, 1854JeffersonAttempted rapeCatherine Kelly, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn BurnsWhiteMSeptember 4, 1858OhioMurderMary Ann Montony, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedHenry A. WisePreston TurleyWhite36MSeptember 17, 1858KanawhaMurderMary S. Turley, white (wife)Preston Turley, 1858 September 17WilliamBlack22MOctober 1, 1858GilmerMurderWilliam Johnston, white (owner)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn BrownWhite59MDecember 2, 1859JeffersonTreasonN/AEdwin CoppleWhite24MDecember 16, 1859JeffersonTreasonN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn CopelandBlack25MShields GreenBlack23MJohn CookWhite29MAlbert HazlettWhiteMMarch 16, 1860JeffersonTreasonN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn LetcherAaron StephensWhiteMNathaniel HardinWhiteMJune 30, 1860MarshallMurderMelissa Morris, whiteNathaniel Hardin, 1860 June 30ReubenBlackMJune 1861GreenbrierSlave revoltN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedEzra MasonWhiteMJune 21, 1861MorganMurderFemale, white (wife)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedRichard GatewoodWhite21MDecember 20, 1861Kanahwa (Military)DesertionN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedHenry KuhlWhiteMMay 9, 1862BraxtonMurderMale, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedRichard PooleWhiteMMarch 13, 1863OhioMurder
1863–1898 The following executions, all by hanging, took place under local authorities. NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorPhilip RaberWhite20MNovember 27, 1863Fayette (Military)DesertionN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedArthur I. BoremanJohn MarcumWhite27MJanuary 19, 1864Fayette (Military)MurderAndrew J. Farley, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedUnknownWhiteMNovember 11, 1864KanawhaMaraudingWilliam LogeWhiteMDecember 2, 1864Jefferson (Military)DesertionN/AFrederick MurphyWhiteMMarch 3, 1865Jefferson (Military)DesertionN/ADaniel GroganWhiteMFebruary 9, 1866WoodMurder-RobberyWilliam Abraham Deem, 45, whiteThomas BoiceWhiteMMortimer GibboneyWhiteMJune 15, 1866Joseph EiseleWhite33MMarch 6, 1868WoodMurderJoseph Lillenthal and Rudolph Tsutor, whiteWilliam JohnsonBlack22MMay 19, 1871MonroeMurder-RobberyGeorge H. Hunter, 28, whiteJohn J. JacobLabon WalkerWhite17MNovember 28, 1879WayneMurderPatrick Nolan, whiteHenry M. MathewsHenry JenkinsBlack22MNovember 11, 1881FayetteMurder-RobberyWinfield Saunders, blackJacob B. JacksonFelix KampfWhite65MMarch 7, 1890KanawhaMurderWilliam Kampf and Mary Kampf, 19 and 20, white (son and daughter)Aretas B. FlemingWilliam I. MartinWhite32MOctober 3, 1890RaleighMurderAnn Martin, white (wife)Sim JohnsonBlack18MJune 19, 1891KanawhaRapeAlice Bailey, 16, whiteHenry ChristianBlackMJuly 17, 1891McDowellMurderWilliam Crowe, white (police officer)William MaierWhite23MNovember 17, 1892OhioMurderMarie Yoho Maier, 20, white (wife)Allen HarrisonWhite25MNovember 22, 1892CabellMurderBettie Adams, 15, white (love interest)John HardyBlackMJanuary 19, 1894McDowellMurderThomas Drews, blackWilliam A. MacCorkleWashington AdkinsWhite50MJuly 20, 1894FayetteMurder-BurglaryIsaac A. Radford, 42, whiteJohn W. McFarlandBlack19MJuly 20, 1894McDowellMurderGeorge Andrews, blackAndrew J. ScottBlack27MOctober 4, 1895KanawhaMurderElizabeth M. Scott, 20, black (wife)Jim NicholsBlack28MDecember 13, 1895FayetteMurderHenry Carr, blackClark LewisBlack21MJune 25, 1897FayetteMurderCharles Gibson, whiteGeorge W. AtkinsonJerry BrownBlack35MJuly 25, 1897FayetteRapeAraminta Bays Radford, 42, whiteAlbert ViarsWhite21MNovember 12, 1897FayetteMurderCharles Gibson, whiteJohn MorganWhite22MDecember 16, 1897JacksonMurder-RobberyThree people, white
1899–1959 In 1899, West Virginia moved all executions by hanging to a private location within the state penitentiary. Hanging was later replaced with electrocution in 1949 when the state legislature approved its use on February 10th and subsequently signed into law by governor Okey Patteson that March; West Virginia was the last U.S. state to adopt electrocution as a primary execution method.