List of people executed in Tennessee (pre-1972)

The following is a list of people executed in the U.S. state of Tennessee before 1972, when capital punishment was briefly abolished by the Supreme Court's ruling in Furman v. Georgia. For executions since 1976, when the court's ruling in Gregg v. Georgia restored capital punishment, see List of people executed in Tennessee.

1796–1909

1796–1809 +NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorRobert ParkerWhiteMApril 28, 1797KnoxTheft-StealingThomas Humes, whiteRobert Parker, TN, 1797 April 28John SevierGeorgeNative AmericanMJuly 17, 1800Knox (Federal)MurderGeorge, TN, 1800 July 17JackBlackMAugust 4, 1801KnoxMurder-RapeSarah Crawford, whiteJack, TN, 1801 August 4Aron GistWhiteMJanuary 15, 1802KnoxAron Gist, TN, 1802 January 15Archibald RoaneMollyBlackFMarch 20, 1807WilliamsonMurderHer child, blackMolly, TN, 1807 March 20John SevierMoses PenriceBlackMMarch 30, 1807MontgomeryMurderSamuel Minnott, white (owner)Moses Penrice, TN, 1807 March 30UnknownBlackF1808JeffersonMurderFemale, whiteUnknown, TN, 1808

1810s +NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorUnknownBlackM1810SumnerRapeUnknown, TN, 1810Willie BlountJacob PickeringWhiteMJuly 13, 1811DavidsonMurderElijah Gardner, whiteJacob Pickering, TN, 1811 July 13Stewart ThorntonWhiteMJames BriceWhiteMJuly 20, 1814BlountSlave stealingJames Brice, 1814 July 20UnknownBlackF1819SumnerMurderFemale, white (owner)Unknown, TN, 1819Joseph McMinn

1820s +NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorEve MartinWhiteF1820HawkinsAccessory to murderEve Martin, TN, 1820Joseph McMinnJohn LuskWhiteMJune 26, 1820DavidsonRapeJohn Lusk, TN, 1820 June 26KinchenBlackMJune 8, 1821MontgomeryMurderElizabeth Crockett, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedMitchell MarkumWhiteMJune 29, 1821GraingerMurderMitchell Markum, TN, 1821 June 29UnknownBlackMMay 1822HenryMurderMale, blackUnknown, TN, 1822 MayWilliam CarrollAllenBlackMMarch 1, 1823WilliamsonRapePhebe Powell, whiteAllen, TN, 1823 March 1JimBlackMMay 31, 1823WilliamsonBurglaryMr. and Mrs. Robert Beard, whiteJim, TN, 1823 May 31EliasBlackMApril 11, 1825MontgomeryRapeElias, TN, 1825 April 11Duncan BondsWhiteMOctober 13, 1826LincolnMurderFelix Grundy, whiteDuncan Bonds, TN, 1826 October 13James BennettWhite30MApril 2, 1827MauryMurderMale, elderly, whiteJames Bennett, 1826 September 26Thomas JamisonWhiteMMay 4, 1827MadisonMurderFrancis Sanders, white (father-in-law)Thomas Jamison, TN, 1827 May 4RandalBlackMMitchumWhiteMAugust 22, 1828HardemanMurderFemale, white (wife)Mitchum, TN, 1828 August 22Sam HoustonHenry LunsfordWhiteMSeptember 26, 1828BlountMurderMr. Thompson, whiteHenry Lunsford, 1828 September 26Sam McClureWhiteM1829LincolnMurderEdward McBride, whiteSam McClure, TN, 1829Joshua YoungWhite67MAugust 17, 1829KnoxMurderFemale, 64, white (wife)Joshua Young, TN, 1829 August 17William HallJames WhiteWhite24MMurderGeorge W. Brown, white

1830s +NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorJoe BeardenWhiteM1830HumphreysMurderJoe Bearden, TN, 1830William CarrollCharlesBlackM1830WilliamsonMurderJohn Turner, white (owner)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedUnknownWhiteM1833DavidsonUnknown, TN, 1833WileyBlackMDecember 28, 1833DicksonMurderWilliam C. Bird, whiteWiley, TN, 1833 December 28Bennet DulaWhiteMSeptember 14, 1835WhiteMurderWilliam Patton, whiteBennet Dula, TN, 1835 September 14ClaytonBlackMNovember 26, 1836WilsonMurderMr. Hunt and his daughter, whiteClayton, TN, 1836 November 26Newton CannonBob WhiteBlackMDecember 4, 1836StewartMurderBob White, TN, 1836 December 4Mrs. HughesWhiteF1837HardinMurderMale, white (husband)Mrs. Hughes, TN, 1837JuliusBlackM1837MauryArsonJulius, TN, 1837Isaac DaleWhiteM1837GilesMurderIssac Dale, TN, 1837Milton ReillyWhiteMJune 9, 1839MadisonMurderWilliam Willis, whiteMilton Reilly, 1839 June 9Charles CoxBlackMOctober 25, 1839BlountMurderDavid Humes, white (wife's owner)Charles Cox, 1839 October 25James K. Polk

1840s +NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorTwo unknownsBlackMJanuary 1840FentressUnknown, TN, 1840 JanuaryJames K. PolkPeterBlackMDecember 28, 1841McMinnMurderThree females, whitePeter, TN, 1841 December 28James C. JonesJacobBlackM1842DavidsonMurderRobert Bradford, white (owner)Jacob, TN, 1842DickBlackMAugust 15, 1842WilliamsonAttempted rapeElizabeth J. Hodges, whiteDick, TN, 1842 August 15Willis CarrollWhiteMFebruary 10, 1843DavidsonMurder-RobberyRev. Isaac Lindsey, whiteWillis Carroll, TN, 1843 February 10Archibald KirbyWhiteMMurderPolly Hunter, whiteArchibald Kirby, TN, 1843 February 10Zebadiah PayneWhiteMMurder-RobberyWilliam Coltart, whiteZebadiah Payne, TN, 1843 February 10HenryBlackMApril 4, 1843GibsonMurderWilliam C. Franklin, white(slave) Henry, 1843 April 4Four unknownsBlackMDecember 22, 1843HaywoodMurderThomas Branch, whiteUnnamed, TN, 1843 December 22Jim PayneBlackM1845DeKalbMurderIsaac, blackJim Payne, 1905 January 18Bill MooreBlackMMarch 14, 1845LincolnAttempted rapeFemale, whiteBill Moore, TN, 1845 March 14NedBlackMOctober 31, 1845RobertsonMurderDavid I. Walton, white (owner)Ned, TN, 1845 October 31Aaron V. BrownSkeltBlackMApril 15, 1846HenryMurderMr. Dupree, whiteSkelt, TN, 1846 April 15NelsonBlackMJune 8, 1846HardinMurderDavid Sellars, whiteNelson, TN, 1846 June 8Bob WoodBlackMDecember 4, 1846StewartMurderBob Wood, TN, 1846 December 4Frank OliverBlackMMay 1847CarrollMurderMrs. Rumley, whiteFrank Oliver, TN, 1847 MayGilbertBlackM1847HenryMurderArmistead Forrest, elderly, white (owner)Gilbert, TN, 1847Brown or BrownUnknownBlackMMarch 3, 1848MauryAttempted murderMr. Haley, whiteUnknown, TN, 1848 March 3Neill S. BrownJohn M. RileyWhiteMJune 15, 1849MadisonMurderWilliam Wells, whiteJohn M. Riley, TN, 1849 June 15

1850s +NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorMosesBlackMFebruary 21, 1851DavidsonMurderMale, white (owner)Moses, TN, 1851 February 21William TrousdaleHenryBlackMFebruary 21, 1851WilliamsonMurderJohn G. Eelbeck and William P. Barham, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedAlecBlackMApril 17, 1852DavidsonMurderTwo females, whiteJerry, TN, 1852 April 17William B. CampbellJerryBlackMBobBlackMUnknownBlackMApril 1854FranklinUnidentified, TN, 1854 AprilAndrew JohnsonMartinBlackM1855GilesMurderMartin, TN, 1855Ben HarbertMixedMMarch 7, 1856MontgomeryMurder-RobberyHannah Frazier, blackBen Harbert, TN, 1856 March 7Four unknownsBlackMDecember 5, 1856StewartSlave revoltN/AUnnamed, TN, 1856 December 5John LewisWhite21MDecember 16, 1859CampbellMurderS. D. Queener (sheriff) and Travis Gibson, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedIsham G. HarrisJesse LewisWhite23M

1860s

+NameRaceAgeSexDate of executionCountyCrimeVictim(s)GovernorTwo unknownsBlackM1861HawkinsMurder-ArsonFour people, whiteUnnamed, TN, 1861Isham G. HarrisAlfredBlackMMarch 1, 1861LincolnMurderWilliam Stevens, white (owner)Alfred Stevens, TN, 1861 March 1IsaacBlackMMay 31, 1861ShelbyMurderGideon Bowen, white (overseer)Isaac, TN, 1861 May 31MosesBlackMMurderGiacomo Passagno, whiteIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedLevi StorerWhiteMJune 28, 1861ShelbyMurderAaron B. Stearns, whiteLevi Storer, TN, 1861 June 28Charles Alexander HahnWhiteMDecember 10, 1861Knox (Military)SabotageN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedHenry HarmonWhiteMDecember 17, 1861Greene (Military)SabotageN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJacob HarmonWhiteMMichael ConnelWhiteMMarch 5, 1862? (Military)Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedAndrew JohnsonHarrisWhiteMMay 2, 1862Hardeman (Military)DesertionN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJulius MilikaWhiteMMay 15, 1863Davidson (Military)DesertionN/AJulius Milika, TN, 1863 May 15William A. SelkirkWhiteMJune 4, 1863WilsonMurderAdam Weaver, whiteWilliam Selkirk, TN, 1863 June 4William O. WilliamsWhiteMJune 12, 1863Williamson (Military)EspionageN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedWalter G. PeterWhiteMDavid BlazerWhiteMJune 23, 1863Rutherford (Military)DesertionN/ADavid Blazer, TN, 1863 June 23Joseph FordWhite20MJuly 24, 1863Hamilton (Military)EspionageN/AIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn K. OuldWhite23MHiram ReynoldsWhiteMAugust 17, 1863Davidson (Military)Hiram Reynolds, TN, 1863 August 17J. P. PledgerWhiteMSeptember 4, 1863Hamilton (Military)SeditionN/AJ.P. Pledger, TN, 1863 September 4Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedErastus C. DailyWhiteMNovember 13, 1863Hamilton (Military)DesertionN/AErastus Daily, TN, 1863 November 13Benjamin ValentineWhiteMSam DavisWhite21MNovember 27, 1863Giles (Military)EspionageN/ASam Davis, TN, 1863 November 27Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedEdward S. DoddWhite24MJanuary 8, 1864Knox (Military)EspionageIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedFour unknownsWhiteMMarch 1864Madison (Military)Unnamed, TN, 1864 MarchJohn MyersWhiteMApril 28, 1864Giles (Military)MurderCapt. Henry W. Allen, whiteJohn Myers, TN, 1864 April 28Martin SmithWhiteMApril 29, 1864Shelby (Military)SeditionN/AMartin Smith, TN, 1864 April 29Index Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedJohn CallaghanWhiteMJune 10, 1864Shelby (Military)RapeJohn Snover, TN, 1864 June 10Thomas JohnsonWhiteMJohn SnoverWhiteMWilliam LemmonWhiteMJuly 1, 1864Davidson (Military)SabotageIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedCyrus Lee CathieWhiteMJesse B. NeetenWhiteMThomas R. WestWhiteMBenjamin F. WestWhiteMJames Jacob SlyWhiteMJanuary 8, 1865? (Military)Guerilla activityIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedChamp FergusonWhite43MOctober 21, 1865Davidson (Military)TerrorismIndex Card Summary of Execution(s), UndatedParson BrownlowGeorge CrabWhite17MJanuary 26, 1866DavidsonMurder-RobberyWilliam Hefferman, elderly, whiteJames Knight, TN, 1866 January 26James LysaughtWhite17MThomas FerryWhiteMJames KnightWhite17MColumbus GermanWhiteMJuly 28, 1866OvertonMurderLee Hays, whiteColumbus German, 1866 July 28Jacob HuffBlack32MDecember 27, 1867HamiltonMurderMr. Kilpatrick, whiteJacob Huff, TN, 1867 December 27John NanceWhiteMDecember 27, 1867GraingerMurderWilliam McBee, whiteJohn Nance, TN, 1867 December 27James GalvinWhite25MAugust 20, 1869ShelbyMurderMr. Fenton, white (police officer)James Galvin, TN, 1869 August 20Dewitt Clinton SenterSam MoodyBlack20MMurder-BurglaryCapt. Perry, whiteSam Moody, TN, 1869 August 20

1870s