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John Bly

Date of death:06. 12. 1787
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1700s
State:Massachusetts
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John Bly

Biography

John Bly was a participant in Shays’ Rebellion. Unlike the movement’s leaders, who were pardoned, Bly was convicted and, together with Charles Rose, hanged at Lenox, Massachusetts, on December 6, 1787 — among the very few actually executed for the uprising. On the gallows the two men reportedly blamed the harshness of the government for driving them to rebellion.

Case

Charges: Crimes committed during Shays’ Rebellion (charges of treason and robbery arising from the uprising).
Sentence: Death. Hanged at Lenox, Massachusetts, on December 6, 1787. Verdict as recorded: Yes — convicted and sentenced to death.
Convicted: Yes