This week in 1735

“How are we condemned by the Covenant of Works, and relieved by the Covenant of Grace.”

— Patience Boston, convicted of murder, colonial Maine.
Executed July 24, 1735

Boston did not intentionally kill her baby. She was released for lack of proof and because her confession had been alcohol fueled. However, Boston decided to murder another child to validate her claims; she did so by holding a boy under water until he drowned. Her written confession was printed and sold by S. Kneeland and T. Green near the prison in Falmouth, Maine. Other sources list her day of execution as July 31.