“And now, as a dying man, I recommend to the charity of Christian neighbors, my distressed wife Lydia, who I leave with two small children, destitute of everything to help themselves with, and she big with child. And I desire the prayers of all good people to God for them and myself.”

— Edmund Fortis, convicted of rape and murder, hanging, Maine.
Executed September 25, 1794

Fortis was born into slavery in Virginia. After running away from his master, he wandered around the country. He encountered Pamela Tilton, whom he raped and then, strangely, began escorting home. Fortis’s worry about being exposed drove him to kill and bury her. This account was printed in a booklet called “Last Words and Dying Speech of Edmund Fortis,” which was published and sold in Exeter, New Hampshire.

“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

— Nathan Hale, convicted of espionage, hanging, colonial New York.
Executed September 22, 1776

An American spy during the Revolutionary War, Hale pretended to be a British loyalist but was captured after his true identity was revealed. The standards of the time dictated that spies be hanged as illegal combatants. While these are reported to be Hale’s last words, they bear significant resemblance to a line from Cato, a play by George Addison that was popular at the time: “What a pity it is / That we can die but once to serve our country.”

“Lord Jesus, have mercy on my soul. God bless you. I hope I shall be better off…You must all beware of Rum; for rum has been the cause of placing me here to meet this awful fate. I warn you all not to touch the intoxicating bowl, for it will eventually get the advantage of you all. I am sorry to die under the gallows but the laws must be carried out, and die I must, remember what I say, Rum has done it all, and I hope all who are here will be taking warning by it…I thank the good and worthy Sheriff and others for what they have done for me, God bless the Sheriff, and heaven bless you all, good-by.”

—Aaron Stookey, convicted of murder, hanging, New York.
Executed September 19, 1851

Stookey, forty-two, owned a shabby pub on Little Water Street in Manhattan’s notorious Five Points district. A knife fight broke out when he tried to forcefully expel a disruptive drunk, Zeddy Moore. When their skirmish ended, only Stookey remained standing. The sheriff said, “Stookey, this is one of the most painful duties I ever performed, but I am forced to do my duty, so good-by, and may God bless you. I hope you will be happy in the other world.” Six hundred people attended Stookey’s hanging.