| Ruth Blay | |
| Birth Date: | 10 June 1737 |
| Birth Place: | Haverhill, Province of Massachusetts Bay |
| Death Place: | Portsmouth, Province of New Hampshire |
| Death Cause: | Hanging |
| Conviction Status: | Executed |
| Conviction: | Concealment of an illegitimate stillborn child |
| Conviction Penalty: | Death by hanging |
Ruth Blay (June 10, 1737 – December 30, 1768)[1] was a schoolteacher executed by the Province of New Hampshire. She was the last female executed in New Hampshire.
A resident of South Hampton, Blay was a schoolteacher, working in several local towns; her mother was tailor in Portsmouth where Ruth Blay was living until she fled to South Hampton. She was convicted of concealment of a stillborn illegitimate child, which was later found under the floor of the barn next to the house in which she was staying. She was not convicted of killing the baby.
At the time, concealment of an illegitimate child, whether it survived birth or not, was punishable by hanging.[2] Her trail began on September 3rd, 1768 and she pled not guilty to killing the baby and showed she did want it by having clothing and blankets prepared for the child when it was born which convinced the jury to not convict her of murder. Ruth Blay's original execution was set for November 24, 1768. She was waiting for a pardon from Governor Benning Wentworth who gave her 4 reprieves in total which pushed her actual execution date to December 30th, 1768. She was executed by Thomas Packer, Portsmouth’s High Sheriff,[3] who had also overseen the execution of Eliphaz Dow in 1755.[4]
Blay's story was covered in an episode of the podcast Lore in October 2015.
On December 30, 1768, Ruth Blay was transported by horse cart from the town jail to a hill overlooking a parcel of parish land where a farmer grazed his cattle. Hundreds, possibly over a thousand, gathered to witness her execution. In their rush for a clear view, they damaged the stone walls surrounding the field. After a brief ceremony, including a stern sermon[5] from a local minister, Sheriff Packer placed a noose[6] around Blay’s neck as she stood on the cart. Moments later, he drove the cart away, leaving her to die a slow and agonizing death by suffocation. These are the stark facts reported in contemporary newspapers and official records.
Ruth Blay’s body was buried by workers in an unmarked grave at the base of Gallows Hill[7], though the exact location remains unknown. Today, the area has evolved into four graveyards collectively known as South Cemetery. Unsurprisingly, many locals believe the site is haunted.
The Ruth Blay mural in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, honors Ruth Blay, a 31-year-old teacher who was executed in 1768 for concealing the stillborn birth of her illegitimate child. She was the last woman to be executed in the state. The mural was initiated by the nonprofit organization Friends of Ruth Blay, which seeks to bring awareness to historic and marginalized figures from Portsmouth's history. This specific project was part of their "History Through Art" initiative, aiming to use public art to tell stories of equity and justice. The mural, unveiled on July 26, 2021, was designed by artist Terrence Parker with contributions from Carl Aichele and DBG Design. It was made possible through donations by Kristen and Todd Adelman, owners of the building on 165 Court Street, where the mural is located. The design highlights Ruth Blay's story and her tragic treatment under the harsh laws of the time, shedding light on broader issues of gender injustice and societal inequality.
Ruth Blay fled to South Hampton[8] to have her baby she lived with the Curriers family and claimed to them her husband was traveling yet no one still knows the name of the husband. The baby girl was delivered on June 10th 1768. The child was then found on June 14th 1768 under the floors of a barn. Ruth Blay's students found the child in the morning due to a smell coming from the barn. Blay did not deny that the child was hers when they said they were going to examine her for a recent birth she said there was no need because it was hers but the child was dead at birth.