Ruth Blay (June 10, 1737 – December 30, 1768) was executed by hanging after being convicted of concealment of a stillborn illegitimate child, which was later found on the floor of the barn next to the house in which she was staying. She was not convicted of killing the baby. She was granted 3 reprieves before the execution. Blay was the last female executed by the state (then a colony) of New Hampshire. She was executed by Thomas Packer, Portsmouth’s High Sheriff, who also oversaw the execution of

Eliphaz Dow Eliphaz Dow (1705 – May 8, 1755) of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire was the first male executed in New Hampshire. (Two women had been executed in 1739). Eliphaz, the son of Joseph and Hannah Dow, was a shoemaker, married but with no known children. ...

in 1755. Blay split her time between teaching in nearby towns and being a seamstress. Ruth Blay's story is covered in an episode of the podcast '' Lore''.

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1737 births 1768 deaths 18th-century executions of American people 18th-century executions by the United States Executed American women People executed by the Province of New Hampshire People from Haverhill, Massachusetts People executed by New Hampshire by hanging People executed by the Thirteen Colonies by hanging {{US-crime-bio-stub

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