Rhode Island Historical Cemeteries

Skip Navigation Links

Back to Graves List

Person Details
 
Last NameWAMSLEY
First NameAMASA
Maiden 
Relation 
Cemetery NumberPV020
Cemetery NameWAMSLEY LOT
Birth Day0
Birth Month 
Birth Year 
Death Day1
Death MonthJUN
Death Year1832
War 
Gravestone Details
Section 
Lot 
Map 
Stone Material 
Condition 
Shape 
Carving 
Legibility 
Number of Graves on Stone0
Stone Height (inches) 
Stone Width (inches) 
Exists?
Last Seen Date1912
Carver 
Notes/Misc Details
Noteshanged for the murder of John Burke & Hannah Frank. Amasa Wamsley and his brother Thomas lived in a cabin near this cemetery. One night in Sept 1831 they were visited by a vagrant Irishman and Hannah Frank. There was a fight and Amasa followed the visitors into the woods after they had started for Burrillville and beat them with clubs. The next day Amasa found Burke and when he asked for water he cut off his head with an axe. Amasa was arraigned on March 28, 1832, and was sentenced April 1. On June 1 he was marched from the old State Prison to the gallows situated next to the cemetery. He was hanged in front of 10,000 people. died: HANGED FOR MURDER
Transcribed ByGAZ&CHRON