I have a puzzle--well actually many, but may I inflict one on those  
who know Richmond circa 1800? Of the 25 Henrico executions in the  
aftermath of Gabriel 18 were at the "usual place of execution. After  
15 of these executions 13 men petitioned to have the site of  
execution moved, but apparently to  no avail, though their petition  
did unintentially delay the execution of two men and a final  
pardoning of a third. In 1804 the city agreed to work with the county  
in creating a gallows near the magazine, which was probably up  
Shockoe a bit, near the gallows and African American cemetery that  
shows up on Young's map of Richmond ca 1809. However, it does not  
appear that the 13 petitioners whose families were disturbed by the  
sight of the executions lived where they might look into Shockoe and  
see the gallows. Samuel Mordecai in Richmond in by-gone days 2nd ed.  
p. 97-98 describes John Harvie's mansion on Gamble's Hill overlooking  
the armory and says "The house was planned by Mr. Latrobe, the  
architect of its neighbor, the Penitentiary; the intermediate ground  
embraced Gallows hill, the edifice on which was rendered in a great  
measure useless by the Penitentiary..." A gallows there would have  
been more in sight of the petitioners. Have I just mistakenly assumed  
the site of the executions in Richmond was always in Shockoe, or is  
this something that is a puzzle to me only--I would appreciate any  
hard knowledge specific to 1800--Mick Nicholls

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