On April 10, 1784, the Pennsylvania Gazette published the sentencing of the prisoners brought to the Newtown Courthouse for trial before the Chief Justice and honorable Mr. Bryan. The majority of those under indictment were members or accomplices of the notorious Doan Gang of Outlaws.
The Doan family were Quakers from Plumstead, who during our War for Independence aligned with the Loyalist cause. They staged a string of robberies, stealing from the homes and treasuries of the the Patriotic leaders, throughout the length if the war.
There were 15 Doan family members in the gang including 4 women, and 30 others who participated in the Doan raids. In addition, there were at least 16 more accomplices, who provided the Doan Gang with intel, food and places to hide.
Though many of the Doan Gang leaders escaped capture, those who aided and abetted them were not so lucky. They were imprisoned and brought to trial, and suffered corporal punishments, that while typical of the times, would seem barbaric today.
Burning in the Hand
Joseph Doan, the Elder, was tried and found guilty of aiding two evil doers from the Doan Gang who had robbed Joseph Hart, The Bucks County Treasurer in October of 1781. He received a common 18th century sentence for this crime, "to be burnt or branded in the hand."
Typically the brand was a letter. A letter T for thievery or an M for Manslaughter, for instance. The hot brand would be pressed into the meaty area under the thumb to mark the culprit permanently, so he would be known by all for his or her crime.
Hung by the Neck Until Dead
Joseph Doan the Younger, and one of the leaders of the Doan Gang was found guilty and was sentenced to be hanged. His hanging would have been done in public in front of the court house...if he hadn't escaped.
Sentenced to Stand in the Pillory
Solomon Vickers, was charged with willful and corrupt perjury, and being found guilty, was sentenced to stand in the Pillory or Stocks for a day.
Pillories were wooden frameworks erected in public squares. The prisoners head and hands forced through holes in the wooden frame, and they were forced to stand for hours or days, in this uncomfortable position
Worse they were subject to the ridicule of the public, who, if especially offended by the actions of the accused, might take to throwing rotten food at them, with the imprisoned unable to defend themselves.
Though Newtown had a jail, which might hold a prisoner for a short time, prisoners with lengthy sentences of imprisonment might be sent to the jail in Philadelphia, either to the High Street Prison at the Beginning of the war or the Walnut Street Prison during the later years of the war.
Depicted in front of the prison are a pillory and a whipping post., both used for public punishments during this decade.
View looking east from above Third and High (Market) streets showing the High Street Prison built circa 1723, library company of Philadelphia
A sentence of lashing was commonly set for everything from theft, forgery, counterfeiting or moral offences like adultery. It was also a common corporal punishment in the Bucks County Militia. for such crimes as desertion, neglect in duties, disobedience or disrespect.
In his Orderly Book, General Lacey ordered that on February 28, 1778, "that every person found firing his gun in or near the camp to be tied up immediately and to have fifteen lashes on his back"
It is of particular importance to note that all of those sentenced by the Newtown Court, stood trial before they were sentenced. Witness were called and the judge deliberated and executed justice. sometimes acquitting the case because of too little evidence.
That was not the case for the sentencing of Abraham and Levy Doan who were condemned to hang, and as outlaws, their sentence was conveyed without a trial by jury. This caused such great controversy that letters were published to the papers in protest.
" I cannot persuade myself, that in the close of the eighteenth century---in the newborn States of America---in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania--two young men are to be put to death in cold blood, for a robbery committed eight years ago without a trial by jury."