The Hanging of Susanna Cox
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the Kutztown Festival is the reenactment of the hanging of Susanna Cox. Every year many visitors express concern about the need or appropriateness of this event at our Festival. It is an issue that gets readdressed every year. The Kutztown Festival is a folklife festival depicting the history, times and traditions of the rural Pennsylvania Dutch of eastern Pennsylvania . We would be remiss if we did not address this historical event.
In the early 19th century, life was very hard in Berks County . It was America 's most western frontier, and Indian raids, accidents, sickness and early death were the stuff of everyday life. The hanging of Susanna Cox represented a low point in America 's past, but, more importantly, created changes that would help shape America into the great nation it was to become.
Susanna Cox was born one of many children to a very poor family in the Oley Valley . An illiterate girl, described by many as a friendly, kind, simpleton, she was “bound out” to a neighboring family for her room and board. Drawing the attentions of a married neighbor, Susanna became pregnant. She was able to hide this fact from the family she lived with, and fearing for her health and safety in a very repressive era, she apparently killed the child. In the year 1809, she had very few other options available to her.
Based upon the English common-law used by our country as it's legal code at that time, it was a capital offense to conceal the death of a newborn child. Susanna became a “test case” of legal issues in our newly formed country. Susanna was well liked by her community, who felt the circumstances were most extenuating, and money was raised for her defense. Nonetheless, she was found guilty under the legal code, and the mandatory sentence was death. Under English common-law, the only appeal to a death sentence was to the King, and the newly formed democratic country had no King. There was no way to stop the sentence from being carried out. Only one other woman had been executed in Pennsylvania prior to this. She had been found guilty of witchcraft.
On the morning of June 10, 1809, Susanna received the only new dress she had ever been given. Before a mournful crowd of over 20,000, Susanna was hung. The masked executioner was attacked, and was stoned and beaten until he was out of town. The ensuing outcry was so strong that a march was made on the state capital. The State Legislators, informed of the mob approaching, quickly passed a new law establishing an appeals process that would allow the Governor the power of clemency. All of the other states in the country quickly followed suit. Appeals courts were soon formed, and due to the unfair execution of Susanna Cox, America 's legal system grew in fairness and understanding. Additionally, no woman was ever executed in Pennsylvania again.