Victim ID: VA1877081101
Victim Name: William Thompson
Race: Black
Sex: Male
Age: Unknown
Job: Unknown
Method of Death: Hanged
Accusation: Assaulting a young white girl
Date: 1877-08-11
County Name: Culpeper
Mob Composition: Masked
Summary: A posse of about 50 men lynched William Thompson, a black man, at 1 AM on August 11th, 1877 near the cemetery in Culpeper, Virginia. Thompson was accused of having assaulted a young white girl.
On Sunday, August 5th, William Thompson visited a farm near Mitchell Station and, finding there alone a 12 years old white girl named Britton, he allegedly dragged her to the woods and assaulted her. The following day, Britton identified Thompson as the abuser; on his way to jail, a crowd of black men gathered and “it was feared a rescue would be attempted, as they seemed much excited” (The Daily Dispatch). After a brief clash between two crowds, Thompson was taken before a magistrate and committed to jail, awaiting trial. On the night of August 10th, a crowd assembled outside of the Culpeper jail, as rumors spread of a possible lynching. The Alexandria Gazette reported that “At one o’clock a.m. a posse of about fifty men entered the town, marched down Main street, and thence to the jail in a most orderly manner.” After getting Thompson out of the jail, the mob “quietly, but hurriedly, marched out of town, and when near the Confederate cemetery hanged their victim to a large poplar tree. Thompson was granted the privilege of speaking, but declined, he having previously confessed his guilt. The body remained hanging until ten o’clock this morning, when it was cut down and a coroner’s inquest held” (Alexandria Gazette). None of the lynchers could be recognized.
News Coverage: Alexandria Gazette; The Daily Dispatch
Article Link (from Alexandria Gazette published on 1877-08-09)
Article Link (from Alexandria Gazette published on 1877-08-10)
Article Link (from The Daily Dispatch published on 1877-08-09)