Sentence of death by burning for women

Women, Gender, and the Revocation of Citizenship in the United States

“…Historically, treason also included the murder of one’s—patriarchally understood—social superiors: treason against the king was known as high treason and the murder of husband by wife petit treason. Women were burnt if convicted, whereas men were disemboweled, hanged, castrated, beheaded, and/or quartered (Campbell 1984). Since 1940, being convicted of treason in the United States was also punishable by rescission of citizenship.…”

Scottish Women and the Hangman’s Noose

“…This form of punishment was not formally abolished until 1790. 14 Despite the extension of the English laws regarding full treason to Scotland in 1708 (7 Ann c.21), the crime of petty treason was not extended north of the border. However, a reading of the responses to Scottish women who murdered their husbands, such as that above, reveals a specific abhorrence for the offence, even compared to other forms of homicide.…”

Changing Attitudes to Post-execution Punishment 1752–1834

“…151 However, almost exactly four years later a new bill, introduced after two further burnings and a furious campaign in The Times, 152 passed fairly easily through Parliament and burning at the stake, and the obliteration of the offender's corpse, which it inevitably involved, was abandoned. 153 For the 'high treason' offence of coining females were now, like their male counterparts, simply to be drawn and hanged, thus removing the post-execution element of their punishment. However, the corpses of female murderers found guilty of petty treason did not avoid post-execution punishment under this new act.…”