By 1733 62-year-old Amaziah Harding and his wife 65-year-old Hannah had been together for around 40 years (the first child was born in 1694). The relationship had been abusive especially in the last 20 years of marriage. He would see her as a "Plague" in his life.
On July 18, 1733, Hannah would die due to Amaziah's abuse at their home in Eastham, Massachusetts. He either beat her or threw her down the stairs, or both. This would lead to her death. He would bring her to their bed and wrap her in blankets to make it seem she died in her sleep. He would summon a neighbor woman to tell her his wife died.
As per local tradition, he asked the neighbor woman to dress and get his wife ready for burial. The neighbor was suspicious as she came over. An hour earlier one of their sons had told her that Hannah was in good health. Throughout the time he spoke as if he was grateful for her death that she was a "plague" in his life. Seeing that she had blood and bruises on her throat, lips, and cheek. Knowing he was abusive she asked how she died.
Amaziah told the woman that she had drank rum and sat on the door sill, and he laid in bed. he claimed to her when he woke up that morning that she was in the bed and would not respond to him. That she had died naturally. The neighbor woman saw through his lies and refused to get the body ready until the coroner saw the body.
The coroner would state that Hannah died from foul play. Amaziah would be charged with capital murder. He would get the death penalty and hanged on June 5, 1734.
SOURCES:
Legal Executions in New England Pg 125
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