Criminal Punishments in Colonial Williamsburg

Branding a common punishment in colonial America required stoves to heat the irons The "T" stood for thief, the "M" for manslaughter

The letter used for branding was defined to fit the offense. Thieves usually had "T" branded on the hand.

A brand could be applied to hands, cheeks, shoulders, or foreheads, as a way to publically mark the offense.

The Pillory Also known as the"stretch-neck” Usually stood in the main squares of towns, in full view of the townspeople

In the pillory, the subject cannot hide her face from bystanders. Sometimes townspeople threw food and other objects at the culprit.

The pillory was used as punishment for a variety of offenses, e.g., treason, sedition, arson, blasphemy, witchcraft, wife beating, cheating, and drunkenness, among others.

After a hanging, the deceased would be loaded into a wagon to be carried away for burial.