Hello Cousins: Last year we had a few postings about a William Birdwell who was hung in 1823 in Lawrence Co, Alabama. I have found some new information on this man. Awhile back I reviewed some microfilm of the “Alabama Republican”, a weekly newspaper published in Huntsville, Alabama at that time. I found these two references to William; The issue dated 4-11-1823 noted that four prisoners had escaped on Sunday evening, 4-6-1823. Here is what they had on our mystery Birdwell; “William Birdwell, recently convicted of murder in Lawrence county, aged 57, 5 feet 7 inches high, square built, and fleshy; has short grey hair, has five feet of chain attached to one ancle, rather a florid countenance”. Subsequent weeks had a similar notice published offering a $25 reward for his capture, until the issue dated 7-4-1823 which had the following item; “Wm. Birdwell, convicted of murder in Lawrence county in March last, and who broke jail in Huntsville while under sentence of death, has we understand been apprehended in Tennessee and confined.” What is significant in these items is that William Birdwell’s age was recorded. William was “aged 57” in April 1823. So he was born in 1766 or 1765. This indicates that the William hung was older than the William who was the son of George Birdwell (c1720-1781). George’s son William had his birth date recorded in the family Bible as “Feb. 10, 1772”. In turn, this supports the long held idea that William, the son of George, was the man on the Jackson Co, Tennessee census in 1820 and 1830. This also fits with another theory a few of us have. For quite awhile some of us have believed that Robert Birdwell (c.1750-1815) was born before 1750. Robert’s year of birth has never been documented and “circa 1750” has just been a generally accepted guess. There is a circumstantial trail which strongly suggests the William hung in Alabama was Robert’s son. If William was born in 1766, and he was Robert’s son, then Robert was probably born during the 1740’s. Regarding the William Birdwell hung in 1823. It would certainly be nice to confirm his identity and learn more about him. If any of you are interested in exploring this question perhaps there are other early newspapers with some more written accounts. If one of you has access to a good library the periods of these events were as follows: The murder occurred near Lambs Ferry in Lauderdale Co, Alabama during April 1822. William’s trial was held in Lawrence Co, Alabama from Sept. 1822 through March 1823. The newspaper I found covered the period of his escape. Then his capture was somewhere in Tennessee between April and July of 1823. Finally his sentence was carried out in Lawrence Co, Alabama in October 1823. So if there are any surviving newspapers from these areas then they should be reviewed for more information. It should also be determined what court records from these counties have survived. Our answers may be out there in print just waiting for us to uncover them. Are you feeling lucky ? I'll bet there is more to be found when we look. Weldon J. Birdwell, in Montana