Got this on another list. Most interesting.......... These records begin in VA in 1608, with the execution of George Kendall for "spying/espionage" and go to 1987. To say that the early records are fascinating is an understatement (you just don't run into many executions for piracy or witchcraft anymore). But they have value for family researchers, too. Even if you don't have reason to suspect that any of your ancestors were "outlaws," there are records of executions for espionage & treason, especially important during the American Revolution and the Civil War, and there are many records of executions for "slave revolts," which might be helpful to African-American researchers. Be patient, it takes a few minutes to download and you'll need a reader, such as an Acrobat. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/ESPYdate.pdf