Jacob Berryman
Jacob Berryman, a Black man, was held in the Front Royal jail in Warren County, Virginia. According to the Alexandria Gazette, as reprinted by the Norfolk Day Book, on the night of Thursday, August 19, 1869, a group of disguised men surrounded the jail and forced the jailer at gunpoint to hand over the cell keys. They took Berryman from his cell and hanged him, and the paper reported that his body was found hanging from a cherry tree about a mile from town. Reports said the guard who had watched over the jail for several days had been withdrawn earlier that day, leaving it unprotected.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. Disguised men took him from the Front Royal jail cell after forcing the jailer at gunpoint to hand over the keys, and hanged him, according to the Alexandria Gazette.
Reported by: Alexandria Gazette (reporters).