Jacob Merriman
Jacob Berryman, a Black man, was held at the Front Royal jail in Warren County, Virginia. According to the Alexandria Gazette, on the night of Thursday, August 19, 1869, a group of disguised men surrounded the jail, forced the jailer at gunpoint to hand over the cell keys, and took Jacob from his cell. The paper reported that he was hanged and that his body was found hanging from a cherry tree about a mile from town. The same report said the guard who had protected the jail for several days had been removed earlier that day.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (neglect alleged). The Alexandria Gazette reports that a guard who had protected the jail for several days was removed earlier that day, and that a disguised mob forced the jailer at gunpoint to hand over the cell keys before hanging him.
Reported by: Alexandria Gazette (reporters); Chicago Tribune dispatch (Washington) (reporters).