Jacob Merryman
Jacob Merriman, a Black man, was held in the jail at Front Royal, Virginia, in August 1869. According to the Norfolk Day Book, on the night of August 19 a party of disguised men surrounded the jail, forced the jailer at gunpoint to hand over the cell keys, and took Jacob from his cell. The Alexandria Gazette reported that his body was found hanging from a cherry tree about a mile from town, and the Norfolk Day Book said a guard who had protected the jail for several days had been removed earlier that day. Accounts differ on the date of the killing, with the Chicago Tribune giving Thursday morning and the Springfield Weekly Republican giving Wednesday night.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched. A disguised mob took Jacob Merriman from the Front Royal jail and hanged him, according to the Alexandria Gazette and a Chicago Tribune dispatch.
Reported by: Alexandria Gazette (reporters); Chicago Tribune dispatch (Washington) (reporters); Springfield Weekly Republican (reporters).