East side
This pillar is erected to the memory of William Jackson of Virginia, who was murdered upon this spot by ship captain Thomas Carter of Newport, Rhode Island who, having been ship-wrecked and rendered penniless thereby, and being overtaken by Mr. Jackson, who, also being on his way North, furnished him with money and use of a horse on the way. Having arrived at the point that is indicated by this pillar, Carter there robbed and
North side
murdered his kind and confiding benefactor with a dagger, about the hour of midnight of January first, 1751. Was tried and convicted of his crime at the village of Tower Hill on April 4th, 1751, and was hung in chains upon a gibbet May 10th, 1751, at the eastern foot of Tower Hill, at side of the public highway, where the shrieking—as it were—of its chains, &c, during boisterous winds at night, were the terror of many persons who lived
West side
near thereto, or passed thereby. One of these being the late Governor George Brown of Boston Neck, who told this writer that such had been his own case when a youth, while on his way to the residence of College Tom Hazard that he visited every week. It appears that Carter threw Jackson in the "Narrow River" at the time he committed this murder, and that a negro found him therein, and near the abovementioned gibbet. A wayside inn-keeper,
South side
Mrs. Nash, who lived about ten miles westward from Tower Hill, happening to be at this village at the time this body was found. She recognized it as being that of Jackson, by means of a button she had sewn upon his vest only a few hours before he left her house, and that Captain Carter was with him. Carter was therefore arrested, tried, and condemned, and executed accordingly.
Joseph Peace Hazard
1889
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