Elizabeth Katharine (Adam) Workman (1826 - 1873)

Born 7 Sep 1826 in West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Wife of James Workman — married 25 Oct 1850 in West Kilbride, Ayrshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 19 Jun 1873 at age 46 in Sarnia, Lambton, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kathleen Maynard [send private message]

Biography

Elizabeth Workman was the only woman to be hanged in Canada.

Based on the trial transcript numbered in Lambton County Court records as 666-1873, CASE 666:

"Shortly before 9:00 a.m. on June 19, 1873, Elizabeth Workman plunged six feet to her death at the end of a rope on the gallows of the old Sarnia Jail. Fifteen observers watched her die, few of them completely convinced that she deserved her fate. She had been executed contrary to the wishes of the jury, the mayor of Sarnia, a future prime minister, and over 1,000 petitioners in the town. The basic facts of the case are not in dispute. Elizabeth had beaten to death with a mop handle her drunken, abusive and much older husband, James. It had happened in an age when the murder of a husband by a wife was considered a crime only less heinous than treason.

James Workman was a habitual drunk who had subjected his wife to years of physical and verbal abuse. His mistreatment of Elizabeth was often so severe that she and her young son, Hugh, had been forced to seek shelter with a neighbour. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was known as a kind, hard-working, pious and industrious woman who worked ceaselessly to provide for her poverty-stricken family while her husband lazed at home with his bottle.

At the time of James Workman’s murder, Elizabeth had been employed by a black barber in his mid to late thirties named Samuel Butler. Prejudice was still alive in Sarnia in those days, and townsfolk were scandalized. Suggestions were made that their relationship was morally illicit, despite no evidence supporting the rumours. When he drank too much, James would often become abusive about the relationship, and caused a drunken scene in Butler’s shop just days before the crime. The abuse continued at home for days.

Elizabeth apparently decided that she had suffered enough. It has been suggested that Elizabeth did not actually intend to kill her husband, but within two days of the beating, he was dead.

She was brought before the courts on March 21, 1873. The Judge, Adam Wilson, Jr., discovered that she did not have legal counsel, so he assigned a lawyer to defend her. Despite this, the trial began the following day. In his charge to the jury, the judge effectively declared Elizabeth guilty and insinuated that an affair with Butler was likely, despite a lack of supporting evidence. The jury felt it had no choice but to convict, but made a strong recommendation for mercy. The citizens of Sarnia and Lambton County also tried to save her from the gallows. It was to no avail.

She lies entombed today beneath a concrete parking lot behind a motel and a popular restaurant. Much of her story has been lost to time, and almost completely forgotten."

Kathleen's great grandmother , Elizabeth Katharine Workman , was the only woman to be hung in Canada for killing her physically and emotionally abusive father, but listed as husband ,(20 years older). I truly believe she was protecting her son, HUGH , who was found alone with the dead body, stating my opinion. OR was it because a tall big good looking black man and Elizabeth were attracted to each othet? I'm the direct descent through my maternal side only , I have her name. Our society has not changed, being judgmental about Blacks and whites being attracted to each other, and Hang an innocent sweet lady, being low income made it easy for the judge to make his decision . There was a 6 foot grave under the below, where she fell into clenching white daisy's. She is still buried here , concrete over her grave. I pray the Queen make the WRONG RIGHT.

Elizabeth Workman was the grandmother of Bessie (Robertson) Hughes

Research Notes

Possible baptism record: "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XY2F-FMN : 11 February 2020), Elizabeth Adam, 1826.

Sources

• "Scotland Marriages, 1561-1910", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XT2L-J3J : 11 February 2020), Elisabeth Adam in entry for James Workman, 1850.
• Canadian National Archives, The Canadian Department of Justice and the completion of confederation 1867-78, Elizabeth Workman Case No. 666 June 20,1873

• "The Tragedy of Elizabeth Workman" by Phil Egan http://www.sarniahistoricalsociety.com/story/the-tragedy-of-elizabeth-workman/