Derrick Johansson

http://www.dxhansen.com/SS2Hansen-o/p197.htm#i9822

The History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, W.W.H. Davis, posted in US GenWeb Bucks Co., PA database: “The first judicial execution in this county, and probably in the state, was in the month of July, 1693, when Derrick Jonson, alias Classon, was hanged for murder. On the 8th of May, 1692, the body of an unknown man was found floating in the Neshaminy near its month, which bore evidence of foul play, on which an inquest was held on the 12th, and returned into court on the 8th of June. It appearing from the evidence before the coroner, that a considerable quantity of blood was found on the wall of Jonson's house, and on his bed, he was arrested. He and his wife Brighta were examined at the August term. He tried to explain the appearance of the blood, saying that it came from a man's nose three years before, and that he had mentioned it about the time. Although there was strong circumstantial evidence that a murder had been committed, the court discharged Jonson on his own recognizance of £100, and his wife on security in the same amount, to answer at the next term. A true bill was found against him at April term, 1693, and he was tried and found guilty of murder, and sentenced to be hanged. His wife and neighbors petitioned for his pardon, or commutation of sentence, but without avail, and he was executed about the middle of July, by the sheriff, Israel Taylor. -- A few days afterward Taylor appeared before the provincial council and asked to be relieved from his office, which was done.-- The convict was a person of considerable property, and the council looked after his crops, allowing Robert Cole £7. 15s. for securing them, to be paid from the estate. Jonson had been in the courts before, having been bound over at the June term, 1685, for striking his servant, Jasper Lunn [Lun*]. He was a Swede, and no doubt had been in the country several years. -- There is a tradition, although a cruel one, that he was confined in the old jail at the falls, then in a very dilapidated condition, and that it was hoped he would break out and run away, but not doing so, the authorities hung him to get rid of him. -- Derrick Jonson was brother of Claus Jonson, who is mentioned in the early annals on the Delaware. Among other employments he was overseer of highways from the Poquessing to Bristol, before the arrival of William Penn.”