Jane Champion

Not to be confused with Jane Campion.

Jane Champion
Died	1632 (1633) Jamestown, Virginia, British America
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Resting place	Body donated to medical science
Criminal status	Executed
Spouse	Percival Champion
Convictions	Murder, concealing the death of a child
Criminal penalty	Death

Jane Champion (died 1632) was a convict who was the first woman known to be sentenced to death and executed in the territory of today's United States. Champion and her alleged illicit lover, William Gallopin, were accused of murdering and concealing the death of their child.

Jane Champion was married to a wealthy landowner named Percival. At some point in 1630, Champion is alleged to have engaged in an extramarital affair with another colonist, William Gallopin. Champion became pregnant and made lengthy attempts to hide her pregnancy. The baby was born sometime in late 1631 or early 1632 and subsequently died. Champion and Gallopin were accused of causing the death of the infant and were charged with murder and concealing the death of the child. They were tried and found guilty, and were subsequently sentenced to death, albeit there is no record of the execution of Gallopin taking place. Champion was executed by hanging in 1632, and her body was donated to science. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

References

1. Bruce, Philip Alexander; Stanard, William Glover (1905). The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. Virginia Historical Society.
2. Brumfield, Dale M. (January 12, 2020). "Jane Champion was the first woman executed in America". Lessons from History. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
3. "Death Row and Executions in Virginia". www.virginiaplaces.org. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
4. "History of the Death Penalty timeline". Timetoast timelines. January 1608. Retrieved January 19, 2023.