The Trial Of Hester Vaughn
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Precedent case of 1868 on the constitutional right to a jury of one’s peers. Vaughn was convicted by an all-male jury and sentenced to hang at Moyamensing Prison. Spearheaded by the Working Women’s Association, suffragists campaigned against the verdict because women were not represented on the jury. The campaign led Gov. John Geary to pardon Vaughn and raised awareness of inequities within the judicial system.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
In 1868 a young immigrant domestic worker named Hester Vaughn was convicted of infanticide by an all-male jury in Philadelphia and sentenced to hang. Reformers of the Working Women's Association and the suffrage movement seized on the case, arguing that a woman tried without any women on her jury had been denied a jury of her peers. Their campaign persuaded Governor John Geary to pardon her and turned a single verdict into a national argument about justice and women's rights.
Why it matters
Vaughn's case became an early rallying point for the women's suffrage movement, linking the demand for the vote to the deeper claim that women deserved full standing before the law.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial0.7 mi away
- Hill-Physick House0.7 mi away · 321 South 4th Street
- Powel House0.9 mi away · 244 South 3rd Street
- Bridgette Mayer0.9 mi away · 709 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Congress Hall1.0 mi away · Philadelphia, PA
- Philosophical Hall1.0 mi away · PA
Attractions
- Italian market0.2 mi away · Christian Street
- USS Becuna1.0 mi away · South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
- USS Olympia1.0 mi away · South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA
- Second Bank of the United States1.0 mi away · 420 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Carpenters' Hall1.0 mi away · 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Liberty Bell1.0 mi away · 526 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
Food & drink
- Talula's Garden0.8 mi away · 210 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
- Talula's Daily0.8 mi away · 208 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
- Fat Salmon0.9 mi away · 719 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Cafe Walnut0.9 mi away · 703 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Maya's Pizza & Grill0.9 mi away · 716 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Thank You Thank You Coffee Roasters0.9 mi away · 700 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA
Places to stay
- Alexander Inn0.8 mi away · 301 301 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Philadelphia, PA
- Morris House Hotel0.8 mi away · 225 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Fairfield Inn & Suites0.8 mi away · 261 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA
- AKA Washington Square0.9 mi away · 834 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City0.9 mi away · 237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown - Center City1.0 mi away · 219 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
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Related people
- · Hester Vaughn
- · John Geary
Related events
- · Trial of Hester Vaughn
Themes & tags
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