Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Enjoy this recording of our virtual event, "Women Scorned: Petit Treason and Punishment in 18th Century Delaware."
When Delaware declared its independence in 1776, it prompted a plethora of changes pertaining to its government and legal system. As the state grew and evolved, it reflected on crime and punishment in this new era. One crime that was reviewed by the new government was petit treason, which was treasonous acts committed against a person of authority other than the government. Throughout its history, two Delaware women were tried for petit treason: Catherine Bevan in 1731 and Sarah Kirk in 1787. While their charges were the same, their punishments were not. Join us as we examine documents from the Delaware Public Archives’ collections to discuss these women and the changing legal system of a new Delaware.
This event was in collaboration with the Chester County History Center and presented by Dana Niemeyer, CA.
You can find more of our events in our event calendar below:
archives.delaware.gov/events-calendar
FOLLOW:
Website - archives.delaware.gov
Subscribe - youtube.com/channel/UC7_WXMeC-vpYdJmxBIJR7uQ
Instagram - instagram.com/DEPublicArchives
Facebook - facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives
Twitter - twitter.com/DEPublicArchive
#explore #delaware #history
Enjoy this recording of our virtual event, "Women Scorned: Petit Treason and Punishment in 18th Century Delaware."
When Delaware declared its independence in 1776, it prompted a plethora of changes pertaining to its government and legal system. As the state grew and evolved, it reflected on crime and punishment in this new era. One crime that was reviewed by the new government was petit treason, which was treasonous acts committed against a person of authority other than the government. Throughout its history, two Delaware women were tried for petit treason: Catherine Bevan in 1731 and Sarah Kirk in 1787. While their charges were the same, their punishments were not. Join us as we examine documents from the Delaware Public Archives’ collections to discuss these women and the changing legal system of a new Delaware.
This event was in collaboration with the Chester County History Center and presented by Dana Niemeyer, CA.
You can find more of our events in our event calendar below:
archives.delaware.gov/events-calendar
FOLLOW:
Website - archives.delaware.gov
Subscribe - youtube.com/channel/UC7_WXMeC-vpYdJmxBIJR7uQ
Instagram - instagram.com/DEPublicArchives
Facebook - facebook.com/DelawarePublicArchives
Twitter - twitter.com/DEPublicArchive
#explore #delaware #history
