Richard Law (March 7, 1733 – January 26, 1806) was a delegate to the First Continental Congress, the Second Continental Congress, and the Congress of the Confederation. He was Mayor of New London, Connecticut, and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. In the modern day, he has become infamously known for convicting and sentencing Hannah Ocuish, a 12-year-old Native American girl to death for the murder of a 6-year-old white girl.
Born on March 7, 1733, in Milford, Connecticut Colony, British America,[1] Law pursued classical studies,[2] graduated from Yale University in 1751 and read law in 1755.[1] He was admitted to the bar in January 1755, and entered private practice in Milford from 1755 to 1757.[1] He continued private practice in New London, Connecticut Colony from 1757 to 1765.[1] He was a Justice of the Peace for New London from 1765 to 1775.[1] He was a member of the Connecticut General Assembly from 1765 to 1776.[1] He was Chief Judge of the New London County Court from 1773 to 1784.[1] He was Clerk of the Connecticut General Assembly from 1774 to 1776.[1] He was an assistant to the Connecticut General Assembly from 1776 to 1786.[1] He was a member of the Connecticut Council of Safety in May 1776.[2] He was a delegate, successively to the First Continental Congress, Second Continental Congress and the Congress of the Confederation in 1774, in 1776, in 1777, and from 1780 to 1783.[1] He was a Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court in New London from 1784 to 1789, serving as Chief Judge from 1786 to 1789.[1] He was the Mayor of New London, Connecticut from 1784 to 1806.[1][3]
In October 1786, Law presided over the trial of twelve-year-old Hannah Ocuish, a half-Pequot Native American girl, for the murder of six-year-old Eunice Bolles.[4] Upon the conclusion of the trial, Law sentenced the young girl to death on October 16, 1786.[4] Ocuish was hanged for the crime on December 20, 1786, three months shy of her thirteenth birthday.[4] In the modern day, her guilt has been disputed and a matter of debate.[5][6][7][8]
Law was nominated by President George Washington on September 24, 1789, to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 73.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 26, 1789, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on January 26, 1806, due to his death in New London.[1] He was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London.[2]
Law was the father of Lyman Law, a United States representative from Connecticut, and grandfather of John Law, a United States Representative from Indiana.[2]
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