[3] Her trail began on September 3rd, 1768 and she pled not guilty to killing the baby and showed she did want it by having clothing and blankets prepared for the child when it was born which convinced the jury to not convict her of murder.
She was waiting for a pardon from Governor Benning Wentworth who gave her 4 reprieves in total which pushed her actual execution date to December 30th, 1768.
On December 30, 1768, Ruth Blay was transported by horse cart from the town jail to a hill overlooking a parcel of parish land where a farmer grazed his cattle.
After a brief ceremony, including a stern sermon[5] from a local minister, Sheriff Packer placed a noose[6] around Blay’s neck as she stood on the cart.
Ruth Blay’s body was buried by workers in an unmarked grave at the base of Gallows Hill,[7] though the exact location remains unknown.
The mural was initiated by the nonprofit organization Friends of Ruth Blay, which seeks to bring awareness to historic and marginalized figures from Portsmouth's history.
The design highlights Ruth Blay's story and her tragic treatment under the harsh laws of the time, shedding light on broader issues of gender injustice and societal inequality.