Lynching redux

[Baker, John]

        Yes, it's definitely based on his surname.  Whether it refers
specifically to him, however, is a different matter.

        Lynchburg was founded by John Lynch.  John Lynch was the brother
of Col. Charles Lynch (1736 - 1796), a Virginia planter and vigilante
who is a candidate referent for "Lynch law," according to the Century
Dictionary.  Most references favor a different Virginian, Capt. William
Lynch (1742 - 1820).

John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
Of Wilson Gray
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 8:56 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Lynching redux


Okay. So, is it true that the term, "lynching," is based on the surname
of the brother of the man who founded Lynchburg, VA?

-Wilson