Lynching redux

[Jonathan Lighter]

OED believes that an origin in reference Capt. W. Lynch has been "clearly establish[ed]."  His extrajudicial tribunal was evidently set up in Virginia in 1780.

JL

"Baker, John" <JMB at STRADLEY.COM> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: "Baker, John"
Subject: Re: Lynching redux
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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


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