Lavinia Burnett

Lavinia Burnett (1785 - November 8, 1845 ) was the first woman to be executed by the state of Arkansas.

Born Lavinia May Sharp, she married Virginia native Crawford Burnett on December 29, 1810, in Patrick County. Sometime during the 1820s, they moved to Trigg County, Kentucky and lived in the home of Crawford's brother Cornelius. Sometime later, Lavinia and Crawford eventually settled in Arkansas.

Crawford Burnett's attorney made a motion before Crawford's trial to be dismissed as his attorney. This motion was granted. Crawford Burnett, being probably not guilty of the murder itself, refused to testify against his wife.

During Lavinia's trial, a motion to omit the testimony of one Hardin Sharp, a relative of Lavinia's, was denied. The motion was brought on behalf of Lavinia's attorney because it was said that Hardin was an accomplice to the murder.

Lavinia and Crawford were sentenced to death in October 1845.

Hardin Sharp moved to Benton, Missouri where he married Lucinda Beck (1850 census) then both to Jobe, Missouri (1880 census). Minerva Burnett is said to have moved to Texas after the trial and hanging. Minerva (B. 26 Jan 1830 D. 29 Nov 1905 Wolf City TX) married Jonas W. Williams (B. 18 May 1818 D. 18 Dec 1883 Wolf City TX) two years after her parents death.