Mary Elizabeth Jenkins Surratt ( 1820 or May 1823 – July 7 , 1865 ) was an American boarding house owner who was convicted of taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate U.S. President Abraham Lincoln . Sentenced to death , she was hanged and became the first woman executed by the US federal government . She maintained her innocence until her death , and the case against her was and is controversial . Surratt was the mother of John H. Surratt , Jr. , who was later tried but was not convicted of involvement in the assassination
assassinate U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Mary Surratt