Homicides of Adults in Vermont, 1821-1846

Homicides of Adults in Vermont, 1821-1846

Class of death:

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Motive:

Intoxication?:

Day of week:

Holiday?:

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VICTIM(s):

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Indictment:
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Personal history:

1821, Sept. 4 Swanton, FRA

P

CT

Class: certain

Crime: HOM

Rela: NONDOM

Motive: DUEL

Intox?:

Day of week: T

Holiday?:

Time of day: evening

Days to death: 18

HOM: Jean Baptiste Tumas (aka La Juvenesse) [aided and abetted by Louis Tumas (aka Louis Baptiste)] m. Abraham Cavely

Weapon: pistol shot to left side of back. d. 9/22
Circumstances: [field]
Inquest:
Indictment: JBT ind. for murder / LT captured & indicted for aiding and assisting in murder.
Term: 12/1821t / 9/1826t
Court proceedings: 12/1821t: JBT pNG. fG of mansl. LIFE. Pardoned, 10/1826. 9/1826t: LT captured & pNG. fG of mansl. 7 yrs. Pardoned 10/1828. "to leave the state."

Source:
Fra. Co. Ct. v. 4: 45; v. M: 402

Newspaper:

RH, 1/9/1822: just mentioned. dtl. Burlington, 12/28/1821

Census:
1820C: nothing

Genealogy:

Accused 1: Jean Baptiste Tumas (aka La Juvenesse)

Ethnicity: French

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 62

Literate:

Marital Status:

Children:

Occupation: farm laborer

Town: Swanton

Birthplace: b. Shamblee, Lower Canada

Religion:

Organizations:

Accused 2: Louis Tumas (aka Louis Baptiste)
Ethnicity: French

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 20 66"

Literate:

Marital Status:

Children:

Occupation: farm laborer

Town: Swanton

Birthplace: b. Lower Canada

Religion:

Organizations:

Victim: Abraham Cavely
Ethnicity: [nb English]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: [20] 'young man'

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Town: Swanton

Birthplace:

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1822, July 15 Windsor, WDS

P

HIST

Class: certain

Crime: HOM

Rela: LEGAL PRISONER by PRISON GUARD

Motive: JUSTIFIED / PREVENTING ESCAPE

Intox?: no

Day of week: Sat

Holiday?:

Time of day: morning

Days to death: 0

HOM: unk. prison guard m. Patrick Fane

Weapon: gunshot to head [musket]
Circumstances: in the yard of the Vermont State Prison
Inquest: Verdict: "that he was killed by the guard from necessity and in the discharge of duty."
Indictment:
Term:
Court proceedings: none

Source:
[History: find reference in prisoner's account of the history of Windsor prison]

Newspaper:

New Hampshire PATRIOT: HOMICIDE IN VERMONT: 7/22/1822: ESCAPE ATT at VERMONT STATE PRISON: dateline, JOURNAL, 7/15: Sat morning last, immediately after let out of their cells, 4 tried to scale the walls. Ran hand cart to wall. Guard told them to stp; they responded by throwing stones & brick bats. Guard shot the ringleader, an Irishman, Patrick Fane (23) -- shot in head DEAD, inst., still grasping in death a knife & short chain, with which he prob meant to assail the guard upon mounting the wall.

One prisoner yelled "'he has killed on of us,' a momentary pause ensued; but with the threat 'now, damn him, we'll kill him,' they again commenced their assault on the guard" until he levelled his pistol again & readied to fire: they stood still. INQUEST: "that he was killed by the guard from necessity and in the discharge of duty."

RH 7/22/1822: ditto

Census:
1820C: nothing

Genealogy:

Accused: ___

Ethnicity:

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: [20] young

Literate:

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Occupation:

Town: Windsor

Birthplace:

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Victim: Patrick Fane
Ethnicity: Irish

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 23

Literate:

Marital Status: s

Children: n

Occupation: prisoner in Vt. St. Prison

Town: Windsor

Birthplace: b. Ireland

Religion:

Organizations:

[1822] ___, RUT

CT

P

Class: probable

Crime: HOM

Rela: UNK [NONDOM]

Motive: UNK

Intox?:

Day of week:

Holiday?:

Time of day:

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HOM: Richard Bedow a. ___

Weapon:
Circumstances:
Inquest:
Indictment: bnf for murder
Term: 2/1823t
Court proceedings: jailed. discharged after grand jury hearing.

Source:
J. of Gen. Ass. 1823: 198

Newspaper:

Rutland Herald 2/5/1822: Sup. Ct. term opens in Rutland Co. "There are some criminal causes which will probably be tried, including one for homeside [sic], or murder."
Rutland Herald 2/12/1822: "In the case of homicide, alluded to in our last, where the accused had been complained of and held in prison to appear at the present term . . . the grand jury found no bill and the prisoner was discharged."

Census:
1820C & 1830C: nothing

Genealogy:
Accused: Richard Bedow
Ethnicity: [unknown]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: adult

Literate:

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Victim: ___
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1823, July Grand Isle, GI

INQ
Class: uncertain

Crime: poss CAS DRO / poss HOM

Rela: NONDOM

Motive: UNK

Intox?:

Day of week:

Holiday?:

Time of day:

Days to death: 0

HOM: unk. person suspected [Paul Hale] of m. Francis Daw

Weapon: drowned
Circumstances:
Inquest: i.d. 7/25/1823: Verdict: drowned by falling from a boat navigated by Paul Hale of Lower Canada, but the jury suspects FD had received a blow to the ear or shoulder before he fell in.
Indictment:
Term:
Court proceedings: none

Source:
Inquest, Franklin Co. Sup. Ct. records, 4: 137

Newspaper:

Census:

Genealogy:

Accused: [Paul Hale]
Ethnicity: English Canadian

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: adult

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Town: Lower Canada

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Victim: Francis Daw
Ethnicity: [English Canadian]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: adult

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Town: [Lower Canada]

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1824, Jan. 7 Danby, RUT

P

CT

HIST
Class: certain

Crime: HOM

Rela: TAVERN CUSTOMER by CUSTOMER

Motive: QUARREL / HONOR

Intox?: yes, both

Day of week: W

Holiday?:

Time of day:

Days to death: 0

HOM: Daniel Palmer m. Ephraim Briggs

Weapon: beating with fists, blow from right hand to head [phys]
Circumstances: at the "Red Tavern," then kept by Nicholas Jinks tavern. A fight over who was to be served first. The fight got out of hand.
Inquest:
Indictment: bnf for murder. ind. for mansl.
Term: 2/1824t
Court proceedings: pNG. fG of mansl. LIFE. pardoned 10/1829

Source:
Rut. Co. Sup. Ct. file, 615: #46; 617: #39. Witnesses: James McDaniel, Jonathan Barrett, Abel Horton, Sarah Baker, Charity Hanick, Russell Mallory of Danby; Betsey Hutchins of Pawlet; Howard Salisbury and Jonathan Breuer of Tinmouth.
J. of Gen. Ass. 1824: 237
J. C. Williams, The History and Map of Danby, Vermont (Rutland: McLean and Roberts, 1869), 216-217. DP settled on the homestead where his father had lived for many yrs. "in his early days, a respected member of society." EB lived in the edge of Tinmouth, & came to the Corners frequently "to transact business." DP & EB met one evening at the tavern. "Both men were addicted to drinking and when intoxicated, were somewhat quarrelsome." Quarrel, both "quick tempered," one challenged the other to the door. DP, "upon reaching the door, being very quick in his movements, struck Briggs in the face, falling him to the ground, and then jumping with both feet into his breast, which unfortunately resulted in his death." Examination before Barton Bromley, Esq., j.p. -- acquitted. Friends of EB caused a 2nd arrest: tried at Rut. Ct. house, fG. LIFE. Upon receiving his sentence, he "politely thanked the judge that his sentence was not for a longer term.'" Returned to town after his pardon & remained a citizen for many yrs. d. at Wallingford, 1862 (84).

Newspaper:

RH, 1/13/1824: P & P happened to meet at a tavern of Mr. Jinks. Each called for a glass of sling. The first was served. EB went to drink it, but DP forbade him, claiming it was his. EB tasted it anyway. Hard words ensued. DP took EB by the collar. The landlord interfered and "turned" DP out of doors. After some time EB went out. Soon after, customers heard noise and went out. "Briggs was found prostrate on his back on the ground and Palmer beating him with his hand or fist." d. inst. Brain injured near the right ear by broken jaw.
EB: a revolutionary pensioner, a poor man (64)

DB: "rather an intemperate petulent man, and possesses some considerable estate."

RH 2/17/1824: ed. reports the verdict on DP. Ed. says he is satisfied, although the crowd was somewhat divided on the matter at the trail. [[assuming that the death was accidental and unintended, and that assault was the proper charge, it seems]]

Census:
1810C:

EB RUT 005 Danby M 0,0,16,45 F 0,26

DP RUT 012 " M 0,26 // F 16,26,45

1820C: no Briggs in Danby or Tinmouth
DP RUT 190 Danby M 0,0,10,26 F 0,10,26 Ag - 1

Genealogy:

Accused: Daniel Palmer
Ethnicity: [nb English]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 44 68"

Literate:

Marital Status: m. lst to Hannah (Herrick); m. 2nd to Polly (Hopkins)

Children: 5 ch.

Occupation: farmer considerable estate, intemperate

Town: Danby

Birthplace: b. Nine Partners, NY

Religion:

Organizations:

Victim: Ephraim Briggs
Ethnicity: [nb English]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 64

Literate:

Marital Status: m

Children: yes, several

Occupation: farmer poor, revolutionary pensioner

Town: Tinmouth

Birthplace:

Religion:

Organizations:

1824, June 23 Bridport, ADD

P

CT

Class: certain

Crime: HOM

Rela: RELATIVE FATHER by SON

Motive: REVENGE for not helping him secure release from prison

Intox?: prob. assailant

Day of week: W

Holiday?:

Time of day: evening

Days to death: 0

HOM: Charles Ball m. Daniel Ball

Weapon: beat with hands & feet, threw upon the dwelling floor. Beaten all over his body and head.
Circumstances: at the home of DB
Inquest:
Indictment: ind. for murder
Term: 1/1825t
Court proceedings: pNG. fG of mansl. LIFE. d. in prison, 3/1843.
NOTE: charged with theft, 7/1820t

Source:
J. of Gen. Ass., 1825: n.p.

Add. Co. Sup. Ct. 4: 194.

Newspaper:
VT AURORA 7/1/1824 (fr. STATESMAN). ditto.
RH, 6/29/1824: The two men had just returned from a raising. CB was probably drunk. CB came home first & appeared enraged against his father & threatened to kill him. The father was warned not to enter the house, but he did. Stomped to death. 2 neighbors tried to stop CB, but they were thrown out of doors bodily & the trampling recommenced. Clearly intended to injure DB fatally.

MOTIVE: CB had been in the state prison. Angered because his father "did not try to get him liberated" from prison. [[unclear, however, if that was the motive behind the killing]]

New Hampshire PATRIOT, 2/21/1825: HOM in VT: the Chas Ball case. Quotes Rutland HERALD report. The CB's mother testified on his behalf saying that he "was the mildest tempered of the whole" of her children.
IRONIC VOICE IN THE PRESS ABOUT VIOLENT PEOPLE

VW 2/15/1825: HOM: note Charles Ball, who killed his father in Bridport, 6/1824, fG of mansl, LIFE in VSP.

Census:
1820C:
DB ADD 080 Bridport M 0,10,45 F 16,45 Ag - 2

Genealogy:

Accused: Charles Ball
Ethnicity:

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 32 66"

Literate:

Marital Status:

Children:

Occupation:

Town: Bridport

Birthplace: b. Springfield, VT

Religion:

Organizations:

Victim: Daniel Ball
Ethnicity:

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: [57]

Literate:

Marital Status: m

Children: yes

Occupation:

Town: Bridport

Birthplace:

Religion:

Organizations:

1824, June Manchester, BEN

P
Class: do not count

Crime: SUSPICIOUS / CAS DRO

Rela:

Motive:

Intox?:

Day of week:

Holiday?:

Time of day:

Days to death: 0

HOM: unk. person m. Alvira Ayers

Weapon: poss. violence, drowned
Circumstances: in cistern at home of her employer, Hon. Judge Skinner
Inquest: Verdict: acc. drowning
Indictment:
Term:
Court proceedings: none

Source:

Newspaper:

New Hampshire PATRIOT: 7/12/1824: SUSPICIOUS DEATH in VT: NHP ed. doesn't buy the verdict of the inquest. Manchester, last week. Alvira Ayers (18), in family of the Hon. Judge Skinner, found in a water cistern, near the house, on Th morning last, a corpse. "The water in cistern, it is said, being not deep enough to have drowned her, had she stood up, the lid being down when she was discovered, the body having some marks of violence upon it, and her clothes somewhat torn, produced varkous conjectures; but the jury of Inquest were of opinion that she fell in of herself, and her death was occasioned thereby."
RH 6/29/1824: ditto. last week.

Census:
1820C: none in Manch. in Ben. Co.:

Levi Ayers BEN 170 Benn.
1830C: none in Manch. in Ben. Co.:
John Ayers BEN 032 Benn.

Levi Ayers BEN 030 Benn.

Loren Ayers BEN 028 Benn.

Genealogy:

no old town hist. of Bennington; nothing in hist. of Manch. at VHS

Accused: ___

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Victim: Alvira Ayers
Ethnicity:

Race: w

Gender: f

Age: adult

Literate:

Marital Status: s

Children: n

Occupation: [domestic servant] in home of Hon. Judge Skinner

Town: Manchester

Birthplace:

Religion:

Organizations:

1826, Jan. 16 Salisbury, ADD

P

CT

Class: certain

Crime: HOM MANSL

Rela: NONDOM PUPIL'S OLDER BROTHER by TEACHER

Motive: DISPUTE over DISCIPLINE

Intox?:

Day of week: M

Holiday?:

Time of day: morning

Days to death: 0

HOM: William Blake m. Seymour C. Howard

Weapon: maple club to head -- gripped with both hands & fractured skull. d. in the evening, 11pm. [d. 6 hrs after assault]
Circumstances: WB was SCH's teacher. Accused of clubbing SCH to death in a disciplinary dispute.
Inquest: yes
Indictment: ind. for mansl.
Term: 6/1827t
Court proceedings: Admitted to $1000 b. 6/1826t: bnf. for mansl. 6/1827t: ind. for mansl. pNG. 6/1828t: fNG.

Source:
Add. Co. Sup. Ct. 11: 279

Newspaper:

NHP, 1/30/1826
Woodstock OBSERVER, 1/24/1826 -- from the NORTHERN SENTINEL (Burlington): dtl. Salisbury: M last, a young man named Howard (18). The deceased and his two younger brothers had for several years past made a "disturbance and difficulty" with the district schoolmasters. The district hired Blake, who was thought able to control them. The youngest [a small child] refused to spell correctly -- B said he'd punish him, and the youth fled the schoolroom. The next Monday he returned [after an absence of several days] accompanied by his older brother "who had come to protect him" against punishment.

B ordered the young boy forward for punishment. The deceased rose and "in an insulting manner" told B to leave his brother alone. He refused to sit. B gave him a severe blow with a crutch of the scholars. H clinched him. B gave him another more severe blow to the head & fractured H's skull. H was escorted home by a student. d. 11pm.

Inquest: B gave himself up & was bound for trial.
VT AURORA (Vergennes), 1/26/1826: ditto. [Prints two versions, one of which portrays the death more an unfortunate, but the same details are present.]
New Hampshire Patriot: 1/30/1826: the MANSL in Salisbury, VT by teacher of Howard. (19) copied fr VT PATRIOT AND STATE GAZETTE
NHP 5/1/1826: bnf. Grand jury nearly unanimous in believing teacher innocent. // VT WATCHMAN, 5/9/1826: ditto
Vermont WATCHMAN 5/9/1826: SUSPECTED HOMICIDE: INQUEST, RUTLAND HERALD: Addison County Court, grand jury investigated case of the school master "who, our readers will recollect, was complained of for killing young Howard, one of his scholars, at Salisbury, last fall." Acquitted by nearly unanimous vote of grand jury.

Census:
1820C: nothing

1830C: no WB in Salisb.
Elerey Howard ADD 207 Salisb.
M 5,5,10,15,15,40 F 20,20,40

Genealogy:

SCH: son of Mr. E. Howard

Accused: William Blake

Ethnicity: [nb English]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: adult

Literate:

Marital Status:

Children:

Occupation: teacher

Town: Salisbury

Birthplace:

Religion:

Organizations:

Victim: Seymour C. Howard
Ethnicity: [nb English]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 19

Literate:

Marital Status: s

Children: no

Occupation: student

Town: Salisbury

Birthplace:

Religion:

Organizations:

1826, Dec. Bellows Falls, WDH

P
NOTE: the Luther Weld court record does not name a victim, nor does the story on Jacob Blanchard mention the perpetrator. Counted separately, because Bellows Falls is far from Guilford. Doubtful for that reason that the homicides are identical.

Class: probable

Crime: HOM MANSL

Rela: [NONDOM]

Motive: UNK

Intox?:

Day of week:

Holiday?:

Time of day:

Days to death: [3] [did not die instantly]

HOM: ___ m. Jacob Blanchard

Weapon: pushed or shoved from piazza of Mr. B. Robinson's house. d. in Westminster, VT
Circumstances:
Inquest: Verdict: pushed or shoved, caused his death.
Indictment:
Term:
Court proceedings: no ind.

Source:

Newspaper:

Woodstock OBSERVER, 1/2/1827

Brattleboro MESSENGER: issues missing at VtStLib

Census:
1820C: Blanchards in WDH Rockingham
Jno. 145 M 0,0,0,0,10,16,45 F 0,0,10,10,16,16,16,45 Ag - 8
1830C: Blanchards in WDH Rockingham
Jno. 087 M 10,20,60 F 15,15,20,20,50

Genealogy:

not in Rockingham town hist. at VHS

Accused: ___

Ethnicity:

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Victim: Jacob Blanchard
Ethnicity: [nb English]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: 38

Literate:

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Birthplace:

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Organizations:

[1827] [Guilford], WDH

CT
NOTE: the Luther Weld court record does not name a victim, nor does the story on Jacob Blanchard mention the perpetrator. Counted separately, because Bellows Falls is far from Guilford. Doubtful for that reason that the homicides are identical.

Class: probable

Crime: HOM MANSL

Rela: UNK

Motive: UNK

Intox?:

Day of week:

Holiday?:

Time of day:

Days to death:

HOM: Luther Weld m. ___

Weapon:
Circumstances:
Inquest:
Indictment: ind. for mansl.
Term: 9/1827t
Court proceedings: Bonds forfeited. n.p.

Source:
Wdh. Co. Ct. 10: 446

J. of Gen. Ass. 1827: 224

Newspaper:
Brattleboro MESSENGER: issues missing at VtStLib

Census:
1820C: Welds in WDH

Luther Weld WDH 061 Guilford M 10,10,16,16,16,45 F 10,45 Ag - 6
1830C:
Luther Weld WDH 035 Guilford
M 0,0,15,15,20,20,60 F 20,20,50

Genealogy:

Official History of Guilford, Vermont, 1678-1961 (Brattleboro: Vermont Printing Co., for the Town of Guilford and Broad Brooks Grange No. 151, 1961).
Luther Weld: 144 (warned out of town, 1781), 152 (LW on 1790 census, only himself in his hhld: Calvin (5), Daniel (8), and Isaac (6) also in 1790C), 246 (owned a pew in the old White Church),352
Luther Weld Jr.: 352
352: a farm on the s slope on the north side of Broad Brook opposite the road leading south into Wetherhead Hollow. Purchased by Luther and Calvin Weld in 1794. Calvin sold his share in 1796 to his brother, Luther, and to N. Millett. The latter sold all he had of Weld to Elisha Gregory of Templeton, Mass., including a gristmill and a dwelling house. The farm dwelling, owned by Luther Weld, was sold by LW to Arad Hunt in 1813. Repurchased by LW in 1818, who deeded it to his sons, Daniel and Luther, Jr. in 1827. Luther Jr. conveyed his interest to Daniel, who sold in 1836 to Caleb and Warren Blanchard.

Accused: Luther Weld

Ethnicity: [nb English]

Race: w

Gender: m

Age: adult

Literate:

Marital Status:

Children:

Occupation:

Town: [Guilford]

Birthplace:

Religion:

Organizations:

Victim: ___
Ethnicity:

Race:

Gender:

Age:

Literate:

Marital Status:

Children:

Occupation:

Town:

Birthplace:

Religion:

Organizations:

1828, May 28 Royalton, WDS

P

CT

Class: certain

Crime: HOM MANSL

Rela: NONDOM

Motive: [QUARREL]

Intox?:

Day of week: W

Holiday?:

Time of day:

Days to death: 2

HOM: Clark Caryl m. Hiram Strobridge