Horror perpetrated by superstitions spawned from ignorance!
(Exeter, Rhode Island) – Welcome to a charming rural community! Acting in the capacity of virtual tour guide, I’ll lead the way—up until our dead stop at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, where we’ll part company.
Breakfast is in order at the Middle of Nowhere Diner on Nooseneck Hill Rd. “Extra Specials All Day”!
Yonder on Yawgoo Valley Rd., there’s Yawgoo Valley, the only ski resort in Rhode Island which affords skiers their ups and downs along slippery slopes.
Let’s visit Tomaquag Museum on Summit Rd., the only “solely” Native American museum in Rhode Island.
At the heart of matters—excuse my Freudian slip—the Sodom Mill Historical and Archaeological District. Note the foundational remnants of this early-19th century mill complex, along with the ruins of several dwellings.
Let’s refuel by indulging a mid-afternoon meal at the Tilted Barn Brewery located at the end of a dirt road along Helmsley Place.
Our tour now takes a macabre turn as we pass by the Greek Revival-style Baptist Church on Ten Rod Road, and head into Chestnut Hill Cemetery, the final resting place for Mercy Lena Brown, New England’s “last” vampire.
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Fortified by a swig from my water bottle, I’ll reiterate the particulars cited by paranormal investigator, Jeff Belanger, in his article, “Mercy Brown, the Rhode Island Vampire,” based on historic information retrieved from 'Food for the Dead' by Dr. Bell. Dr. Bell recounts an extensive interview he conducted with Everett Peck, a lifelong resident of Exeter, and descendant of Mercy Brown. Peck purportedly heard the story from those who’d been “there”.
In a roundabout way, I’m about to relate a lurid, livid tale redolent of tabloid fodder for your consumption. Before proceeding, let’s bow our heads out of respect for Mercy Brown, an innocent victim who became a scapegoat because of ignorant, superstition-based logic.
Headlining our story—“Tragedy Befalls the Browns!” George Brown’s wife Mary fell ill and died in 1883 from tuberculosis, known as “consumption” back then. His eldest daughter, Mary Olive, died from the same affliction in 1888. Although his son Edwin became ill in 1890, his other daughter, Mercy, died before him in 1892 at the age of 19.
Forewarning the squeamish:
A short time after Mercy’s funeral, as her brother Edwin’s condition worsened, George Brown attributed the onslaught of death in his family to a curse. Since medical technology in the 19th century probed the depth of a shallow grave, prevalent vampire lore prevailed.
Tally-ho and away we go!
Undue suspicions predisposed those gung-ho with a shovel to desecrate the mortal remains of the accused bloodsucker by exhuming the body from its grave. Who drew the short end of a stick to open the coffin or crypt, and drive a stake through the victim’s heart? Who’d step forward to rearrange the bones and remove vital organs?
According to Everett Peck, the hearsayer, Mercy’s heart was cut out and burned on a nearby rock. To no avail, the ashes were fed to Edwin in an attempt to cure him.
In retrospect:
Since Mercy Brown died before embalming became a common practice, during decomposition it’s not unheard of for bodies to sit up and/or emit sounds resembling groans due to bloating. Upon exhumation, a newspaper article mentioned the heart and liver had blood in them, grounds for incriminating Mercy a vampire. Modern-day forensics explains that blood can coagulate and become liquid again.
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This concludes our tour. As for the Tupperware container at the gravesite, there’s a notebook inside should you be inclined to sign. Rest in peace, Mercy Lena Brown.
Oh, the horror perpetrated by superstitions spawned from ignorance! On any given day, there are scapegoats who become unwitting victims targeted by narrow-minded individuals. Scapegoats incriminated on account of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or disability are murdered in cold blood. These horrific occurrences defy logic!
*My sincere appreciation to Authors Den for selecting this article as one of four winners in the "2018 Spooktacular Halloween Contest".
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