In the 1700s and 1800s New England was ravished by consumption an early term for tuberculosis.
Families watched as their loved ones died a long painful death. This illness left its victims gaunt, flushed and with sunken eyes. Relatives stood by helpless as the ill coughed and coughed.
Doctors where unable to help.
Doctors where unable to help.
People described this illness as literally sucking the life out of its victims. Entire communities, fearful and ignorant began to rely on superstitious beliefs.
Most came to believe evil forces were at work. A widespread belief took hold. New Englanders began to blame what they called the “walking dead” as the reason for their loved ones dying. It was stated these evil entities moved among them at night—and sucked the life out of the living.
The term “vampire” was not used but this is what this superstition was based upon.
Read more details about this belief in the Smithsonian Magazine here.
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| Click to enlarge |
The most famous New England vampire case involved a young woman named Mercy Lena Brown (1872-1892). Her family lived in the small village of Exeter, Rhode Island.
Mercy’s family, like many others, was hit hard by consumption. Mercy’s mother and a sister died. Her older brother Edwin became ill. He moved to Colorado in hopes of a cure but returned to Exeter still ill.
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| Brown Family Plot |
Mercy also became ill with consumption. She died at age 19 in winter so her body was placed in a sort of freezer—an above ground vault—so she could be buried properly once the ground unfroze.
Neighbors of Mercy’s father, George Brown asked him for permission to exhume his family’s bodies. They felt one deceased member must be among the “undead” and was continuing to make his son Edwin ill. George gave his permission.
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| Vault her body was kept in at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. |
When dug up they discovered the mother and sister had decomposed to bones, which was expected. But when Mercy’s body was examined it had not decomposed—having been kept in the cold vault.
The group also discovered congealed blood in Mercy’s heart and liver. They took this as a sign she must be among the undead. They then performed a ritual that was believed to release Edwin from this evil influence.
They removed Mercy’s heart and placed it on a rock and burned it—this turned it to ashes. They then mixed these ashes with water and had Edwin drink it. But alas, he died 2 months later.
Mercy’s body was among many in New England that were desecrated in this fashion. But her story like the others does not end here.
Her spirit has been restless ever since. Over the years people in this small community have reported strange sights and sounds.
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| Mercy’s gravestone. |
Her body is buried in Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Exeter. Residents and visitors report seeing strange lights in this cemetery. Witnesses whom have stood on graves in this cemetery state that something unseen shoved them off these plots.
Other residents have come forward to state they have seen Mercy’s ghost walking around the community.
Those whom have offered prayers for Mercy report afterwards smelling the scent of roses.
Mercy’s spirit is known to visit members in the community that are about to die. Relatives have encountered their loved ones in earnest conversations with Mercy hours or even minutes before they passed.
It appears that Mercy’s spirit is a kind soul who doesn’t want to see any more graves desecrated. She also exhibits compassion for those who are about to die.
Today people often leave items on her gravesite. My wish is these items be respectful and not a joke because ignorance labeled her a vampire.