The Dark History of the Boston Common and the Women Who Haunt It
Manage episode 447427731 series 3486901
Boston Common has the distinction of being the first Public Park in America after Puritan colonists bought the land in 1634. Though it’s beautiful today, this park has a deeply dark history. It quickly became the grounds for Puritan punishments (think: whipping posts, stocks, and executions). Grab a warm cup as we explore the lives of women who were put to death here and whether or not they still haunt the grounds today.
Tea of the Day: DM & Co. Kettle Corn Tea
Theme Music by Brad Frank
Sources:
- The Freedom Trail, “Boston Common.” https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/trail-sites/boston-common#:~:text=Established%20in%201634%2C%20Boston%20Common,area%2C%20Anglican%20minister%20William%20Blackstone.
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- Buck, Stephanie, “This woman was executed as a witch because she complained about her carpenters.” Medium, Nov 30, 2016, https://medium.com/timeline/ann-hibbins-witch-a92a9cff276d
- Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64261891/ann-hibbens: accessed October 15, 2024), memorial page for Ann Moore Hibbens (1605–19 Jun 1656), Find a Grave Memorial ID 64261891, citing Granary Burying Ground, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by James Bianco (contributor 47745493).
- Poole, William F.; Winsor, Justin; and Royster, Paul (depositor), "[The Case of Ann Hibbins, Executed for Witchcraft at Boston in 1656]" (1656). Joshua Scottow Papers. 5, https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=scottow
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- “Ghosts of the Boston Common: The Central Burial Ground and Its Residents,” by Michela Rahaim, April 15, 2022, Very Local, https://www.verylocal.com/ghosts-of-boston-common/21623/
- City of Boston, “Central Burying Ground.” Last updated: 7/13/16, https://www.boston.gov/cemeteries/central-burying-ground
- Chand, Rakashi, “Rachel Wall’s Confession, the words of a Pirate?” The Beehive (Massachusetts Historical Society Blog) Updated September 19, 2018, https://www.masshist.org/beehiveblog/2018/09/rachel-walls-confession-the-words-of-a-pirate/
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- Ghost City Tours, “The Ghosts of the Boston Common.” https://ghostcitytours.com/boston/haunted-places/boston-common/
- Belfast Entries, “The Irish Widow Hanged as a Witch in Boston.” Published by P&P, January 16th, 2024, https://www.belfastentries.com/people/ann-glover/
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- Burns, Heather, “Have a 'scary' good time on Boston Common.” Tewksbury Town Crier, Oct 28, 2023, https://homenewshere.com/tewksbury_town_crier/news/article_0d5c0418-7461-11ee-bf3e-e7f4ad09beb3.html
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