A History of Vampires in New England

by Thomas D'Agostino

  A short time following Rachel’s interment, the captain married his second wife, Hulda Powell, on April 4, 1791. She, too, was a handsome woman with a friendly nature. She also became ill within a short time and began to show signs of consumption. As her health began to decline in a swift manner, the captain knew all hope was lost.

  It was then that a strange belief took hold of the family and friends of Captain Burton. They concluded that the first wife was coming back from the grave and feeding on the lifeblood of Hulda, thus creating her consumptive condition. They were convinced that if the vitals of the first wife were reduced to ashes, Hulda would be cured of the terrible wasting illness.

  Rachel had been buried for three years when the deed was carried out. It is reported that almost one thousand people showed up for the gruesome exorcism. What remained of her heart, lungs and liver were placed on the blacksmith forge of Jacob Mead. The decomposed liver, heart and lungs were then reduced to ashes. Timothy Mead presided over the blessing of the remains in an attempt to purge the demonic disease that gripped Hulda. This form of medicine did not work, as Hulda succumbed to the dreaded consumption on September 6, 1793. It is not clear whether she was made to drink Rachel’s ashes with some form of medicine. The idea of bringing in the blacksmith forge is a fascinating aspect in this case, as blacksmiths historically were thought to be, in a sense, more mystical than ordinary people. Their use of fire, iron and horseshoes gave them a magical edge over the supernatural. Vampires or vampirism, according to superstition, can be exorcised in the presence of iron, hence the role of the blacksmith in burning the vitals on his forge.

  Joe Nickell paid a visit to Manchester to find out some facts about the Burton case. In his impressive research, he was able to officiate the dates pertaining to the Burton family mentioned above. He also found that Isaac Burton and his fourth wife were relocated from the Old Village Green, where the courthouse now sits, to the Dellwood Cemetery. Many unmarked graves are still believed to be in the green, including that of Rachel.

  When Judge John Pettibone wrote about the account, he stated that it was “furnished” to him by an eyewitness. He also stated that the exorcism took place in February, as there was “good sleighing.” The only problem that arises is that in February the ground would most likely have been frozen, and digging—especially in 1793—would have been extremely difficult. They must have been pretty desperate to rid their host of the affliction that made her suffer so. If this case predates the Spaulding case—and according to the dates given, it does—then what became of the vine theory? Pettibone, in his writing, stated that the month was February, but he also acknowledged that an eyewitness related the account to him. Any historian, folklorist or researcher soon comes to find out that dates are often mistaken when translated or recounted. That is not to say definitively that this is the case here, but keep this in mind when looking for historical data.

  1796

  CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

  The following excerpt is from the Cumberland Town Council meeting held on February 8, 1796. It is in regard to resident Stephen Staples, a prominent farmer whose daughter died of consumption. In the council records, it states that the council had been “specially called and held” on that particular day. Members of the council present at the time were Mr. John Lapham, Mr. Jason Newell, Captain Benjamin S. Westcott and Mr. Benjamin Singly.

  Mr. Stephen Staples of Cumberland appeared before this council and prayed that he might have liberty granted unto him to dig up the body of his dofter [daughter] Abigail Staples late of Cumberland single woman deceased in order to try an experiment on Livina Chace wife of Stephen Chace which said Livina was sister to the said Abigail deceased which being duly considered it is voted and resolved that the said Stephen Staples have liberty to dig up the body of the said Abigail deceased and after trying the experiment as aforesaid that he bury the body of the said Abigail in a deasent [sic] manner.

  This is a rather curious entry, as the family patriarch actually asks the town council for permission to dig up one daughter in order to save another daughter. If it was in typical Rhode Island fashion, the graveyard was on Staples’s property to begin with, so it was not like he would be stealing out to a common burial ground to perform this gruesome task. Farmers would designate the least useful piece of property to inter their loved ones. We must remember that there were no supermarkets or convenience stores at this time. Farming the rocky New England soil was hard, and there was never a guarantee that the land was going to be fertile. Every inch of good planting soil was needed for the living. If the crops failed or did not produce well, the family could look forward to a hungry winter.

  There is no further record regarding what happened as a result of this meeting. If Abigail were disinterred, she would have been dead about one year. According to Dr. Michael Bell’s research, Stephen Staples died on April 8, 1815. Abigail Staples was born on January 26, 1773. Assuming she had passed within a year of the 1796 request, she would have been between twenty-two and twenty-three years old. The Staples lot, Cumberland Historical Cemetery #17, is set on a small hill ten feet north of Nate Whipple Highway amongst bramble and brush. There are twelve burials with four inscribed stones from 1799 to 1840. Most of the markers are fieldstones, as was common in colonial times. This leaves the actual grave sites of Mr. Staples and Abigail up to conjecture. There is one story of a stone actually being stolen by someone who thought it was Abigail’s. The cemetery was transcribed in the Arnold records, volume eight, page ninety-eight. The transcription makes note of three unmarked graves in addition to the three listed—an interesting entry when considering the town council minutes recorded in 1796.

  As for Mr. Stephen Staples, not a whole lot is known about him. I searched for a birth record but could not find one. I did find in the vital records at the Greenville Public Library that he married Susannah Bartlett on April 26, 1762. According to the same vital records, Lavina Staples was born on June 23, 1762, but there was no record of her death to speak of. This is basically the same as Dr. Bell’s findings at the time of his research. All libraries have pretty much the same volumes to peruse. Mr. Staples was a farmer, and there is a road named after the Stapleses near the burial ground. The big claim to fame is the town council entry that has made history and continues to keep researchers on the trail of what the outcome of his request may have been.

  In searching for the Stephen Staples lot, it was already clear from my research that there was going to be few legible stones. Armed with a cemetery number and this minute amount of facts, Arlene and I headed out to Cumberland. This time, we took our friend Ron Kolek Jr. of the New England Ghost Project, based out of Dracut, Massachusetts. Ron is an avid researcher of all New England history and folklore, so naturally vampires piqued his interest. He was also recording interesting cemeteries for a book project he had been working on. We took him to Exeter Historical Cemeteries #14 and #22. We then trekked out to Foster to Historical Cemetery #142 before having lunch and getting on the highway to Cumberland.

  The Staples lot, Cumberland, Rhode Island Historical Cemetery #17, is now overgrown and the fieldstone grave markers are barely noticeable.

  Only a few graves in Historical Cemetery #17 have actual carved stones dating to the mid-nineteenth century. The rest are fieldstone markers dating back to colonial times.

  Maneuvering through the briars and brush was a small feat in itself. Once inside the family lot, we noticed, as per the cemetery records, that there were only a few stones with inscriptions on them dating back to the nineteenth century. We had hoped there would be some sort of carving on the fieldstones that may have indicated where Abigail, Livina or even Mr. Staples was interred. Any inscriptions or initials, however, had been long eroded, and the small stones, in some cases, barely protruded from the earth or were hidden in the overgrowth of shrubs and brush. This was truly a colonial family burial site.

  1799

  EXETER, RHODE ISLAND

  In 1799, an Exeter apple farmer named
Stutley Tillinghast had a foreboding dream. He envisioned his orchard, abundant and vast with the juiciest of enticing fruit, suddenly turn black, and before he knew it, half of his trees had withered and died. This dream, according to legend, bothered the farmer, for he knew it was a sign. Still, he kept the dream to himself. Stutley and his wife, Honor, were blessed with fourteen children, as well as a bountiful harvest each season. Before long, their daughter Sarah became ill. She began a rapid decline with the telltale signs of consumption. The doctors could do nothing about her condition, which worsened each day. In no time, the dreaded disease beckoned Sarah to her grave in 1799 at the age of twenty-two.

  Soon after, another of the children became ill, complaining that each night Sarah was visiting her and sucking the life from her body. One by one, the Tillinghast children succumbed to the wasting illness, each one, in turn, complaining that it was Sarah visiting them in the dark hours of the night, stealing what little life they had left in them. When the seventh child, one of the sons, took ill, family members and neighbors became convinced that a vampire was at work. The children were exhumed and examined. Most of them were well on their way into decomposition. Sarah, the first to die, still had rosy cheeks and the color of the living on her flesh. Her eyes were open, and her hair and nails appeared to have grown. This was a sure sign that they had found their vampire. The family cut out Sarah’s heart and burned it in front of the house, feeling confident that there would be no more nightly attacks. The last child passed away despite the attempted cure. It was widely concluded that he was too far into his illness to be saved, thus fulfilling Stutley’s dream of losing half of his orchard in the form of his children.

  I first came across the story of Stutley Tillinghast in an Old Rhode Island magazine from October 1992. As I read this account in several other publications, it became evident that there must have been a starting point for reference on this case. This was, in fact, what got me interested in New England vampire legends. Another influence was James Earl Clauson’s book, These Plantations. I came across the book when I purchased a pamphlet by Rhode Island historian Margery Matthews on the Ramtail Factory. The book was mentioned in the bibliography, prompting me to find it in a local library or bookstore. I was actually looking for information on the ghost story regarding the factory, but the book held so many more interesting legends, including those of Rhode Island vampires, that I bought a used copy for a mere ten dollars and read it cover to cover in one sitting. Clauson mentions Sidney Rider in his 1937 book. His chapter “Vampirism in Rhode Island” cites Rider’s account of the Tillinghast case. The story from Old Rhode Island is mostly the same, showing similar sources, but there had to have been an earlier, more in-depth version for them to feed on. It appeared that Rider was that source.

  I researched Sidney Rider’s writing and found reference to his narrative on www.quahog.org. I e-mailed Christopher Martin, who hosts the website, and got an immediate response. He was more than happy to assist me on my quest to find the documentation so I could study it. Chris was ready to help and produced a copy of Rider’s narrative on the Tillinghast case within minutes. He also gave me information on Sidney Rider.

  Sidney Rider (1833–1917) was a Providence bookseller and amateur historian. In 1883, he began to publish a biweekly compilation of “literary gossip, criticisms of books, and local historical matters connected with Rhode Island,” which he called Book Notes. The main purpose of these circulars was to promote and sell more books from his shop at 17 Westminster Street. He produced his paper for thirty-three years, keeping the literary community enlightened on his views, news and other interesting historical matters. Of particular interest for this tome was the Book Notes for Saturday, March 31, 1888, volume five. Although it talks a bit more about vampires, the following excerpt deals directly with the Tillinghast account:

  At the breaking of the Revolution there dwelt in one of the remoter Rhode Island towns a young man whom we will call Stukeley. He married an excellent woman and settled down in life as a farmer. Industrious, prudent, thrifty, he accumulated a handsome property for a man in his station in life, and comparable to his surroundings. In his family he had likewise prospered, for Mrs. Stukeley meantime had not been idle, having presented her worthy spouse with fourteen children. Numerous and happy were the Stukeley family, and proud was the sire as he rode about the town on his excellent horses, and attired in his homespun jacket of butternut brown, a species of garment which he much affected. So much, indeed, did he affect it that a sobriquet was given him by the townspeople. It grew out of the brown color of his coats. Snuffy Stuke they called him, and by that name he lived, and by it died.

  For many years all things worked well with Snuffy Stuke. His sons and daughters developed finely until some of them had reached the age of man or womanhood. The eldest was a comely daughter, Sarah. One night Snuffy Stuke dreamed a dream, which, when he remembered in the morning, gave him no end of worriment. He dreamed that he possessed a fine orchard, as in truth he did, and that exactly half the trees in it died. The occult meaning hidden in this revelation was beyond the comprehension of Snuffy Stuke, and that was what gave worry to him. Events, however, developed rapidly, and Snuffy Stuke was not kept long in suspense as to the meaning of his singular dream. Sarah, the eldest child, sickened, and her malady, developing into a quick consumption, hurried her into her grave. Sarah was laid away in the family burying ground, and quiet came again to the Stukeley family. But quiet came not to Stukeley. His apprehensions were not buried in the grave of Sarah.

  His unquiet quiet was but of short duration, for soon a second daughter was taken ill precisely as Sarah had been, and as quickly was hurried to the grave. But in the second case there was one symptom or complaint of a startling character, and which was not present in the first case. This was the continual complaint that Sarah came every night and sat upon some portion of the body, causing great pain and misery. So it went on. One after another sickened and died until six were dead, and the seventh, a son, was taken ill. The mother also now complained of these nightly visits of Sarah. These same characteristics were present in every case after the first one.

  Consternation confronted the stricken household. Evidently something must be done, and that, too, right quickly, to save the remnant of this family. A consultation was called with the most learned people, and it was resolved to exhume the bodies of the six dead children. Their hearts were then to be cut from their bodies and burned upon a rock in front of the house. The neighbors were called in to assist in the lugubrious enterprise. There were the Wilcoxes, the Reynoldses, the Whifords, the Mooneys, the Gardners, and others. With pick and spade the graves were soon opened, and the six bodies brought to view. Five of these bodies were found to be far advanced in the stages of decomposition. These were the last of the children who had died. But the first, the body of Sarah, was found to be in a very remarkable condition. The eyes were opened and fixed. The hair and nails had grown, and the heart and the arteries were filled with fresh red blood. It was clear at once to these astonished people that the cause of their trouble lay there before them. All the conditions of the vampire were present in the corpse of Sarah, the first that had died, and against whom all the others had so bitterly complained. So her heart was removed and carried to the designated rock, and there solemnly burned. This being done, the mutilated bodies were returned to their respective graves and covered. Peace then came to this afflicted family, but not, however, until a seventh victim had been demanded. Thus was the dream of Stukeley fulfilled. No longer did the nightly visits of Sarah afflict his wife, who soon regained her health. The seventh victim was a son, a promising young farmer, who had married and lived upon a farm adjoining. He was too far gone when the burning of Sarah’s heart took place to recover.

  The grave of Honor Tillinghast in Exeter, Rhode Island Historical Cemetery #14, mother of Sarah Tillinghast. The epitaph on the stone reads, “She was the mother of 14 children and all lived to grow up.”

  This gravest
one is presumably that of Stutley Tillinghast as it sits on the right side of Honor’s. Note the “ST” carved in the stone

  In actuality, there were five children who became ill and died in rapid succession. Four of them—Sarah, Ruth, Anstis and James—died in 1799, and Hannah passed in 1800. The seven children dying in the story coincides with half of Stutley’s fourteen children, thus giving more impetus to the legend. Rider does not divulge his sources in his writing, so we are left to believe that much of it was probably handed down by word of mouth.

  The name Stukeley as it appears in Vital Records of Rhode Island by James Arnold also appears in records as Stutley, Stutely and Stutly Tillinghast, who, according to cemetery records, was the son of Pardon Tillinghast of West Greenwich and was born on November 24, 1741, in Warwick. He died in 1826. His name also appears in the 1790 state census as Stukely, but in the 1800 state census it is Stutly. Honor Tillinghast, born on January 6, 1745, in accordance with Rider’s narration, did regain her health; she died on December 2, 1831, just shy of her eighty-seventh birthday. Sarah, according to Dr. Michael Bell’s research and that written in the Vital Records of Rhode Island, was not the oldest child of the family, but the tenth oldest of fourteen. She was born on October 10, 1777. Ruth was nineteen when she died in 1799, and Sarah was twenty-two. James, born on August 21, 1786, was about thirteen when he passed, and Anstis, born on January 18, 1782, was seventeen. Hannah, who reportedly died in 1800, was, according to records, born on December 26, 1772. Anstis is, by modern standards, a masculine name. Taking this into consideration, the “promising young farmer” Rider refers to could have been Anstis. However, birth records indicate that Anstis was female. James, who reportedly passed away at thirteen years of age, could also account for this part of the text if the word “promising” is taken to mean a budding young man learning the skills of farming, much like an apprentice, in order to someday take over the family farm. However, thirteen seems young to be married and living on an adjoining farm. In Food for the Dead, Dr. Bell puts forth the possibility that the promising young farmer may have been Hannah’s husband, Joseph Hoxsie, as Hannah died in 1800 after three years of marriage. Could it be that the information given to Sidney Rider was slightly misrepresented or the facts jumbled over time? This and other questions remain.