Mercy Brown: New England's Last Vampire
© Debbie Legare
The very first known case occurred in 1793, in Manchester, Vermont. The daughter of Capt. Isaac Burton died of mysterious circumstances after a bout of illness. Rachel, the daughter's lungs, heart and liver were burned for the other family members to consume the ashes to protect from being the next victim. Because it was by consuming the vampire's life force that one could protected. Of course many victims were being taken by what was to become known as Consumption.
Over the years many cases were reported throughout New England. Cumberland RI, West Greenwich and 4 noted ones in Exeter RI. The daughter of a Catholic Priest, William Rose was one that caused considerable fear at the time. The priest believed in vampires and that his 15 year old daughter, Ruth Ellen, was the cause of their relatives to waste away. He ordered her to be exhumed and that her heart be burned. These reports made Rhode Island the "Vampire Capital of the America." The most haunting and infamous of theses cases was Mercy Brown.
Mercy Lena Brown, known as Lena to her friends, was born in 1873. She was the daughter of the horsetrader/farmer, George T Brown and wife Mary. The family consisted of one boy and five girls. They lived on a farm outside of Exeter RI.
The times were plagued with death as many families were taken. Over time children became the easest victims. Some families lost up to 14 children. In the town of Exeter, the first in the Brown family fell sick and died. It was the mother, Mary in December 1883. The oldest daughter, Mary Olive was the next to die about 2 years later. The only son Edwin was sent to Colorado Springs to find a cure in the mineral waters there. After spending almost a year and a half there, he returned feeling much better only to find that his sister Mercy had gotten sick and passed on. She was only 19 years of age at the time of her death on January 17, 1892. She was buried with the rest of her family in the Chestnut Hill cemetery that was situated next to the Baptist Church.
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