Killed Strangely: The Death of Rebecca Cornell PDF
Preview Killed Strangely: The Death of Rebecca Cornell
2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page i Killed Strangely 2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page ii The house in which Rebecca Cornell died. Situated on West Main Road in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the structure was modernized in the late 1830s and subsequently destroyed by fire on December 21, 1889. Her room was on the first floor to the left of the entry. Old Cornell House, Americana (New York, Feb. 1911), p. opp. 111. Milstein Division of United States History, Local History & Genealogy, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Founda- tions. 2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page iii Killed Strangely the death of rebecca cornell E L A I N E F O R M A N C R A N E cornell university press Ithaca &London Copyright © 2002 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 2002 by Cornell University Press First printing, Cornell Paperbacks, 2009 Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Crane, Elaine Forman. Killed strangely : the death of Rebecca Cornell / Elaine Forman Crane. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8014-4002-1 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-8014-7527-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Cornell, Rebecca, 1600–1673. 2. Cornell, Thomas, 1627?–1673. 3. Homicide—Rhode Island—Portsmouth—History—17th century— Case studies. 4. Trials (Murder)—Rhode Island—Portsmouth—History— 17th century—Case studies. 5. Portsmouth (R.I.)—History—17th century. I. Title. HV6534.P68 C73 2002 364.15'23'097456—dc21 2002004077 Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppli- ers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid- free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu. Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Paperback printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page v For Stephen 2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page vi 2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page vii Rebecka Cornell widdow was killed Strangely at Portsmouth in her own Dwelling House, was twice Viewed By the Crowners Inquest digged up and buried again by her Husbands Grave in their own Land upon the 8th day of the 12 Mo 1672. —Society of Friends records, Newport, Rhode Island 2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page viii 2672_FM.qrk 6/25/02 4:53 PM Page ix c o n t e n t s Acknowledgments, xi Introduction, 1 1 A Death in the Family, 8 2 The Background of a Tragedy, 59 3 The Contentious World of Thomas Cornell, 87 4 Doubting Thomas: Or, Considering the Alternatives, 105 5 A Community Renders a Verdict, 145 6 Life after Death, 174 Notes, 191 Index, 227
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