Mercy Brown: New England's Last Vampire

It was during the late 1700's, that New Englander's belief in the superstitious was beginning to take its highest toll. Among the most popular beliefs that explained the mystery of death was vampirism. The vampire was one that wasn't like the Hollywood description of today but one that took one's life force not blood. The vampire was one who came in the night usually foretold in a dream and would suck out one's breath. Heavy feelings on the chest were a sign that one was cursed to be taken by a vampire.

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.

Edwin being home for a short time began to have lung trouble and get sick again. One night, late, he awoke from a nightmare and told his father that Mercy had appeared to him. She pressed upon his chest until he couldn't breathe. At this time, Edwin was beginning to cough blood and the family knew his time was limited. After the town found out about Edwin's dream, had a community meeting and claimed that Mercy had to be the one claiming the Brown family and maybe even others of the town. The townspeople, even though many were unbelievers, organized the Brown family bodies to be dug up for proof. The only way they knew to save Edwin Brown was to have him consume the ashes of the culprit.

Dr. Metcalfe of Wickford led the exhumation without George Brown in attendance. He refused to believe any such nonsense about his daughter and wanted to grievbe ion peace. The first to be opened was the Mother, Mary. She being dead the longest was only bones. The next was the sister Mary Olive and she too being dead quite some time was also just bones. When Mercy's coffin was opened, many were shocked to see she was almost life like. The doctor said she was still with blood in her veins as he cut out her heart. When he squeezed, blood poured from its arteries. This was proof that Mercy was a vampire and her heart was burned at a nearby rock. Edwin drank the ashes and returned home only to die a few days later. It was after his death that remarkably no more mysterious deaths happened in Exeter. The vampire Mercy Brown was gone.

The new Englander's belief in vampires was proven once again in 1993 at a cemetery in Greenwood Connecticut. The cemetery was in the gravel pit run by a construction company. While relocating the cemetery, the state archaeologist found a coffin with a 55-year-old man. His bones were rearranged. The upper leg bones had been crossed on the lower chest and the skull was placed on the upper chest in the classic skull and crossbones pattern. Lesions on the bones proved that the man died of consumption. No stakes in the heart were needed in the 18th and 19th century, just the disruption of one's body was enough to kill a vampire and it's urges.

Rhode Island was a hot bed of for rumor between 1870 and 1900. This inspired many to storytelling including one now famous novelist. It was found that Bram Stoker might have used the myth of Mercy Brown to base his character description of his famous Dracula published in 1897. Newspaper clippings of The Brown family ordeal were found in his files after his death,

The legend of vampires still exist today mostly fueled by fiction and Hollywood. Rhode Island still proves to be the place to go for some good old storytelling. In Rhode Island's Historical Cemetery #2 is the gravestone of Nelly L. Vaughn another alleged vampire of West Greenwich. She died in 1889 at the age of 19. The grave is supposed to be cursed. Despite many attempts to plant, no vegetation of any sort will grow on her grave. Her inscriptions still can chill one to the bone for along the bottom it reads "I am waiting and watching you!"

What caused the belief of the undead to disappear? It was clear to them that what couldn't be explained had to be supernatural. Illness was scary, to say the least ,especially as you watched many members of you own family perish. Consumption, or Tuberculosis as it is known today, was in epidemic proportions and people were in a panic. To research back to 1882, it was clear to see that the medical field was just beginning to get townspeople everywhere to know that tuberculosis was a bacterial disease. As people began to believe, the rituals of vampirism faded away. Embalming also began to take place in rural areas and that of course wouldn't allow anyone to be mistaken for a vampire or other mystical being. It would be explained now that the body of Mercy Brown was probably preserved since she was buried during the coldest time of the year in New England. It was too that she was exhumed only 2 months after her death not leaving much time to decompose.

Mercy's story is still being told at Halloween around the campfire. Her grave is said to attract many onlookers. Some even say, she shows herself in the middle of night just sitting and looking out from her grave. This has lead to one of Mercy's very own descendant, Lewis E Peck JR, to stand watch to keep away vandals on the haunted night of October 31. Her gravestone was taken once during the summer of 1996, only to be returned without incident. In death, she was able to leave an incredible mark in history. No matter how medicine can explain the panic in New England, Mercy Brown will always be known as the last vampire in America.