Lore 238: Rumors (ad-free) (Patreon)

Rumors might not always represent the truth, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the power to change the world around us. Or—in some cases—give birth to frightening stories.

Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Cassandra de Alba and Taylor Hagerdorn, and music by Chad Lawson.

————————

Further Reading:

1. Allen, John W. Legends & Lore of Southern Illinois (Illinois State Historical Society, 1963).
2. Alvord, Clarence Walworth. “1779: Manuel, burned for witchcraft in the USA?,” Executed Today, 15 June 2019, http://www.executedtoday.com/2019/06/15/1779-manuel-burned-for-witchcraft-in-the-usa
3. Alvord, Clarence Walworth, ed. “Transcripts from the Cahokia Record.” In Cahokia Records, 1778-1790 (Lakeside Press, 1907).
4. Ancelet, Barry Jean. “Negotiating the Mainstream: The Creoles and Cajuns in Louisiana.” The French Review 80(6), May 2007: pp. 1235-1255. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25480950
5. Atteberry, Todd. “Roaming the night in Mt. Vernon, Indiana on the trail of Black Annie and a haunting ghost story from my childhood.” The Witchery Arts. Accessed June 17, 2023. https://www.gothichorrorstories.com/behind-urban-legends/roaming-the-night-in-mt-vernon-indiana-on-the-trail-of-black-annie-and-a-haunting-ghost-story-from-my-childhood
6. Atteberry, Todd. “Urban legend Black Annis makes the trip from England to the midwest.” The Witchery Arts. Accessed June 17, 2023. https://www.gothichorrorstories.com/behind-urban-legends/urban-legend-black-annis-makes-the-trip-from-england-to-the-midwest
7. “Believe Daughter Has Black Art.” Dixon Evening Telegraph. July 19, 1913. https://newspaperarchive.com/dixon-evening-telegraph-jul-19-1913-p-4
8. Best, Brian. William of Orange and the Fight for the Crown of England: The Glorious Revolution (Pen and Sword, 2021).
9. Butt, Stephen. Paranormal Leicester (Amberley Publishing, 2011).
10. Cadbury, Deborah. The Lost King of France (Fourth Estate, 2002).
11. “Cahokia.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/place/Cahokia
12. “Cahokia, Illinois Population 2023.” World Population Review. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/cahokia-il-population
13. Clarke, S.J. History of McDonough County, Illinois: Its Cities, Towns and Villages, with Early Reminiscences, Personal Incidents and Anecdotes, and a Complete Business Directory of the County, Volume 1 (D.W. Lusk, 1878).
14. Dretske, Diana. “Gurnee and the Salem Witch Trials.” Lake County History. October 30, 2014. http://lakecountyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/10/gurnee-and-salem-witch-trials.html
15. Erwin, Milo. The Bloody Vendetta: Embracing the Early History of Williamson County, Illinois (Herrin News, 1914).
16. “The Glorious Revolution.” The Museum of the Queen’s Royal Hussars. Accessed June 17, 2023. https://www.qrhmuseum.com/timeline/the-glorious-revolution
17. Gorman, William. Ghost Whispers: Tales from Haunted Midway (Helm Publishing 2005).
18. “History of Illinois.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state/History
19. Hubbs, Barbara Barr. “Davis Prairie History.” In Pioneer Folks and Places: An Historic Gazetteer of Williamson County (Herrin Daily Journal, 1939).
20. “Illinois.” Merriam-Webster. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Illinois
21. “Illinois Law for Witches.” The Chicago Chronicle. March 21, 1897. https://www.newspapers.com/image/668098422
22. Jefferson County Historical Society. “Tornado.” In Jefferson County Facts & Folks (Jefferson County Historical Society, 1978).
23. Jones, George Hilton. “The Irish Fright of 1688: Real Violence and Imagined Massacre.” Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research 55(132), November 1982: pp. 148-153.
24. Kleen, Michael. Witchcraft in Illinois: A Cultural History (The History Press, 2017).
25. Kresol, Kathi. Haunted Rockford, Illinois (Arcadia Publishing, 2017).
26. Kruse, Colton. “Why Giant Hairballs Are Found Inside Cows.” Ripley’s. September 18, 2019. https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/cow-hairballs
27. Laqueur, Thomas. “The burning question – how cremation became our last great act of self-determination.” The Guardian. October 30, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/oct/30/burning-question-how-cremation-became-last-great-act-self-determination-thomas-laqueur
28. Leonard, Larry. “Witches frequent in frontier folklore.” The Belleville News-Democrat. December 14, 1978. https://www.newspapers.com/image/766743284
29. Lester, Duane. Rural Cemeteries of McDonough County, Illinois: Volume III (Schuyler-Brown Historical and Genealogical Scoiety and the Schuyler Jail Museum, n.d.).
30. Norman, Michael. Haunted Homeland: A Definitive Collection of North American Ghost Stories (TOR, 2007).
31. “People Who Still Believe In Witchcraft.” The New York Times. July 30, 1911. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1911/07/30/104831295.html?pageNumber=53
32. Roosevelt, Theodore. The Winning of the West, Volume 2: From the Alleghanies to the Mississippi (Bison Books, 1995).
33. “A Whirlwind’s Fury.” Freeport Daily Bulletin. February 21, 1888. https://www.newspapers.com/image/791892130
34. “The Witch Championship.” Chicago Tribune. July 9, 1871. https://www.newspapers.com/image/349778973
35. “Witchcraft in Illinois.” The New York Times. June 30, 1871. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1871/06/30/82018424.html?pageNumber=5
36. “The Witches.” Nashville Union and America. July 9, 1871. https://www.newspapers.com/image/80923678
37. Woods, William I. “Cahokia Mounds.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/place/Cahokia-Mounds