...and one more snippit while we are on the subject... Mr. Edward Wanton, father of Michael Wanton was the executioner who ordered Mary Dyer, one of the Salem witches, executed. Son Michael, in 1723 sold property to and on which still sits the original homestead of Nathaniel Brooks. The homestead which served as the Brooks Homestead for several generations has just undergone a two year total restoration. It is said that Edward Wanton was so repulsed by what he had done that he promptly relinquished his role as an executioner shortly thereafter. > > From: Christopher Brooks <[email protected]> > Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2001 07:33:03 -0500 > To: [email protected] > Subject: [B-NE] Salem Witch Trials -- Ergot Poisoning Theory > > Here's a change of pace from Connecticut and New York genealogy -- a > fascinating and quite plausible theory that ergot poisoning may have been > involved in the famous events at Salem, Massachusetts in 1691-92. While the > Brooks name isn't found in the records of this period, there are > connections -- from George Corwin/Curwen, one of the magistrates, to > listreader Lori Thomas, who descends from Samuel Wardwell > > This page references a 1951 book describing an outbreak of this fungal > poisoning in a village in France. I read the book in the 60s and have never > forgotten this horrifying tale. I wish I could remember its title -- I'd > like to reread it. Anyway ... > > http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets2/case1_clues.html > > Chris > > > ==== BROOKS-NE Mailing List ==== > Is the SUBJECT LINE still relevant? (Nag, nag.) > >