Joe, I don't know anything about the Molly Maguires so I did a little reading on Wikipedia. While I admit there may be more reliable sources, there is a lot of info there, including many sources for further reading. I was especially intrigued by the statement that: "While crimes in the U.S. that were attributed to the Mollies — murders, brutal assaults, robberies, arson, and sabotage — were undoubtedly committed, the evidence that a group calling itself the Molly Maguires was responsible for these coalfield crimes rests largely upon the allegations of one powerful industrialist, and the testimony of one Pinkerton detective." I'm curious... If indeed, the Maguires never showed up in Lackawanna County, why do you think they stayed out of our northern area? Terri Boni Pointon ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 23:26:34 -0400 From: J Bryer Subject: Re: [PALACKAW] Molly McGuires in Scranton To: palackaw@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <46CFA16A.7060300@grsnp.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I've never heard of the Molly Maguires conducting any activity in the northern Anthracite coal fields. They were limited to the Southern coal fields. You may wish to exclude Lackawanna and Luzerne counties during your search of the Mollies. I invite any one who has knowledge of the Mollies in the northern anthracite fields to comment. Enjoy Joe Bryer www.grsnp.org/ *************************************** --------------------------------- Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase.

Terri, Fred Sherwood's e-mail citing an article which appeared in a Lackawanna County newspaper proves the mindset of the populace at that time. It made great newspaper sales if a tie could be made to the Mollies. It is no different today...when citizens blame criminal activity on a unpopular group. I, too, have seen news articles in Lackawanna county newspapers of that era in which blame was directed toward the Mollies. Yes, Wikkipedia does have some interesting information about the Mollies. bear in mind, the powerful robber barons, won..and let's us not forget.. It is always the winners who write the history. Our genealogical society receives, about one a month, search request from descendent's who wish to prove their ancestor was the victim of the Mollies. They wish to prove family tradition. It would, of course, make an interesting anecdote for their family history. We have yet been able to determine any Mollie involvement in these mystery's. Sadly, many times we do find evidence the man left his family and the area to begin a new life in another area. The Mollies became akin to the boogie man in many situations---unable to disprove, but seemingly true enough to satisfy. Joe Bryer . Terri Pointon wrote: > Joe, I don't know anything about the Molly Maguires so I did a little reading on Wikipedia. While I admit there may be more reliable sources, there is a lot of info there, including many sources for further reading. I was especially intrigued by the statement that: > "While crimes in the U.S. that were attributed to the Mollies — murders, brutal assaults, robberies, arson, and sabotage — were undoubtedly committed, the evidence that a group calling itself the Molly Maguires was responsible for these coalfield crimes rests largely upon the allegations of one powerful industrialist, and the testimony of one Pinkerton detective." > > I'm curious... If indeed, the Maguires never showed up in Lackawanna County, why do you think they stayed out of our northern area? > > Terri Boni Pointon > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2007 23:26:34 -0400 > From: J Bryer > Subject: Re: [PALACKAW] Molly McGuires in Scranton > To: palackaw@rootsweb.com > Message-ID: <46CFA16A.7060300@grsnp.org> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I've never heard of the Molly Maguires conducting any activity in the > northern Anthracite coal fields. > They were limited to the Southern coal fields. > You may wish to exclude Lackawanna and Luzerne counties during your > search of the Mollies. > I invite any one who has knowledge of the Mollies in the northern > anthracite fields to comment. > Enjoy > Joe Bryer > www.grsnp.org/ > > > > *************************************** > > > > --------------------------------- > Looking for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with Yahoo! FareChase. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PALACKAW-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >