Legends 50: Settling Up

Summary

Lore Legends: Settling Up – A Detailed Summary

Title: Lore
Host: Aaron Mahnke
Episode: Legends 50: Settling Up
Release Date: March 31, 2025

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Introduction

In the 50th episode of Lore, titled "Settling Up," host Aaron Mahnke delves into the dark and tragic history of early American settlements, exploring themes of human conflict, supernatural legends, and the enduring impact of past atrocities on present-day folklore.

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Arthur Bragdon and King William's War

Timestamp: [03:01] - [07:25]

Aaron Mahnke begins by transporting listeners to York, Maine, a remote settlement in the New World during the late 17th century. Here, he introduces Arthur Bragdon, a settler whose life was abruptly ended amidst escalating tensions between the English colonists and the local Abenaki tribe.

Mahnke explains, “In 1692, there were no food markets. In the remote corner of the New World, people relied on freshly caught game to survive” ([03:43]). As York's population grew, so did the settlers' desire for more land, leading to increased conflicts with the Abenaki, who were determined to protect their territory. This power struggle culminated in King William's War, marked by the tragic Candlemas Massacre.

During this event, Arthur Bragdon and two fellow settlers were ambushed by 150 Abenaki warriors. Mahnke recounts a contemporary French account stating, “they smashed the heads of two of them, and from a desire to get information, they bound the third one” ([05:11]). The massacre resulted in nearly a fifth of York’s population being wiped out, deeply scarring the community and perpetuating the cycle of violence between settlers and native populations.

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Patience Boston: A Life of Struggle and Tragedy

Timestamp: [07:25] - [13:06]

Transitioning from mass violence to individual tragedy, Mahnke introduces Patience Boston, a member of the Nauset tribe, whose life story intertwines captivity, rebellion, and eventual execution. Born in 1711 on Monomoy Island, Patience faced hardship early on when her mother died, and her father sold her into indentured servitude to Paul Crowe.

Despite her servitude, Patience formed a bond with her enslavers, viewing them as the only family she knew. However, her rebellious nature manifested in destructive acts, including setting her master's house on fire three times by the age of 12. After gaining her freedom at 21, her life spiraled into further turmoil as she resorted to theft and ultimately committed murder by drowning Benjamin Trotter, her enslaver's grandson.

In her confession, Patience stated, “Now I am guilty of murder” ([11:55]). Her execution on July 24, 1735, marked a tragic end to a life filled with pain and mistreatment. Mahnke adds a haunting element to her story, mentioning that her spirit is said to haunt the old jail in York, instilling fear in those who work there ([13:11]).

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The Sinking of the Isidore: Misfortune and Superstition

Timestamp: [14:00] - [21:33]

Mahnke shifts focus to the tale of the Isidore, a ship launched in York County's Kennebunk, Maine, in 1842. Despite ominous signs and foreboding dreams experienced by several crew members, Captain Leander Foss insisted on proceeding with the voyage to New Orleans. Mahnke notes, “They sailed south for New Orleans. Maybe they all really needed the money” ([16:21]).

Tragedy struck when a massive winter storm, later known as the Great Storm of 1842, battered the Isidore. The ship succumbed to the tempest, crashing into rocks and sinking, resulting in the loss of all 15 men aboard. Only Thomas King survived by abandoning his post, driven by recurring nightmares of coffins, which Mahnke ties back to the earlier ghostly motifs ([15:25], [21:33]).

The community's grief was palpable, with over 20% of York’s population attending the funeral of two recovered sailors ([20:35]). Thomas King’s return was met with mixed emotions, as he was celebrated as a hero despite his desertion, highlighting the complex nature of human response to catastrophe.

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Mary Nason: The Birth of a Witch Legend

Timestamp: [22:07] - [31:21]

The episode culminates with the story of Mary Nason, buried in York, Maine, in 1765. Contrary to local folklore labeling her a witch, historical records suggest Mary led an ordinary life, married Samuel Nason, and died unexpectedly at 29. However, over a century later, her grave became the center of eerie legends.

Mary's tombstone features a wolf stone, intended to prevent wolves from disturbing her remains, a rarity in America. This, coupled with her distinctive portrait and the solitary wolf stone, led townsfolk to speculate that she was a witch, capable of exorcising demons and unfairly accused of witchcraft. Mahnke states, “Mary has gone down in history not as a caring mother or a doting partner. She has been remembered only as a witch” ([30:47]).

Local legends further embellish her story, claiming her ghost interacts benignly with children in the nearby playground, pushing swings without a broomstick. Despite Mahnke’s acknowledgment that these stories hold no historical truth, they persist as a testament to how communities can distort and mythologize past individuals.

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Conclusion

In "Settling Up," Lore masterfully intertwines historical facts with folklore, illustrating how tragedy and human suffering can evolve into enduring legends. Aaron Mahnke underscores the persistent shadow of past atrocities and the human tendency to seek meaning—even supernatural explanations—in the face of inexplicable loss.

As Mahnke poignantly reflects, “There is pain and tragedy everywhere, from natural disasters, human error, and the sort of pain we willingly inflict on each other” ([19:10]). This episode serves as a reminder of the complexities of history and the stories we choose to remember or forget.

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Notable Quotes

• Aaron Mahnke: “In 1692, there were no food markets. In the remote corner of the New World, people relied on freshly caught game to survive.” ([03:43])

• Aaron Mahnke: “Now I am guilty of murder.” ([11:55])

• Aaron Mahnke: “There is pain and tragedy everywhere, from natural disasters, human error, and the sort of pain we willingly inflict on each other.” ([19:10])

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Additional Notes

• The episode also briefly mentions a rare New England earthquake with its epicenter in York, Maine, emphasizing the region's historical and geological significance ([31:23]).

• Mahnke encourages listeners to support the show through ad-free options and highlights the multifaceted nature of Lore as a podcast, book series, and television show.

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Final Thoughts

"Lore Legends: Settling Up" offers a compelling exploration of how early American tragedies have shaped local legends and collective memory. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Aaron Mahnke brings to life the stories of those lost to history's tumultuous tides, reminding us that sometimes the most haunting tales are those rooted in real human experiences.

Transcript

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[Aaron Manke]

We are fascinated by unusual deaths. Perhaps it stems from our fixation with our own mortality. Or maybe we all just naturally have a morbid curiosity.

[Lore Narrator]

Either way, we humans tend to focus on the weird, or in some cases, the weirdly tragic.

[Aaron Manke]

Take for example, our obsession with the deaths that arise from natural disasters.

[Lore Narrator]

For as painful as they are to watch, there are plenty of documentaries about tsunamis or volcanoes. The awe inspiring power of the natural.

[Aaron Manke]

World juxtaposed against the fragility of human life.

[Lore Narrator]

There's just something about it that makes your heart stop.

[Aaron Manke]

I can't ever look away and I don't think that I'm alone.

[Lore Narrator]

Archaeologists love digging into the sites of natural disasters because sometimes they create the.

[Aaron Manke]

Perfect environment to preserve the raw humanity of everyone caught in their path.

[Lore Narrator]

And that's one of the main reasons why teams are still excavating their way through Pompeii. And in fact, just a couple of months ago, archaeologists there made the most.

[Aaron Manke]

Exciting discovery in years.

[Lore Narrator]

They uncovered a private bathhouse complete with.

[Aaron Manke]

Preserved artwork, a plunge pool and a few skeletons.

[Lore Narrator]

A middle aged woman and a young man had locked themselves into a room.

[Aaron Manke]

To escape the reach of the volcano.

[Lore Narrator]

The woman was curled onto a bed.

[Aaron Manke]

And clutching handfuls of coins and jewelry, an eternal testament to what mattered most to her. In the end, her bones were in good condition, while her companions were not.

[Lore Narrator]

Suggesting that, unlike her, he was of lower status. By observing them as they were in the exact moment they died, we can.

[Aaron Manke]

Paint an entire picture about who they may have been in life. Death teaches us about humanity.

[Lore Narrator]

And you don't have to live somewhere.

[Aaron Manke]

As exciting as Pompeii to see that dramatic deaths can happen anywhere.

[Lore Narrator]

So to prove it, let's come back.

[Aaron Manke]

Stateside and explore the history of an average American town. Today we're headed to Maine. I'm Aaron Manke and this is Lore Legends. They were in the middle of a war. What happened next really shouldn't have been so surprising. But somehow we humans always seem to forget just how terrible we can be to each other. Arthur Bragdon was trekking through the mountains, setting traps so he could bring home dinner for his family.

[Lore Narrator]

It was a standard chore for the man of the house to be doing. In 1692, there were no food markets.

[Aaron Manke]

In the remote corner of the New World, and people relied on freshly caught game to survive. Arthur lived in the settlement of York, Maine.

[Lore Narrator]

At this point, European settlers had been.

[Aaron Manke]

In York for nearly 80 years.

[Lore Narrator]

But in all those decades, they, they.

[Aaron Manke]

Hadn'T made many friends.

[Lore Narrator]

In fact, conflict between the white colonists.

[Aaron Manke]

And the local Abenaki tribe had only gotten worse over the years. As York's population had expanded, so too had their desire for more land. Unfortunately, that land already belonged to the native people. And so began the power struggle that had exploded into an all out war.

[Lore Narrator]

Most of us have never heard of it, but the very first battle between the English, French and Native Americans had.

[Aaron Manke]

Happened right there in Maine. It was called King William's War and it was devastating. But out in the cold mountain air, thoughts of the French or the Abenaki were far from Arthur's mind. He was thinking only of setting his.

[Lore Narrator]

Traps so that he could get out.

[Aaron Manke]

Of the frigid January weather and go home. But Arthur would never see home again. While hiking, he came across a line.

[Lore Narrator]

Of Native American snowshoes.

[Aaron Manke]

Leaning against a rock, he froze. The Abenaki were here.

[Lore Narrator]

Before he could react, one of the.

[Aaron Manke]

Tribe'S dogs found him, alerting the men to his presence. In no time, Arthur was caught in.

[Lore Narrator]

A stroke of terrible luck.

[Aaron Manke]

He wasn't the only English settler on the mountain that day. He was soon joined by two other.

[Lore Narrator]

Men who had also been captured.

[Aaron Manke]

While they were out chopping wood, the Abenaki had already been preparing to invade York that very morning.

[Lore Narrator]

So they must have thought that these.

[Aaron Manke]

Men were a scouting party sent to discover their plans, because they questioned them.

[Lore Narrator]

And they questioned them violently.

[Aaron Manke]

According to one contemporary French account of.

[Lore Narrator]

The incident, they smashed the heads of.

[Aaron Manke]

Two of them, and from a desire to get information, they bound the third one.

[Lore Narrator]

Now, to be clear, this was Abenaki land.

[Aaron Manke]

These men were trespassing. They had been caught in a place that they should not have been, and the Abenaki were defending their territory. Sadly, the third man had no information to give them. And so the Abenaki moved forward with their attack, leaving the bodies of Arthur Bragdon and his two companions behind. And then 150 warriors attacked the settlement of York.

[Lore Narrator]

Now, York's civilians weren't prepared.

[Aaron Manke]

The ensuing bloodbath became known as the Candlemas Massacre. The numbers differ depending on which sources.

[Lore Narrator]

You look at, but modern historians estimate.

[Aaron Manke]

That almost 100 English colonists were killed.

[Lore Narrator]

There were less than 500 people living.

[Aaron Manke]

In York at the time. The massacre wiped out nearly a fifth of the population. One reverend, recording the testimony of a.

[Lore Narrator]

Child who escaped the slaughter, wrote, the pillars of smoke. The raging of the merciless flames and the insultations of the heathen enemy. Shooting, hacking and dragging away others is most affecting the heart. Most affecting the hearts indeed.

[Aaron Manke]

But the Canalmus Massacre did not end King William's war. No, that would go on for years to come. Nor did it end the settlement of York.

[Lore Narrator]

The remaining colonists persevered and they pushed through.

[Aaron Manke]

So much of America's early history is a vicious cycle of humans being terrible to one another. After all, our nation began in the most brutal way possible, with the white settlers frequently killing, scamming, or abusing the indigenous population.

[Lore Narrator]

And sometimes those native communities punched back in self defense.

[Aaron Manke]

And as the years passed, the atrocities never lessened.

[Lore Narrator]

They simply transformed. And I suppose that York isn't special in that regard. It's simply one more settlement out of.

[Aaron Manke]

Many with a dark and tragic past. It isn't often that we get a murderer's own account of her sins, especially when that murder took place in the 18th century.

[Lore Narrator]

But patience Boston seemed to be an exception to every rule. And today we have her life story.

[Aaron Manke]

Written in her very own words. Patience was a member of the Nauset.

[Lore Narrator]

Tribe, born in 1711 on Monomoy island off the coast of Cape Cod. She came into the world with both.

[Aaron Manke]

A mother and a father.

[Lore Narrator]

But when she was just three, her.

[Aaron Manke]

Mother died, and her father, who needed.

[Lore Narrator]

Money or didn't want to be responsible.

[Aaron Manke]

For his child, sold Patience into indentured servanthood. Patience new enslaver was a man named Paul Crowe.

[Lore Narrator]

She served his family, and if her own words are anything to go by.

[Aaron Manke]

She developed a unique bond with them. And how could she not? They were, after all, the only family she'd ever known, even though she was their property and not their daughter. When she was 15 years old, the lady of the house, Mrs. Crow, passed away.

[Lore Narrator]

Patience later said, I think I could.

[Aaron Manke]

Not have mourned more if my own mother had died then. I am sure now, since my eyes have been opened, I see that she was a mother to me, though I.

[Lore Narrator]

Was a wicked, mischievous and rebellious servant.

[Aaron Manke]

And according to her own recollection, Patience truly was a wicked, mischievous and rebellious teen.

[Lore Narrator]

She would release the family's cattle just.

[Aaron Manke]

To watch others chase them down.

[Lore Narrator]

She snuck out at night to, and I quote, keep bad company and to follow lewd practices. And when she was just 12 years.

[Aaron Manke]

Old, she set the house on fire.

[Lore Narrator]

Not once, but three times. And to be fair, I think that.

[Aaron Manke]

Any one of us would have revolted just as much as Patience had if we had been sold into servitude like her.

[Lore Narrator]

Her teenage rebellion is understandable, but in adulthood, her life took a darker turn, and Patience fostered that rebellious spirit until it poisoned her heart. When she was 21, she was released.

[Aaron Manke]

From her indentured servitude.

[Lore Narrator]

She was excited to live her own.

[Aaron Manke]

Life and free from her masters.

[Lore Narrator]

But that's not quite how it all worked out. Almost as soon as she gained her freedom, Patience started stealing. During this new life of thievery, she.

[Aaron Manke]

Met an enslaved man. The two fell in love and they married. But once she was legally bound to her husband, his enslaver claimed Patience as one of his own. It didn't matter that she had already earned her freedom.

[Lore Narrator]

She was trapped again, with no legal.

[Aaron Manke]

Pathway to cut herself loose. Patience understandably did not take this change well.

[Lore Narrator]

She later reported, after this, I was.

[Aaron Manke]

Drawn to the love of strong drink and used to abuse my husband in.

[Lore Narrator]

Words and actions, being mad and furious in my drink, speaking dreadful words, and wishing bad wishes to myself and others.

[Aaron Manke]

Despite the abuse and the drinking, Patience.

[Lore Narrator]

Got pregnant and gave birth twice.

[Aaron Manke]

Tragically, neither baby survived.

[Lore Narrator]

According to Patience, she killed them herself. The first baby died from a collection.

[Aaron Manke]

Of injuries just a few weeks after being born.

[Lore Narrator]

The second died in its sleep when.

[Aaron Manke]

It was only two months old.

[Lore Narrator]

Patience actually went to local law enforcement.

[Aaron Manke]

And confessed to murdering her children.

[Lore Narrator]

But she was a well known alcoholic and the authorities did not trust that.

[Aaron Manke]

She was telling the truth. In the end, no one pressed charges.

[Lore Narrator]

Despite the fact that patients claimed, I.

[Aaron Manke]

Had murder in my heart towards my second as well as my first child. After the Death of her children, Patience life became filled with turmoil and change.

[Lore Narrator]

She was sold from one enslaver to.

[Aaron Manke]

Another at least three times over the following years, eventually becoming the property of Benjamin Skillens.

[Lore Narrator]

Far north in Falmouth, Maine in 1734. Patience assignment at the Skillens house was.

[Aaron Manke]

To look after her enslaver's grandson, an 8 year old boy named Benjamin Trotter.

[Lore Narrator]

Patience took one look at little Benjamin.

[Aaron Manke]

And decided that she wanted to kill him.

[Lore Narrator]

And so, in her own words, having.

[Aaron Manke]

Solemnly sworn that I would be the.

[Lore Narrator]

Death of the child, I thought I was obliged to fulfill it. I took the opportunity of my master and mistress being from home and both his sons also abroad, that the child.

[Aaron Manke]

And I were left alone.

[Lore Narrator]

I went to the well and threw the pole in that I might have an excuse to draw the boy to the well, which having done, I asked his help to get up the pole that I might push him in, which having done, I took a longer pole.

[Aaron Manke]

And thrust him down under the water till he was drowned.

[Lore Narrator]

When I saw he was dead, I lifted up my hands towards heaven, speaking after this manner now I am guilty of murder.

[Aaron Manke]

Indeed.

[Lore Narrator]

Once Benjamin was dead, patients immediately walked.

[Aaron Manke]

To the nearest farmstead and confessed her crime.

[Lore Narrator]

She was arrested and transferred to the.

[Aaron Manke]

Old jail prison in York while she awaited her trial. During her imprisonment there, she was visited by the ministers Samuel and Joseph Moody, to whom she transcribed her life story, making a full confession of her crimes.

[Lore Narrator]

Eventually, under their guidance, she repented and converted to Christianity. Whether that was the product of coercion.

[Aaron Manke]

On their part or willingness on hers.

[Lore Narrator]

Is a mystery not answered by the historical record. Unfortunately for Patience, neither her conversion nor her tragic life story would be enough to save her. On July 24th of 1735, it was reported, and I quote, Patience Boston, the.

[Aaron Manke]

Indian woman who was convicted of murder.

[Lore Narrator]

Last month, was hung today on stage neck. She spoke very penitently and stepped off.

[Aaron Manke]

The cart without hesitation.

[Lore Narrator]

Parson Moody and his son Joseph relate.

[Aaron Manke]

Her remarkable conversion before execution.

[Lore Narrator]

A sad affair, even though it's been 290 years since patience was executed at.

[Aaron Manke]

The old jail in York. It's said that her spirit still haunts the prison. A strange specter has been said to float around the jail.

[Lore Narrator]

The shape is indistinct, but most employees of the old jail believe it to.

[Aaron Manke]

Be the ghost of Patience Boston.

[Lore Narrator]

And she spooks them all so much that no one ever wants to be in the building alone with her, especially after dark.

[Aaron Manke]

Depending on what you believe, Patience soul might have been saved. But there are Those who worry that she hasn't yet had her fill of killing. The new ship had a bright future ahead of it. So why were so many things going wrong?

[Lore Narrator]

Built in York County's Kennebunk, Maine, the.

[Aaron Manke]

Isadore was officially launched on November 16th of 1842, with its maiden voyage slotted for two weeks later, on November 30th.

[Lore Narrator]

The brand new ship was scheduled to.

[Aaron Manke]

Sail from Maine to Louisiana. It's a long trip, to be sure, but for a brand new ship like the Isadore, it should have been child's play. But before it even set sail, there were ominous signs that not everything would go to plan. For three nights straight, a dog howled outside of the second mate's home, leaving his family with such a sense of.

[Lore Narrator]

Dread that his wife pleaded for him.

[Aaron Manke]

To not go on the voyage. And when the ship finally did set sail on the 16th, no one cheered like they normally did. It was as if an oddly somber mood had befallen the crew and the spectators on the dock, as if they were grieving. Now, it's hard to define a bad feeling. So much of what we feel is instinctive, our bodies sensing minute warning signs.

[Lore Narrator]

And telling us that something is wr.

[Aaron Manke]

Even if our eyes can't see the threat yet.

[Lore Narrator]

Think of Han Solo and how often he said, I have a bad feeling about this. It would be an understatement to say that the crew of the Isidore had a bad feeling about the ship's first.

[Aaron Manke]

Official voyage to New Orleans on the 30th, even though nothing had gone wrong.

[Lore Narrator]

When it first went to sea two weeks before.

[Aaron Manke]

In fact, many of them felt a sense of foreboding, saying that somehow they knew that they would never return home. It was even reported that one hardened.

[Lore Narrator]

Experienced sailor was reduced to weeping because.

[Aaron Manke]

He knew that he was going to die. A couple of the men had even been plagued with dreams before this inaugural voyage. One passenger named Paul Grant, had a nightmare in which he saw a line of coffins with his face shining out of one. And beginning the night of November 26th and continuing for three nights in a row, the ship's carpenter, Thomas King, dreamed that he saw seven coffins on a beach. When he asked who the coffins were.

[Lore Narrator]

For, the response was for the crew of the Isadore.

[Aaron Manke]

So, yeah, not the strongest start for our intrepid sailors. And one of them even let this shaky beginning discourage him from joining the rest of the journey. The carpenter, Thomas King actually abandoned his post and hid in the woods on the morning of the 30th the Isidore launched without him. But despite the bad omens, nobody else stayed behind.

[Lore Narrator]

Each and every one of the men decided to push down their fears and.

[Aaron Manke]

Sail to New Orleans. Maybe they all really needed the money. Maybe they convinced themselves that their fears were unfounded or even silly. Or maybe, just maybe, we've all trained ourselves to ignore our instincts and push on, even when it could mean our doom. Of course, it's hard to listen to your instincts when they tell you to go against your boss's orders. The Isidore's captain, Leander Foss, wasn't about to let some silly superstitions get in the way of his paycheck. He made sure that the journey went ahead as scheduled and even launched an unsuccessful search party for that deserter Thomas King, in an attempt to make him rejoin the party.

[Lore Narrator]

Truth be told, it was a bit.

[Aaron Manke]

Strange that Captain Foss was so determined to embark on this trip when so many of his crew felt so uneasy about it. You see, Captain Foss didn't exactly have a sparkling record.

[Lore Narrator]

Four years before, he had actually manned.

[Aaron Manke]

Another ship that sank under his command.

[Lore Narrator]

And he considered it to be his greatest embarrassment.

[Aaron Manke]

He even went as far as to exclaim that if he ever lost another.

[Lore Narrator]

Ship, and I quote, he hoped his.

[Aaron Manke]

Head would be found under the mast.

[Lore Narrator]

Knowing that it might have been pride.

[Aaron Manke]

That kept him from calling off the journey. Or maybe he just really needed a win. For whatever reason, Captain Foss ignored all the bad omens and carried on with the plan.

[Lore Narrator]

At 10am on the morning of Nov. 30, the crew left York county and.

[Aaron Manke]

Sailed south for New Orleans.

[Lore Narrator]

But unbeknownst to them, a massive winter.

[Aaron Manke]

Storm was headed their way.

[Lore Narrator]

It would later be known as the great storm of 1842, but for the sailors of the Isidore, it was nothing.

[Aaron Manke]

More than a death warrant. The onset began on the afternoon of the 30th, and it continued into the next day. Saco, just north of York, got 18 inches of snow. The precipitation varied between snow and rain. But what was falling from the sky wasn't the biggest problem. It was the cold. Out at sea. The air was so freezing that the ship's ropes froze and the rudder swelled. The crew could hardly steer her through the crashing waves and the storm winds. By midnight, the Isidore had only made it 10 miles south.

[Lore Narrator]

It was there, off the coast of York, that the ship crashed into the rocks and sank.

[Aaron Manke]

The Isidore wasn't discovered until the next morning.

[Lore Narrator]

The local Coast Star newspaper reported that she was And I quote, stove to.

[Aaron Manke]

Splinters, her rigging twisted into balls and.

[Lore Narrator]

Jammed between the rocks, her sails torn by the winds away from the reefs her men had made in their desperate.

[Aaron Manke]

Attempts to save the vessel. Five days later, another newspaper reported that all 15 men on board had perished in the sinking.

[Lore Narrator]

And only a day or two after.

[Aaron Manke]

That, the poor souls who had been lost to the sea started washing up on the shore.

[Lore Narrator]

The first body found, however, was not complete.

[Aaron Manke]

It was just a leg, the leg of Captain Foss. The rest of his body was never located.

[Lore Narrator]

Perhaps his head was stuck back on.

[Aaron Manke]

The Isidore somewhere under the mast. There is pain and tragedy everywhere, from natural disasters, human error, and the sort of pain we willingly inflict on each other. There doesn't seem to be a way to stop it. Life, to quote Westley from the Princess Bride, is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something. Even in the remote settlement of Maine, way up in the top right corner of what would one day become America, there was a steady supply of tragedy.

[Lore Narrator]

It's proof that we might run and try to escape it, but it's always.

[Aaron Manke]

Right there behind us, our very own shadow.

[Lore Narrator]

It's the same pain that was felt by the people of Maine after the.

[Aaron Manke]

Sinking of the Isadore.

[Lore Narrator]

When news of the shipwreck reached Kennebunk.

[Aaron Manke]

The community was devastated. Fifteen men had been on that ship, which meant that 15 families had lost.

[Lore Narrator]

A father or a son or a.

[Aaron Manke]

Brother, and even more lost a mentor and a friend. And so the entire town mourned the sailors.

[Lore Narrator]

A funeral was held at South Church for two of the sailors whose bodies.

[Aaron Manke]

Actually washed ashore intact. George Lewis and John Tendall. One person present estimated that There were.

[Lore Narrator]

Over 1,200 people at the funeral, over.

[Aaron Manke]

20% of the town's population.

[Lore Narrator]

It seems that everyone lost someone, and.

[Aaron Manke]

So they came together to grieve.

[Lore Narrator]

One of the many who joined in.

[Aaron Manke]

On that grief was Mrs. Thomas King.

[Lore Narrator]

The wife of the ship's carpenter who.

[Aaron Manke]

Had deserted the Isidore. Except no one knew that Thomas had deserted. They all thought that he had died in the wreck along with everyone else. So when Thomas came back to town.

[Lore Narrator]

A few days after the wreck, he.

[Aaron Manke]

Assumed that he would be arrested for abandoning his post after accepting a month's wages for the job.

[Lore Narrator]

But instead, he was hailed as a hero. The entire town was so overjoyed that.

[Aaron Manke]

He had returned alive that no one thought to blame him for deserting the Isadore.

[Lore Narrator]

In fact, the ship's owners refused to.

[Aaron Manke]

Accept when he attempted to return that.

[Lore Narrator]

Pay that he had taken for the.

[Aaron Manke]

Journey he was never on. Thomas was the only man to return alive. Even some of the dead were never recovered.

[Lore Narrator]

Of the 15 men aboard the vessel.

[Aaron Manke]

Only seven bodies were ever found and five of those seven had been torn to pieces by the time they washed ashore.

[Lore Narrator]

Thomas King had deserted the Isidore because.

[Aaron Manke]

He had dreamed of seven coffins, and now those coffins were finally full. As painful as it was, I hope.

[Lore Narrator]

That today's trip through the loss and.

[Aaron Manke]

Tragedy of the early settlers of Maine helped you appreciate your moments of peace. Story can often do that.

[Lore Narrator]

Disturbing the comfortable and and comforting the disturbed. Truth be told, between murder and shipwrecks.

[Aaron Manke]

There have been some interesting causes of death in York. But if one story is proof, even some of the normal deaths had a weird and tragic ending. Stick around through this brief sponsor break to hear all about it.

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[Aaron Manke]

They're adorable.

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That's the best offer you'll find, but you have to use my code Lore for 50% off your first order one last time. That's promo code LORE for 50% off your first order plus free [e-mail] this episode was also made possible by Quince. Just this week the weather turned and you know that moment when you go from bundling up to easing out of winter and it makes me want to travel. Vacation season is nearly upon us. This year I'm treating myself to the luxe upgrades I deserve with Quince's high.

[Lore Narrator]

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[Lore Narrator]

For your next trip, treat yourself to.

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The luxe upgrades you deserve from quince. Go to quince.com lore for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q U-I-N C E.com.au to get.

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Free shipping and 365 day returns.

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Quint.com lore and finally, this episode was made possible by Tax Network USA. The April 15th tax deadline is approaching.

[Aaron Manke]

Are you prepared?

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If you have back taxes or unfiled returns, now is the time to take action. The IRS has increased enforcement in 2025, and addressing tax concerns early can make a significant difference in the outcome. The team at Tax Network USA has experienced attorneys and negotiators specializing in helping individuals and businesses navigate complex tax situations. With a direct line to key IRS departments, they understand how to communicate effectively and explore options that work in your favor. Every tax situation is unique and there are solutions available. Whether you owe 10,000 or 10 million. Tax Network USA has already helped clients resolve over 1 billion in tax debt through structured settlements, negotiations and proven strategies. A free consultation with our experts can provide clarity on your options and set you on the right path. Avoid unnecessary penalties and gain peace of mind knowing that you have professionals on your side. Call 1-800-958-1000 or visit tnusa.com lore Taking proactive steps before April 15 can help you move forward with confidence. Contact Text Network USA for the right.

[Aaron Manke]

Solution Mary Nayson was a witch, although.

[Lore Narrator]

As far as we know, she never.

[Aaron Manke]

Practiced witchcraft a day in her life. Based on the records we have, Mary.

[Lore Narrator]

Lived an exceedingly normal life. She was born in York, Maine in.

[Aaron Manke]

1745, and then 20 years later, in 1765, she married Samuel Nason. The couple went on to have six children together, and then, when Mary was.

[Lore Narrator]

Only 29 years old, she died.

[Aaron Manke]

No one knows the cause.

[Lore Narrator]

All we know is that she passed.

[Aaron Manke]

Less than a year after the birth of her youngest child.

[Lore Narrator]

Mary was buried in York, the town.

[Aaron Manke]

Where she had been born and raised, at the old burying grounds at the First Parish Congregational Church. To honor her memory, her husband Samuel erected a marker over her resting place engraved with this epitaph.

[Lore Narrator]

Here rests quite free from life's distressing.

[Aaron Manke]

Care, A loving wife, a tender parent.

[Lore Narrator]

Dear cut down in midst of days, as you may see but stop my grief I soon shall equal be when death shall stop my breath and end my time.

[Aaron Manke]

God grant my dust may mingle then with thine. On top of this touching tribute, Mary's image was also carved onto the crown of the tombstone.

[Lore Narrator]

It's been described as a woman with, and this is a quote, bugged eyes, a thin nose, a slightly upturned mouth.

[Aaron Manke]

And humped hairdo that looks like two skeins of yarn.

[Lore Narrator]

So yeah, not the most flattering rendering, I guess. But her face was not the most.

[Aaron Manke]

Unique part of this grave. It was the wolf stone. They were always much more popular in Europe than America. A wolf stone's name gives away its function.

[Lore Narrator]

They were flat stones put over the.

[Aaron Manke]

Grave soil to prevent wolves from digging up human remains. No one knows what inspired Samuel to.

[Lore Narrator]

Include this particular feature on Mary's grave.

[Aaron Manke]

Hers was one of only a few in the old burying ground that ever had one.

[Lore Narrator]

Soon after Mary's passing, though, Samuel moved away from York.

[Aaron Manke]

One can imagine that being in the town where he had married and lost his wife would just be too painful for him to bear.

[Lore Narrator]

But Samuel was comforted that he had.

[Aaron Manke]

Left a beautiful legacy behind for Mary.

[Lore Narrator]

The best headstone that money could buy.

[Aaron Manke]

Immortalized with the face that he had loved so dearly.

[Lore Narrator]

Sadly, though that is not how the.

[Aaron Manke]

Community interpreted her grave.

[Lore Narrator]

About a hundred years after her death.

[Aaron Manke]

The people of York started whispering about Mary.

[Lore Narrator]

It's speculated that these rumors began because.

[Aaron Manke]

Of the wolf stone, which by the 19th century was the only wolf stone left in the cemetery.

[Lore Narrator]

Others believe that it was because of.

[Aaron Manke]

Her distinctive portrait, which left mourners disconcerted.

[Lore Narrator]

Gradually, people started to speculate that the.

[Aaron Manke]

Wolf stone had been placed over the grave to stop her from rising from the dead.

[Lore Narrator]

Which of course would only have been.

[Aaron Manke]

Plausible if she had been a witch, according to the locals anyway.

[Lore Narrator]

So people decided that Mary must have.

[Aaron Manke]

Been a well known herbalist back in the day. And from there, the stories only grew. Mary, they claimed, had been a white witch. She had exorcised demons, and Mary had been unfairly executed for the crime of witchcraft. Visitors to the Old York Burying Ground.

[Lore Narrator]

Started to say that crows were always.

[Aaron Manke]

Congregating around her headstone. It was only a matter of time.

[Lore Narrator]

Before the legend of her ghost came to be. To this day, York locals will say.

[Aaron Manke]

That Mary haunts the playground across the street from the cemetery where she was buried.

[Lore Narrator]

According to the stories, her ghost is friendly and it pushes children on the.

[Aaron Manke]

Swings when they need an extra boost. This is all, of course, nonsense, and it pains me to say it. I love a good ghost story more than anyone. But historians say that there is no evidence whatsoever that Mary Nason was a witch.

[Lore Narrator]

As far as anyone can tell, she.

[Aaron Manke]

Led the most ordinary life possible.

[Lore Narrator]

Samuel would likely be devastated if he knew that his beautiful tribute to his loving wife had inspired rumors about her being a witch. It turns out that people can be.

[Aaron Manke]

Cruel to others even after they've died and been buried. Mary has gone down in history not as a caring mother or a doting partner. She has been remembered only as a witch.

[Lore Narrator]

And if her ghost really is pushing the playground swings, well, it's probably with.

[Aaron Manke]

Her hands and not a broomstick.

[Lore Narrator]

This episode of Lore Legends was produced.

[Aaron Manke]

By me, Aaron Manke, with writing by Alex Robinson and research by Jamie Vargas. Just a quick note while recording this episode about York, Maine. Standing inside my recording booth in my office, I felt my entire house shake from a rare New England earthquake.

[Lore Narrator]

I'm pretty sure the sounds did not come through on the recording, but there's one weird feature of this earthquake that.

[Aaron Manke]

I felt I needed to mention. Its epicenter was York, Maine.

[Lore Narrator]

Don't like hearing the ads. I've got a solution for you.

[Aaron Manke]

There is a paid version of Lore on Apple podcasts and patreon that is 100% ad free.

[Lore Narrator]

Plus subscribers there also get weekly mini episodes called Lore Bytes. It's a bargain for all of that ad free storytelling and a great way.

[Aaron Manke]

To support the show and the team behind it.

[Lore Narrator]

For more information about those ad free options, head over to lorepodcast.com support lore.

[Aaron Manke]

Of course, is much more than just a podcast.

[Lore Narrator]

There's the book series available in bookstores and online in both hardcover and paperback now, and two seasons of the television.

[Aaron Manke]

Show on Amazon Prime. Information about all of that and more is available [e-mail] and you can also.

[Lore Narrator]

Follow the show on threads, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Just search for Lore podcast all one word and click that follow button. And when you do, say hi. I like it when people say hi.

[Aaron Manke]

And as always, thanks for listening.

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