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Bathsheba Spooner: A Revolutionary Murder Conspiracy
What possessed a woman from the elite of eighteenth-century New England society to conspirewith American and British soldiers to murder her husband at the midpoint of the AmericanRevolution? The story of Bathsheba Spooner has alternately fascinated and baffled residents ofWorcester County for centuries. Beyond central Massachusetts, the tale is largely unknown.Many, when first hearing of the tale, assume it to be the stuff of legend. It was, in fact, the mostsensational “true crime” tragedy of the American 1700’s.The episode’s ingredients included a cold, possibly abusive husband, a handsome, directionlessteenager, a pair of roughened British prisoners-of-war, and readily available cash set aflame bysocial and political isolation, wartime uncertainty and social upheaval. Add to this mixture ahaughty, impetuous and (possibly insane) beautiful woman, and what resulted was a brutalhomicide whose notoriety was only heightened by the distraction of New Englanders war-wearyand economically stressed.The crime was familiar to observers and participants whose names still represent for us the bestin Revolutionary a signer of the Declaration (Robert Treat Paine), GovernorJohn Hancock, Thomas Jefferson’s attorney general (Levi Lincoln), Justice Jedediah Foster(shared creator of the Massachusetts constitution, which inspired the national document), one ofthe colonies’ most famed printers (Isaiah Thomas) and, even, obliquely, Abigail Adams. TimothyRuggles, father of the crime’s instigator who, had he chosen to side with local Patriots ratherthan become an infamous spokesman for the King, would likely be as famous today as PaulRevere or Samuel Adams. It is tempting to speculate if the crime could have happened had hisloyalties been with the Revolutionaries.Early American marriage and divorce, its political and military background, the social strata, itslegal and retributive approach to justice---these contexts serve to frame an amateurly-conceivedcrime whose circumstances were uniquely suited to provoke a scandal which in its time was asgripping as that of Lizzie Borden’s over a century later.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2021
36 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 31, 2021
Historical non-fiction, especially 18th century crime, is very much my genre of reading and this book most definitely doesn’t disappoint. It is the story of the murder of Joshua Spooner instigated by his wife, Bathsheba and carried out by three co-conspirators– a tale with twists and turns which arguably wouldn’t be out of place in today’s world apart from the ending of their lives – at the end of a rope. Noone demonstrates his skill as a researcher, using primary and secondary sources, teasing out and incorporating details of the period to build a very compelling story, including minute details which bring the story to life. Definitely well worth reading.
April 23, 2022
I am not an academic nor an expert in this time period so I can not provide a proper review.
The book was very readable and I enjoyed it very much. I could sense the passion Mr. Noone felt for his topic and his desire to be thorough.
That said here are my three complaints:
1) In the foreword Mr. Noone acknowledged that a book had been written on the topic previously but refused to name the author or the book title. In the foreword, university academics by standard practice outline the research that has come before them and by whom and then layout what new material they bring to the subject with their book. I found it petty that the author refused to acknowledge the author and yet he included the work in his footnotes. That book is Murdered by His Wife by Deborah Navas (University of Massachusetts Press, 2001). I have also read that book.
2) At various times Mr. Noone talked about mental health issues that may have plagued Bathsheba Spooner. Fair enough. If a women kills her husband it's probably fair to say she might have had mental health issues. I would have preferred that he brought in an expert to back up his claims. But when he casually suggests that Bathsheba Spooner's mother also suffered mental health issues it was pure conjecture and he cited absolutely nothing to back up the claim. Conjecture like this should be left out non-fiction works.
3) Stylistically Mr. Noone went far afield with adding historical context. I actually didn't mind but for a proper academic historical non-fiction work I would expect to see a tighter reign on the subject matter.
Barring these exceptions, all in all I think the book is very good.
The book was very readable and I enjoyed it very much. I could sense the passion Mr. Noone felt for his topic and his desire to be thorough.
That said here are my three complaints:
1) In the foreword Mr. Noone acknowledged that a book had been written on the topic previously but refused to name the author or the book title. In the foreword, university academics by standard practice outline the research that has come before them and by whom and then layout what new material they bring to the subject with their book. I found it petty that the author refused to acknowledge the author and yet he included the work in his footnotes. That book is Murdered by His Wife by Deborah Navas (University of Massachusetts Press, 2001). I have also read that book.
2) At various times Mr. Noone talked about mental health issues that may have plagued Bathsheba Spooner. Fair enough. If a women kills her husband it's probably fair to say she might have had mental health issues. I would have preferred that he brought in an expert to back up his claims. But when he casually suggests that Bathsheba Spooner's mother also suffered mental health issues it was pure conjecture and he cited absolutely nothing to back up the claim. Conjecture like this should be left out non-fiction works.
3) Stylistically Mr. Noone went far afield with adding historical context. I actually didn't mind but for a proper academic historical non-fiction work I would expect to see a tighter reign on the subject matter.
Barring these exceptions, all in all I think the book is very good.
June 25, 2021
Meticulously researched and most informative. As someone w/Massachusetts Patriot and Loyalist ancestors, I especially appreciated the opportunity to view the time, place, and events through the lens of residents on both sides.
November 7, 2022
This is a really good historic book on a case I never knew about. It’s absolutely fascinating and everyone, especially from New England, should read it!
November 8, 2022
I wish there had been an audio-version.
March 29, 2021
This is a true crime story of scandal and murder during the “American Revolution.” It is also well- researched American history. People who lived and died during that tumultuous time were all too human, with the same hopes, fears, and faults that define us today.
Personally, I like learning History through the eyes of individuals, and how broader historical events effect those individuals and their families.
Bathsheba Spooner’s father, Loyalist General Timothy Ruggles, was a larger than life figure in her personal life as well as playing a prominent role in the American Revolution.
Whether you are a fan of true crime, a history buff, or (like me), a combination of both, you will love this book!
Personally, I like learning History through the eyes of individuals, and how broader historical events effect those individuals and their families.
Bathsheba Spooner’s father, Loyalist General Timothy Ruggles, was a larger than life figure in her personal life as well as playing a prominent role in the American Revolution.
Whether you are a fan of true crime, a history buff, or (like me), a combination of both, you will love this book!
April 19, 2021
Bathsheba Spooner: A Revolutionary Murder Conspiracy has all the elements of a modern tabloid sensational story; sex, infidelity, greed, murder, a dramatic trial, and gruesome execution, with the backdrop of the American Revolution. Andrew Noone combines the skill of a historian who knows how to research a topic with the narrative skill of someone who knows how to tell a compelling story. I don't read a lot of historical non-fiction, but once I started this book I couldn't put it down. Highly readable but extraordinarily detailed, complete with end notes for each chapter, Noone has woven a tale from history that seems like a natural for a movie. I wouldn't be surprised if some smart producer or director options it for the movie rights.
September 20, 2023
Enjoyed
Our DAR chapter book club read this book about a year ago. Everyone in the group liked the book and we had a good discussion on it,
Our DAR chapter book club read this book about a year ago. Everyone in the group liked the book and we had a good discussion on it,
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews