Monday, November 19, 2012

Misty Monday Morning Mystery...!

It's not really misty here, although I wish it was! I just thought that using misty made for an interesting title.

Todays mystery is a pretty good one, I think. One of those that doesn't seem to have an answer as of yet! That's the best kind of mystery, right?

William Morgan



William Morgan was a would-be author who disappeared near Batavia, New York in 1826. What makes his disappearance noteworthy was the involvement of local Freemasons in a conspiracy to silence him. A failed business man, Morgan attempted to join the fraternal order of Freemasons in Batavia. Angered by his rejection, Morgan declared his intention to reveal the secrets of the group in an upcoming book. This action angered local Freemasons, who took out newspaper ads denouncing Morgan and even attempted to burn his newspaper office down. Morgan was eventually arrested on charges that he owed money and was jailed in Canandaigua, New York.

Later that same night, an unknown man came to the jail claiming to be a friend. He offered to pay the debt and have Morgan released. Morgan left the jail with the man and was never seen again. Three Masons were eventually convicted of kidnapping Morgan, but his body was never found. The most widely accepted theory is that Morgan was drowned in the Niagara River. Freemasons, of course, deny this is what happened and claim that Morgan was paid $500 to leave the country. In 1827, a badly decomposed body was found on the shores of Lake Ontario. The body was thought to be Morgan’s, but no positive identification could be made.

The disappearance of William Morgan created widespread anti-Masonic sentiment. The Anti-Masonic party even fielded a presidential candidate in 1832.

Now, this mystery has a touch of history and that always makes for a more interesting story, don't you think?

Coffee on the patio this morning. Warm weather is back for a while, and we should take advantage of it!

10 comments:

Phelan said...

My family were Freemasons, and I know nothing of this! I plead the 5th. (Girls are Job's duaghter's by the bye)

HermitJim said...

Hey Phelan...
Thanks for the information! I don't know much about the Mason's so it's nice to learn something about them!

Hope the healing is coming along well! It won't be easy, but you are one strong woman!

Thanks for coming by today!

Phelan said...

My full blooded Blackfoot nation grandfather was the last Freemason in my family (as far as I know, never asked my uncles). My mother and all the other daughters were sent to a private school, and they were Job's daughters. About ten years back, the Freemasons opened the girls school to the public. It use to be very hush hush.

It's fun having a messed up family in a cult.

Thank you Jim. I always like coming around. Especially when I get to give you some trivia. :)

Sixbears said...

It would not surprise me if extreme measures were taken to silence the man.

A clear and crisp 9 degrees here this morning. Coffee heating on the woodstove.

linda m said...

I think his death was a planned one to silence him. All the ingredients for it are present. 33 degrees and cloudy here. Have a good day.

JO said...

Very interesting. I will have to look this up it has my attention now.
But I will join you for coffee on the patio. Maybe we can throw this out there and see what we come up with.

HermitJim said...

Hey Sixbears...
Gotta love the fact that even back then folks were bothered by the Masons and their secrets.

Some things just never change, I reckon!

Thanks, my friend, for coming by today!


Hey Linda...
Certainly sounds like a planned event, doesn't it?

Guess we will never know! Another remaining mystery!

Thanks for dropping by today!


Hey Jo...
I love it when I throw out some info that makes you delve further into the story! Who knows? You could come up with the answer!

Have a great day and thanks for coming over this morning!

Recycled Cottage & Garden said...

Sounds like an early Jimmy Hoffa case!

Anonymous said...

Warm & sunny here in Louisville. I miss the crispness of autumn, but the coffee went down well this morning.

Dragon said...

That story is why I drink Captain Morgan around free masons... The version I had of the story was that he was allowed to join and had a change of heart, so they pronounced him as a never been. One of the profane. Also in this version was that he had been killed as a warning for other turn coats. But such was the outcry that they denied his murder.
When posing for pictures I always put a leg up like the captain. I'm proud to be called one of the Profane and a 33rd degree never been. Put a tot of rum in the coffee fer me, make it Captain Morgan please.