Mary Paul (abt. 1794 - 1865)

Born about 10 Mar 1794 in Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States [uncertain]

Ancestors

Died 7 Jun 1865 at about age 71 in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Mary Paul was born on 10 March 1794, in Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, to Abraham Ball Paul and Elizabeth Kern Fluck. ^[1]

In 1850, she was living in Summerhill Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, with Lizabeth Paul (presumably her mother). ^[2]

She and her apprentice Cassie Munday were murdered on 7 June 1865, in Croyle Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. John Ream and David Riddle were initially tried for the murder in September, but since they were both able to provide alibis, the prosecution abandoned the case. Oddly, they were initially charged only with Polly Paul's murder, and the prosecution apparently intended to try them next for Cassie Munday's, but on 13 October they escaped. But after an inmate testified that while Daniel Buser and John B. Houser were in the state penitentiary together, they planned to murder her and steal her money, Buser and Houser were arrested and tried. They were found guilty, and were executed, on 20 April 1866. ^{[3] [4] [5]} (One of the people who testified was her neighbor Susan Preall.)

Mary was buried in Ford Cemetery, Mineral Point, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find A Grave: Memorial #76983753; citing Ford Cemetery, Mineral Point, Cambria, Pennsylvania; photo of headstone added by Ronh.

   Mary "Polly" Paul

   born 10 Mar 1794, Chester County, PA, to Abraham Paul and Elizabeth Fluck Paul

   died 7 June 1865, Cambria County, PA

   buried Ford Cemetery

   inscription on pictured stone: 'IN MEMORY OF MARY PAUL POLLY WHO WAS MURDERED AT THE HANDS OF AN ASSISAN [sic] FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING MONEY JUNE 7, 1865 AGED 71 YEARS 2 MONTHS 28 DAYS'

2. ↑ 1850 U.S. census, Summerhill Township, Cambria, Pennsylvania, population schedule, p. 101 verso stamped = p. 200 verso penned, family 196; image copy, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-XKP7-J6G : accessed 9 December 2020); citing National Archives, microfilm series M432, roll 761.

   Mary Paul, 54, female, personal property worth $300, born PA, cannot read and write

   Lizabeth ", 85, female, born PA

3. ↑ 'The Gallows: Execution of Daniel Buser and John B. Houser', The Ebensburg Alleghenian, Thursday 26 April 1866, p.1; image copy, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/image/71173753/ : accessed 8 December 2020).
4. ↑ 'The Paul-Munday Murder', The Ebensburg Alleghenian, Thursday, 15 Feb 1866, p.1; image copy, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/image/71172739 : accessed 30 November 2020).
5. ↑ A recent book about the murder, which has not (yet) been consulted for this profile: Paul Petrunak, Jr, In Time: The Killing of Polly Paul (Mill City Press: 2019).

See also Mary "Polly" Paul, on FamilySearch's Family Tree