Betsey Reed

Here's a new one I wrote based on the story of Elizabeth (Betsey) Reed, the only woman ever hung in Illinois. It was back in 1845, and she was convicted of poisoning her husband with arsenic the previous summer. It happened in the county just southeast of where I'm from, and she was hung in Lawrenceville, which is about 45 miles southeast of my hometown. I can't recall hearing of the story when I was growing up, but I got acquainted with it on my recent trip down to Illinois. One of the shows I did down there was "Plan B Radio" on the Haunted Voices Radio Network (http://www.hvrnc.com/), which is broadcast from the Robinson Bowling Center. The host of the show (and owner of the RBC) is Rick Kelsheimer. Rick is a great guy and a talented author, and one of the books he has written is "The Hanging of Betsey Reed." (You can check out it and his other books here: http://www.rickkelsheimer.com/bio.htm) Anyway, Rick's book is "historical fiction," meaning he still had to do a heck of a lot of historical research, which he then turned into a fascinating story about a murder on the Illinois frontier. His book was really helpful in writing the song. I also have to give a nod to Becky Nidey, a real-life "ghost hunter" who lives in Robinson; she's the one who actually got me in touch with Rick and she came out to the radio show. Betsey is one of the ghosts they hunt. Her group's website is http://www.crawfordcountyghosthunters.com and you can go there and listen to a tape they recorded of Betsey saying, "I'm innocent." The site of her hanging became a football field for Lawrenceville High School. So I need to give a big shout-out to Rick and Becky for everything they did. They were great hosts and great inspiration.

Here are the lyrics and, as always, they are copyright 2010 by David Hanners

Betsey had green eyes; they say she was pretty
Save for that scar upon her cheek
As if the devil had marked her for himself
But even he would not have Betsey Reed

Purgatory Swamp, 1844
So hot they talk of it still
That's the August a healthy Leonard Reed
Suspiciously took ill

Neighbor girl said Betsey slipped some powder
Into Leonard's tea
So when her husband finally passed
They blamed the wife, Betsey Reed
Oh, Betsey Reed

Put her on trial down at Lawrenceville
Folks came from miles around
To see the woman they called the Wicked Witch of the Dark Bend
And guilty she was found

The night before she was to hang
They snuck her out neath the flower moon
Waded into the river waist high
It would be over soon

He baptized her in the Embarrass:
The most Reverend John Seed
If a soul ever needed salvation
It was that of Betsey Reed
Oh, Betsey Reed

The gallows stood near a grove of sugar maples
Twenty-thousand people filled that town
Betsey rode atop her coffin
Dressed in her white Ascension gown

Women cursed, children cried
Men sang "Rock of Ages, cleft for me"
History tells us there were no final words
From the mouth of Betsey Reed

The Embarrass still flows to the Wabash
People still talk of the deed
And when a chill blows on a humid August night
They say its the ghost of Betsey Reed
Oh, Betsey Reed

Category:

Music

Tags:

• david
• hanners
• betsey
• reed
• hanging
• crawford
• county
• illinois
• robinson
• execution
• death
• penalty
• embarrass
• folk
• americana
• cute
• kittens
• dancing
• wedding

[dhanners23]

Thanks. I'm never quite sure how I got here, either....

[Tomiswetalldid]

from the quality of the video it seams your playing a right handed guitar, left handed. Is this true?

[dhanners23]

@Tomiswetalldid

Yep, that's what I'm doing. It is a "normal" guitar (in this case, a handmade guitar by Dennis O'Neil in Minnesota) and the only difference is it has a lefty pickguard. I learned to play on my brother's old Stella, which didn't have a pickguard, so when I picked it up and taught myself to play, I didn't know I had it upside down. I just held it the way that felt natural.

[reliablebow]

in her white Ascension gown....Sweet !

[dhanners23]

Thanks. In the early 1800s, there was a religious group, the Millerites, who believed the Second Coming would be in 1843. They thought they had to wear white "Ascension" gowns to get into Heaven, so white robes became a big business. Well, 1843 came and went and the world was still here, so there was a big surplus of robes. As I understand it, the sheriff thought it would be appropriate for Betsey to wear one when she rode atop her coffin (in the back of an oxcart) on her way to the gallows.

[bios36]

Good song Man!

Rick

[dhanners23]

Mark--great to hear from you and thanks for the kind words. I've got requests in to try and get booked at a couple of festivals here in Minnesota, but haven't heard back from them (or have been turned down). But you're right; I should book something there. The thing is, though, the older I get, the more of a hassle it is to put a trip together. I see why people hire booking agents. I trust all is well with you and yours....

[TheBeautyGeek1]

this is fantastic!

but i'm not quite sure how I got here.....

[manriq47]

Hey David, just came back for another visit and see that you tried to reply to my last comment. Never saw it until now. I think it went to Rick instead of me. Anyway, let us know if and when those Minnesota dates get booked. We are ready for a road trip. All the best. ~ Mark

[oldnrone]

What a great song....you know they should give you some kind of prize for your writing......wait, they did? Guess they did.....no surprise! Cheers David!

[lovacoustic]

great song David. Always love hearing new ones from you.