Samuel Green

Early life

Green was born in Meredith, New Hampshire in 1796. At an early age, his parents believed him to be possessed by a demon because of a frequent habit of skipping school; this resulted in whippings. As a teenager, he became a blacksmith's apprentice and was whipped for stealing. He was whipped for destroying the blacksmith's garden but did not admit it. He was then sent home and whipped again. In retaliation, Green threw the family dog down a well, contaminating the water, and caused great expense to the family. He was beaten severely for this. He retaliated by slashing the neck of the family pig and was again whipped. in New Hampton, New Hampshire. Green attended school for a while but began skipping again. He then stole a Jew's harp from a shop and Dunne beat him as punishment. Green fled home and his parents, having heard of the theft, beat him unconscious. Green was sent to Dunne and then whipped until the flesh was flayed off his back. Williams succumbed to his injuries the next week. despite his attempts at declaring mistrial on the grounds of one of the witnesses being incompetent to testify. At the gallows, Green informed the priest he had nothing to say to the many spectators in attendance. "They shall not know my fate," he said. "I have written out my confession in full." The priest replied "Are you penitent, my son?" With the rope placed, Green gave the priest a long stare and a thin smile curled upward as he replied "If you wish it."