When I began this blog, it was with the intent of recreating Alice Martin Bishop’s life. I have spent a year now combing primary sources but am nothing more than a self-absorbed family historian. I am eager to hear from all fellow AMB researchers on what they have found especially in context to the following questions:
- Abigail Bishop: What happened to Alice’s eldest daughter? The lineage for her half-sister, Damaris Bishop, has long been established. But I can find no records of Abigail reaching adulthood. Who did she live with as a child because it does not appear Richard Bishop kept her in his home after AMB’s execution?
- Forensic Psychiatry: What can we say about the fact that AMB saw her family die as a four year-old girl and then murdered her four-year old daughter? It’s not the actual coincidence of age that matters as much as the psychic wounds of a four year old girl which may have never left her…thoughts?
3. Other Suspects: Because AMB admitted to the crime for which she also claimed to have no recollection, can we not even consider Richard Bishop as the murderer of his stepdaughter? Did someone in Plymouth have a grudge against the Bishops and somehow got into the house? What about Abigail? What about Rachel Ramsden? What about a stranger? I know the historical record provides no other evidence than Alice as the culprit, but I have, on occasion, wondered.
4. James Bishop, a 4th child? There is a July 7, 1740 will for a Mary Hudson Bishop, widow of James Bishop who some claim is the 4th child of AMB. Is this true or is this the Bishop family of Salem? The troublesome Waterfield history of the Sutton family claims there are two children of the Bishop-Martin union: Damaris born 1645 and James born ca. 1646. I would love to hear from anyone who can verify this …or disprove it.
5. What would AMB’s trial been like today? “In all states, mothers who kill their children are prosecuted under homicide statutes. …courts continue to evaluate postpartum depression defenses and other mental illnesses under the existing insanity defense. The prevailing insanity defense test applied across United States jurisdictions is extremely narrow and makes proving legal insanity exceptionally difficult for even the most severely postpartum psychotic women” The current insanity defense test is considered “too narrow because if confines [it] to a consideration of whether the individual knew the difference between right or wrong and not other aspects of the mental illness that are equally relevant” (Manchester, 718). I don’t think AMB would have fared well under the M’Naghten standard (current test for insanity) because she seems to have immediate remorse for what she did indicating she knew it was wrong. This is not to say she wasn’t severely mentally ill – it just means it might have not mattered in a 21st c court of law.
I am eager to hear from you! ~ thanks, Erin
Just tried to email you on the above link, but I got a “not found” page. I found your blog by chance via Google today, while working on a post about researching female ancestors in colonial America. It looks fascinating! Haven’t read everything yet – will do so this evening when kids are in bed. Will link to you too, if that’s ok?
Come over to mine and say hello
MsG
http://whodoesshethinksheisblog.com/
I am so glad you got in touch and your site looks fascinating! I will add it to my page …once I figure out how to to that. I am, apparently, much better at reading 17th c texts than I am managing a blog. As a women’s studies instructor, I am delighted to see the feminist gaze you are using in your research. Any chance you are related to AMB? I work full time and have five kids so I totally understand how busy your days can be! Erin
Thanks for replying! I don’t know of any connection to AMB in my tree, but there are still branches I haven’t explored properly, so I guess it’s possible. I will be embarrassed but delighted if it turns out that I’ve somehow overlooked a connection to someone so intriguing.
Five kids – wow. I am shattered at the end of a typical day with two!
I’ve subscribed to your blog now and am working my way through the posts. Glad to be in touch.
Hello, my name is Anita Duncan Taul. I have been researching my family for some time now. I think I am related to Alice Martin Bishop but am not !00% sure. My grandmother was a Bishop and the info that I have found says she had a son name James. My grandmothers name was Nell Bishop her fathers name was Richard. Could be be related?
Wow nice work! I admire your dedication. Alice Martin Bishop is also my 10x grandmother, I am descended from Damaris’ son Thomas Sutton. I was shocked to read about her, how very sad for them all. I want to commend you for your even handed treatment of the situation, you presented all sides and possibilities with fairness (and yes I read the whole thing, every page.)
I am struggling with the issue of the Mayflower connection. I am also descended from Anthony Annable who joined the Plymouth Colony in 1623 with the arrival of the resupply ship Anne. So many researchers say he was on the Mayflower, when the record is very clear that he was not. But I don’t think having an ancestor who came here in 1623 instead of 1621 is something to be ashamed of, lol!
However Alice arrived in the colony, it’s a given that her life was full of pain, sufeering, stress and risk. Sometimes when I read narratives of what these people endured I think it’s a wonder anyone survived. It would seem quite reasonable to me that under those conditions people would go mad and kill each other.
Well I just wanted to let you know how interesting and well written I thought your blog was and to thank you again for taking the time to share all this information.
Regards,
Pam
Pam –
Thanks for the thoughtful note. I, too, dream of suddenly solving the mystery of Alice’s parents!