“The Ashland Tragedy (III)”

Description

A loose account of the murder of three children (Fanny and Bobby Gibbons and Emma Carico) in the Gibbons home in Ashland. It describes the crime at some distance and with some inaccuracies and generalities

Notes

It's not clear to me why Laws accords this full status as a traditional ballad; as with The Ashland Tragedy (II), the only source is Thomas. Her text begins,

Oh have you heard the story,

It happened long ago,

Of the Gibbons's children murder

And Emma Carico. - RBW

Historical references

• 1881 - Ellis Craft and William Neal hung for their part on the "Ashland Tragedy" (the third robber, George Ellis, had earlier been lynched)

Cross references

• cf. "The Ashland Tragedy (I)" [Laws F25]
• cf. "The Ashland Tragedy (II)" [Laws F26]

References

1. Laws F27, "The Ashland Tragedy III"
2. Thomas-Makin', pp. 160-162, ("The Murder of the Gibbons Children") (1 text, 1 tune)
3. DT 802, ASHLAND3
4. Roud #2265
5. BI, LF27