Black Sheep Family History
Genealogist Jill Nock shares the fascinating tale of her 2x-great uncle John Nichols and his wife Clara and twin sons Melwood & Elwood, who were involved in bootlegging, counterfeiting, arson & forgery during Prohibition. Ah yes, and there was that rat-poisoned peanut butter sandwich!
Episodes
Fortune Telling on Trial: Crime, Religion & Free Speech
Fortune telling was a crime. When Carrie was arrested in 1922 for reading fortunes, she fought back, arguing that her "spiritual" practice was protected by the First Amendment. The case raised big questions: Could spirituality count as reli…
The Fake Doctor: An Illegal Operation & Jail Time, Booze & Brutality
He wasn't licensed. He wasn't sober. And he was abusive to his four successive wives -- but oddly kind to small children and animals. In this Black Sheep Family History story featuring genealogist Lori Samuelson, discover the scandalous lif…
Asylums & the History of Mental Illness Treatment in America
Step inside the hidden history of America's asylums. In this Educational Extra episode of Black Sheep Family History, we uncover how mental illness was understood and treated from the colonial era through the 20th century, and the records t…
We Don't Talk About Roscoe
Genealogist Jennifer Dunn tells the interesting tale of Roscoe, married and then married again (without the benefit of death or divorce), served time for fraud, and was then involved in a murder case - and the lawyer at trial had the entire…
Bootlegging in America: Crime, Culture & Consequences - A Black Sheep Educational Extra
Join genealogist Janet Hall Werner, J.D. (via her avatar Jaine) as she talks about bootlegging in America, in addition to other aspects of Prohibition, like speakeasies, confiscation, rum runners, organized crime, and even NASCAR! This epis…
Bootlegging, Counterfeiting, Arson & a Poisoned Peanut Butter Sandwich - Black Sheep Family History
Genealogist Jill Nock shares the fascinating tale of her 2x-great uncle John Nichols and his wife Clara and twin sons Melwood & Elwood, who were involved in bootlegging, counterfeiting, arson & forgery during Prohibition. Ah yes, and there …