The Woolfolk Family Massacre
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- *This episode of Southern Gothic contains descriptions of a violent and horrific murder, listener discretion is advised.*
On August 6, 1887 one of Georgia’s darkest and most infamous murders occurred at a farmhouse in Bibb County. Nine members of Richard Woolfolk’s family were brutally slain with an axe. Suspicion immediately fell on his son Thomas and a national media circus erupted in the aftermath dubbing the young man "Bloody Woolfolk."
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Hi there! My family is from right around there, going back generations. My mother talked one of her friends (and my older brother, who was travelling with them) into driving up to the old Woolfolk house some time in the 1960's, before it was completely demolished. Back then, it was still farm land and back roads. I'll never forget this tale- she said that she went and walked up onto the front porch of that house, and looked in, but that it was in such a state on the inside that she wouldn't ever go past the door frame- all the floorboards were rotten and falling in. She said that just as she was making that observation, her friend hollered to her from the car- "MARY!", and she looked up- there was a rocking chair on that porch, and it had just started rocking, back and forth, with no breeze or wind.... My big brother, to this day, vouches for the veracity of that story. He's a retired preacher, so I do tend to trust him ;)
Locals used to say "Bloody Woolfolk" (Thomas) was an "odd duck"- like, he wasn't quite all there or right in the head or something. And one day, he just finally snapped. Also, this is peculiar, but I can remember the locals used to pronounce that family's name as "WOOF-fawk", which (as a little child) I thought was a funny sounding name. Definitely wasn't a local family name, it kind of fit in with how bizarre the whole thing was. Being a child in that area, late 60's and early 70's, people never hardly discussed them, like it was an evil they didn't want to conjure back up or something. My mother was actually quite daring, going out there by herself! I had heard that they eventually tore every remnant of that property down entirely a few decades ago, but I'd still love to go find that plot of land and just walk around, just to say that I've done it!
His father should have left him with his aunt he seemed happy there I'm sure he resented be uprooted at 7 and taken back to a seeming loveless home.
The first wife, Tom's mother, is supposedly buried about 100 yards from where the house stood.
uh tom didn't do it lol. if he was odd then his community created that reputation, for him to occupy. Doesn't make it real. Simon Cooper confessed.. he was the family's farmhand.
I’m Gregory Woolfolk I heard the story of my family from my father and uncle’s but never heard them tell this story like this wow
Great storyteller of truly horrific event.
good job! and houston county is pronounced "Haw-stin." everybody thinks its pronounced like houston texas but its not. Houston county is named after the Georgia governor of that time, John Houstoun. the spelling evolved but the pronunciation stayed the same. i really enjoyed your video. when i was a kid i used to go to rose hill with my friends. the graves over by the railroad tracks is where, what we used to call, the 'vampire tombs' are. i know it sounds kinda funny but we were teenagers and theres not a lot to do in that town except visiting cemeteries and tailgate parties. the tombs look like something straight out of Dark Shadows. the woolfolk graves would be the first stop. then theres this area set aside for nuns which i always found interesting. i had no idea there were any convents around that area. theres not a lot of catholics in the south. there is a jewish area which is sectioned off too. i always found it strange that so many different denominations and religions would be laid to rest in the same cemetery. then again i dont know the dynamics of how it works;)
So interesting! I'd love to invite you to share your experiences with us over at The Oral History Project, there are some things you just can't research and need a local for! www.southerngothicmedia.com/yourstory
Ooh this is awesome!! Great job!
Just a little “fun fact” FYI- I’m from Houston county Ga. it’s pronounced House-ston.
Loved the video though! Good job! I finally got to visit the Graves in Rosehill.
GEORGIA WOOLFOLK CHECKING IN
Poor Tom. It seems nothing has changed in USA court system since then.
uh tom didn't do it lol. if he was odd then his community created that reputation, for him to occupy. Doesn't make it real. Simon Cooper confessed.. he was the family's farmhand. His society took tragedy and piled it on the only survivor. His community was ignorant lazy and stupid, which is why tom was held responsible.
The Vlasca Axe Murder House In Vlasca IA would make a good one
If a neighbor was involved wouldn't Thomas Wolford been able to identify him. I think he's definitely guilty I mean maybe both of them were involved in it may be Tom told him he would split the money with him totally conjecture I know.
I just finished the book.
My last name is Woolfolk, and I'm here out of curiosity....
fun fact: the entire wolf folk family is buried in Rosehill cemetery in macon GA! been there many times.
God rest the souls
Why was Tom in his socks and underwear as if to take off bloody clothes
Sorry if he was actually arrested or anything because it just struck me as odd right off the bat that he was in his socks and underwear.
I knew a Schexsnider , sorry if the spellings off, back in high school in S.E. Louisiana
Just found this. I descend from Richard's brother Sowell Woolfolk.
There is no "R" in Woolfolk.
I loved the story but it bothered me how the name was pronounced the entire video
Yes. It’s folk not fork
Right its Folk like Faulk not Fork.
Woolfolk not Woolfork
It's a binge lol teachers always got it wrong
As a Woolfolk, it drives me nuts when people pronounce it Woolfork....there's a difference
Idk how many times I’ve gotten “Woolfolk” pronounced as my last name
Pronounced more like Houseton.
mi apellido es woolfolk
Amityville Horror
Sorry, narration is very monotonous, hence boring.