[Page 92]
Henry Green
1
- Mrs. S. Turple.
2
(1)
Come, all
good people, draw near me,
Good people, young and
old.
I'll tell you of a tragedy
'Twould
3 make your blood run cold.
(2)
'Tis
4 of a pretty fair damsel
Miss Wyatt is her name.
She was
poisoned
5 by her husband
And he hung for the same.
(3)
Young
Henry Green was wealthy
As you
may plainly see.
Miss Wyatt she
was beautiful
(4)
He says “My lovely Mary,
If you will be my wife,
I'll protect you as a
husband
All through this lonesome life.”
(5)
“O Henry, dearest Henry
How could I consent,
Before we'd be long married
I fear you would
repent.
[Page
93]
Henry Green.
(cont.)
(6)
“Before we’d be long
married,
You’d think me a disgrace,
For
I am not as rich as you,
As oft
7 has been the case.”
(7)
“Oh Mary, lovely Mary,
Oh, why torment me
so?
For I vow and swear by all that's dear,
(8)
“And
if you will not be my wife,
I'll surely end my
life,
For I care no longer for to live,
If you are not my wife.”
(9)
Believing
all he said was true,
She soon became his wife,
9But little did
the poor thing know
Or little did she think.
(10)
But little did the poor girl know,
Nor e'er
10 she did expect
He would take
away the precious life
He swore for to
protect.
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94]
Henry Green.
(cont.)
(11)
They had not long been
married,
Till she was taken ill,
Great
doctors then were sent for,
11To try their
noted skill.
(12)
Great doctors then
were sent for,
But none her life could save.
It was pronounced by all around,
She must go to
her grave.
(13)
Her brother
12, hearing the sad news,
He quickly came straightway,
Saying “Sister dear, you're
dying,
Your doctors tell me so.”
(14)
“Sister dear, you’re dying,
Your life is
at an end.
Now, haven't you been poisoned
By one you call your friend?”
(15)
“I know that Henry's poisoned me,
Oh how my poor heart is wrung!
But when I'm dead
and buried,
Brother, don’t have him hung.
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Henry Green.
(cont.)
(16)
“I truly can forgive him,
O brother for him send,
For I love him just as
dearly,
As when he was my friend.”
(17)
Henry Green was sent
for
His own dear wife to see.
“Mary lovely Mary,
Are you deceiving me?”
(18)
Three times she cried “O Henry”,
Then turning on her side -
“In Heaven meet me Henry”
Then sweetly smiled and
died.
13(19)
Young Henry Green was
taken,
And into prison bound.
Henry Green was taken.
Strong walls
did him surround.
(20)
The jury found
him guilty,
The judge made this reply,
“For the poisoning of Miss Wyatt
On the gallows, you must die.”
14
Notes
1
Based on the real-life murder of
Mary Ann Wyatt
Green by her husband
Henry G. Green on
February
18, 1845 in
Berlin, New York, USA. The
original author of this ballad is generally considered to be
unknown. A detailed
description of the event may be found
here.
2
Mrs. S. Turple: This name apprears several
times throughout the collection, although her role is unclear.
↵
3
'Twould: archaic term for it would.
↵
4
'Tis: archaic term for it is.
↵
5
The
coroner determined that Mary Wyatt died of arsenic poisoning.
↵
6
High degree: A term used to indicate an
elevated social status.
↵
7
Oft: archaic term for often
↵
8
True: archaic term for faithful.
↵
9
Henry Green and Mary Ann Wyatt
were married on February 9th, 1845.
↵
10
E'er: archaic term for ever.
↵
11
According to
sources,
Mary Ann Wyatt only received
treatment from one doctor:
Dr. Ferdinand Hull.
12
Mary Ann's brother was named David Wyatt.
↵
13
Mary Ann Wyatt died at 10am, on February 17th,
1845.
↵
14
Henry Green was sentenced to hang on September 10th,
1845. His motives for committing the murder are an enduring
mystery.
↵
