Podcast 17: Genealogy of Serial Killers, Cult Leaders, Murderers, and Miscreants: Lydia Sherman, "The Poison Fiend"
Supplemental and Source Materials
Click on the icons Below to see Supplemental Materials
Timeline of Events
Timeline of Deaths during Lydia's Reign of Terror
Family Tree
Family Tree
Arsenic and its effects on Horatio Nelson Sherman
Timeline of the observed failing conditions of Horatio Sherman
Newspaper Articles - Contemporary around the time of the Trial
Newspaper Articles written from 1871 - 1878, how Lydia's contemporaries saw her
Source Documents used for the Genealogy
Sample of the source documents used in the genealogical research
Sources, References and External Links
This has all the reference material compiled into one location.
Arsenic's Effects on Horatio Nelson Sherman
This item came from George F. Barker, author of "The Chemical Testimony in the Sherman Poisoning Case" (American Chemist 2 (June, 1872): 441. Image from https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/object/nmah_1456646. Current location is the National Museum of American History, Behring Center.
Sample of Source Documents used in Genealogical Investigation
William Danbury
Samuel Dansbury
 1803 Amwell Township Tax Records Samuel and William Danberry |  1828 Samuel Dansberry owes $100.00 to the state |
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 1867 Samuel Danberry Trenton Directory Butcher |
Lydia Danbury\Struck\Hurlburt\Sherman
 1860 US Federal Census Lydia and Edward Struck |  1871 Lydia Transcription Lydia Danbury Witness Subpoena Page 1 |
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 1871 Lydia Transcription Lydia Danbury Witness Subpoena Page 2 |  Describe your image |
Deaths Around Lydia
References for Podcast 18
1830 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/: accessed 31 January 2025), entry for William Danberry, Amwell, New Jersey.
1830 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058 : accessed 6 May 2025), entry for John Clayton and Widow J. Clayton, Monmouth, Upper Freehold, New Jersey.
1840 United States Federal Census, database with images, Family Search ("United States, Census, 1840", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRG-85T : accessed on 16 July 2025); entry for Edward Struck, East Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey.
1840 United States Federal Census, database with images, Family Search ("United States, Census, 1840", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB4-1TL?view=explore : accessed on 16 July 2025); entry for Ellis Dansbury, East Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey.
1850 United States Federal Census, database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054: accessed 25 November 2024), entry for Samuel Dansbury, Nottingham, Mercer County, NJ.
1855 United States Federal Census, database with images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark/61903/3:1:33S7-9BPY-94QQ?view=index : accessed on 6 February 2025); entry for Edward and Lydia Struck, New York County, New York, New York.
1860 United States Federal Census, database with images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GBSH-SJ2?view=index : accessed on 6 Feb 2025); entry for Edward Struck and Lydia Struck, New York County, New York, New York.
1950 U.S. census, Mercer County, New Jersey, population schedule, Nottingham], p. 23_ penned, dwelling 622, family 699, Samuel Dansbury: digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 25 November 2024; from National Archives microfilm publication M432, roll 1009.
"Aaron Dansbury Obit," Daily True American, Trenton, New Jersey, 26 July 1854, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732583908: accessed 25 Nov 2024), citing original p. 2.
Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, 1803 p. 13; imaged "New Jersey Tax Ratables (Duplicates), 1768 - 1844," New Jersey State Archives (https://nj.gov/state/archives/ : accessed 2 April 2025).
Barclay, George L. , 1849 Or. The poison fiend! life, crimes and conviction of Lydia Sherman, recently tried in New Haven, Conn., for poisoning three husbands and eight of her children. Philadelphia, Barclay & co, 1873. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/ca19000565/.
"Burlington, Burlington, New Jersey, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9933-HQDC?view=explore : accessed: 22 Nov 2024), image 231 of 529; New Jersey. County Court (Burlington County).
Coveny, Patrick, "Colonia, New Jersey: How the town acquired its unusual name," The Declaration: The Newspaper of Colonia High School, Colonia, New Jersey, 8 October 2017, News, Online Article; Coloniahigh.com (https://thedeclarationatcoloniahigh.com/24477/showcase/colonia-new-jersey-how-the-town-got-its-unusual-name/ : accessed 1 April 2025).
"Death of Lydia Sherman," New York Herald, New York, New York, 17 May 1878, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732402691 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 7.
"Death Records, May 1848 - May 1878," database index, New Jersey State Archives, (https://wwwdnet-dos.nj.gov/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/DeathIndex1848.aspx accessed 9 Dec 2024), search result for entry Danbury.
"Death Records, May 1848 - May 1878," database index, New Jersey State Archives, (https://wwwdnet-dos.nj.gov/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/DeathIndex1848.aspx accessed 9 Dec 2024), search result for entry Dansberry.
"Death Records, May 1848 - May 1878," database index, New Jersey State Archives, (https://wwwdnet-dos.nj.gov/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/DeathIndex1848.aspx accessed 9 Dec 2024), search result for entry Dansbury.
Deats, Hiram, “Tombstone inscriptions from Hunterdon County cemeteries” New Jersey 1910, p.58, entry for Danberry; Digitized Book, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/tombstoneinscrip00deat/page/54/mode/2up : accessed 11 Dec 2024), image 58 of 72.
East Amwell Images of America, East Amwell Historical Society, Charleston, SC : Arcadia Pub.2010, p.22, entry for Arthur Danbury; Digitized Book, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/eastamwell0000unse/page/22/mode/2up : accessed 11 Dec 2024), image 22 of 129.
"Family Fades at Hands of Poisoner," Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 30 April 2014, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-2014-summary-lydia-sher/157073635/ : accessed 13 October 2024), citing original p. B10.
"Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV25-HLBF : 14 June 2022), George Whitfield Struck, ; Burial, Manhattan, New York Manhattan, New York, United States of America, Trinity Church Cemetery and Mausoleum; citing record ID 74860124, Find a Grave (http://www.findagrave.com).
"George Danberry GAR," The Daily Times,New Brunswick, New Jersey, 28 April 1897, News, Digital Image;newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-1897-george-danberry-gar/159989952/ : accessed 29 Nov 2024), citing original p. 8.
George L. Barclay, The poison fiend! life, crimes and conviction of Lydia Sherman, recently tried in New Haven, Conn., for poisoning three husbands and eight of her children , online pdf ed., Retrieved from the Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/item/ca19000565/ : accessed 15 January 2025 (Philadelphia: Barclay & co, 1873).
"Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States records," digital image, FamilySearch (https:// www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSY4-N769-M?view=fullText : Mar 17, 2025), image 371 - 372 of 783; William Danbury.
"Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https:// www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8933-M999-9?view=explore : Accessed Nov 24, 2024), image 246 of 600; New Jersey. County Court (Hunterdon County), entry for Nicholas Danbury.
"Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https:// www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-1Z9B-LJ?view=index : accessed Jan 3, 2025), image 217 of 800; New Jersey. County Court (Hunterdon County).
"Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGS-FHTX?view=fullText : Apr 4, 2025), image 78 of 574; .
"John Nafey Obituary," The Central New Jersey Home News, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 5 July 1904, News, Digital Image; newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-1904-jo/160481734/ : accessed 7 December 2024), citing original p. 1.
Kevin Murphy, "Lydia Sherman: American Borgia" (Rocky Hill, CT: Shining Tramp Press, 2013, Kindle Edition).
"Lydia Sherman, The Last Hours of her Sickness," Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 18 May 1878, News, Digital Image; newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant/163778279/), citing original p. 1.
"Lydia Sherman," Monmouth Democrat, Freehold, New Jersey, 23 May 1878, News, Digital Image; newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/monmouth-democrat-1878-lydia-sherman-dea/159888488/8: accessed 25 Nov 2024), citing original p. 2.
"Lydia Sherman," New York Herald, New York, New York, 13 Jan 1873, News, Digital Image; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-daily-herald-lydia-sherman/159632554/ : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 3.
"Lydia Sherman. The Notorious Husband and Child Poisoner Escapes," New York Herald, New York, New York, 31 May 1877, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732400197 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 9.
"Lydia Sherman. The Story of a Little Motherless Waif," New York Herald, New York, New York, 22 April 1872, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732399778 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 5.
"Lydia Sherman’s Crimes," The Sun, New York, NY, 8 July 1871, News, Digital Image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-lydia-shermans-crimes/178389209/ : accessed 21 March 2025), citing original p.1.
"Mary Danberry Death Announcement," Daily State Gazette,Trenton, New Jersey, 14 Aug 1878, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 22 Jan 2025), citing original p. 2.
Ms. Nafey “The Sherman Trial,” New Brunswick Daily Times, New Brunswick, NJ, 22 April 1872, News, Digital Image, New Brunswick Free Public Library Online (http://newbrunswick.archivalweb.com/imageViewer.php?i=456956&v=r%3D631%26in%3D378%26w%3D880 : accessed 6 February 2025), citing original p. 3.
"Mrs. Lydia Sherman Interviewed," The Meriden Daily Republican, Meriden, Connecticut, 11Jan 1875, News, Digital Image; newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-meriden-daily-republican/163777258/), citing original p. 2.
"Mrs. Lydia Sherman, Her Arrest in Providence Yesterday," Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 6 June 1877, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-1977-arrest-in-providen/157071866/ : accessed 13 October 2024), citing original p.2.
"New Brunswick City Directory 1866-1867," Lant, JH, Wm. E. Chapin & Co., New York 1866, p.34, entry for Danbury; Digitized Book, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/newbrunswickcity1866lant/page/34/mode/2up : accessed 11 Dec 2024), image 34 of 146.
"New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States records," images, FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3L-W39G-Y?view=explore&groupId=TH-909-57336-82421-71 : 13 Jan 2025), Danberry, Danbury, Danbery, Danburey image 895 of 1819; .
New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915 "Massachusetts, U.S., Marriage Records, 1840 - 1915," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2511/: accessed 13 Oct 2024), entry for Lydia Danbury and Horatio Sherman, 15 September 1870, img 690 of 1091.
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"New Jersey, County Marriages, 1682-1956;" https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9P6Z-99G3?cc=1803976&wc=9XR9-DPD%3A1072778501
"New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCTZ-L91 : 18 January 2020), Ellsworth Danbury in entry for Danbury, 1853.
"New Jersey Deaths and Burials, 1720-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZZ3-DZ6 : 19 January 2020), Samuel Danberry, 1869.
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"New Jersey, Deaths and Burials, 1720-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZCW-XQY : 19 January 2020), Adam Danbery, 1867.
"New Jersey, Deaths and Burials, 1720-1988", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZQR-G6B : 19 January 2020), Samuel, Sr. Danberry, 1869.
"New Jersey, Marriages, 1678-1985", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ5H-86D : 20 January 2020), Samuel Danberry and Mary Danberry in entry for Timothy W. Hays, 1853.
"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2CN-6ZS5 : Sun Mar 10 00:03:14 UTC 2024), Entry for John Wesley Struck and Mary Kelly, 25 July 1869.
"New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WHZ-MPR : 3 June 2020), Martha Struck, 1864.
"New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WHZ-MP5 : 3 June 2020), Edward Struck, 1864.
"New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WHZ-MYY : 3 June 2020), Edward N. Struck, 1864.
"New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WNY-DZ3 : 11 May 2022), Lydia Struck, 1866.
“New York, New York, U.S., Vital Records, Births 1847-1897, Marriages 1847-1903, Deaths 1798-1900,” Ancestry, (ancestry.com : accessed 8 August 2025), entry for Edward Struck, 1864.
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"North Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3L-W391-G?view=explore : 13 Jan 2025), Danberry, Dansbury, Dansberry, image 716 of 1819; .
"Notice of Land," Daily True American,Trenton, New Jersey, 11 June 1860, News, Digital Image;genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 22 Jan 2025), citing original p. 3.
"Notice to Creditors," Hunterdon Gazette and Farmers Advertiser,Flemington, New Jersey, 23 Aug 1826, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 22 Jan 2025), citing original p. 3.
"Philip and Aaron Danberry GAR," The Daily Times,New Brunswick, New Jersey, 28 April 1897, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-1897-george-danberry-gar/159989952/ : accessed 29 Nov 2024), citing original p. 8.
"Recapture of Lydia Sherman. The Notorious Murderess Can be in Providence," Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco, California, 15 Jun 1877, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732402133 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 1.
Samuel Dansbury, Trenton State Gazette, Trenton, New Jersey, 14 Nov 1876, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC0121032503 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 3.
"Samuel Dansbury Arrested", Daily State Gazette, Trenton, New Jersey, 30 Aug 1871, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com .https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732491633: accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 3.
"Samuel Dansbury", Daily State Gazette, Trenton, New Jersey, 13 Dec 187o, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC0121032503: accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 3.
Sherman, Lydia, Lydia Sherman : confession of the arch murderess of Connecticut : bloody deeds perpetrated with a cold heart, numerous poisonings, trial and conviction, T.R. Callender, Philadelphia 1873, online pdf Retrieved from Gale Primary Sources (https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=MOML&u=ed_itw&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CF0102948796&asid=1754697600000~0e94c644 : accessed 24 January 2025).
"Strayed from Subscriber," The True American,Trenton, New Jersey, 29 Dec 1801, News, Digital Image; genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 22 Jan 2025), citing original p. 1.
"Supreme Court Case Files, 1704 - 1844" database index, New Jersey State Archives, (https://wwwdnet-dos.nj.gov/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/SupremeCourt.aspx accessed 21 April 2025), search result for entry William Danbury.
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Trenton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States records, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS8B-47YL-S?view=explore : Dec 9, 2024), image 296 of 890; .
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"The Alleged Murderess on Trial for her Life," New York Daily Herald, New York, New York, 16 April 1872, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-daily-herald-1872-lydia-sherman/157076914/ : accessed 13 October 2014), citing original p.3.
"The Birmingham Borgia," New York Daily Herald, New York, New York, 11 July 1871, News, Digital Image; newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-daily-herald/163054781/), citing original p. 5.
"The Connecticut Borgia," New York Daily Herald, New York, New York, 6 July 1871, News, Digital Image; newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-daily-herald/163054249/), citing original p. 5.
"The Connecticut Borgia. Mrs. Lydia Sherman Makes a Full Confession of Her Crimes," Daily Evening Bulletin, San Francisco, California, 17 Jan 1873, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732400572 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 2.
"The Connecticut Murderess," St. Louis Globe=Democrat, St. Louis, Missouri, 21 November 1871, News, Digital Image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-globe-democrat/159445334/ :accessed 20 Nov 2024), citing original p. 2.
"The Connecticut Murderess. Lucretia Borgia Rivalled," New York Herald, New York, New York, 14 Nov 1871, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732401081 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 3.
"The Connecticut Poisoner," Connecticut Western News, Salisbury, Connecticut, 23 May 1878, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/connecticut-western-news-1878-the-connec/157072639/ : accessed 13 October 2024), citing original p.4.
"The Derby Poisoner. Confession of Mrs. Lydia Sherman, the Murderer of Three Husbands," The Washington Review and Examiner, Washington, Pennsylvania, 22 Jan 1873, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732403447 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), citing original p. 2.
"The Husband Killer of Connecticut," The Evening Post, Cleveland, Ohio, 8 July 1871, News, Digital Image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-post/159445725/ : accessed 20 November 2024), citing original p.2.
"The Woman Monster," Hartford Daily Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 4 July 1871, News, Digital Image; Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/nbshare/AC01210325033932249981732399044 : accessed 23 Nov 2024), Citing original p. 1.
"United States records," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Y7MP-YL6L?view=explore : accessed Aug 7, 2025), image 5 – 7 of 17; Nicholas Danbury. and "United States records," digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XB-XS97?view=explore : accessed Aug 7, 2025), image 710 of 898; William Danbury.
"United States records," digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9XB-X9BF?view=explore : accessed Aug 7, 2025), image 699 - 700 of 898; William Danbury.
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"United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XB-XSSY?view=explore : accessed Aug 7, 2025), image 697 of 898; William Danbury.
"United States, Census, 1850," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCBD-5SW : Fri Mar 08 02:09:28 UTC 2024), Entry for Edward Stack and Lydia Stack, 1850.