16. Carnage in New York: Killing Over Shakespeare (Ep 1)

Journey Through Time

Goalhanger

History

4.3 • 595 Ratings

🗓️ 25 June 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How did a fight about Shakespeare descend into America’s bloodiest riot during peace time? Why were tensions so high in New York City in May 1849? Who were Edwin Forrest and William McCready, the actors whose personal rivalry was at the centre of all this? Join Sarah Churchwell and David Olusoga as they explore the lead up to the Astor Place riots, the deadliest use of military force against civilians since the American Revolutionary War. To find out more about Find My Past visit: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/journey-through-time ------ Esse Mildred WLA: © Crown Copyright Images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England. Esse Somerville marriage: copyright THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Fairweather 1921 Census: © Crown Copyright Images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England. Fairweather 1939 Register: © Crown Copyright Images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England. Fairweather Patricia baptism: Images © Kent County Council Laing Joan M WLA: © Crown Copyright Images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, England. ----- Email: journeythroughtime@goalhanger.com X: @ThroughTimePod Blue Sky: @ThroughTimePod Instagram: @ThroughTimePod Assistant Producer: Alice Horrell Producer: Callum Hill Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Have our fascinating tales of everyday people from the past inspired you to explore your own family story?
0:08.0	This episode is brought to you by findmypass.co.uk, the perfect place to start building your family tree for free.
0:15.4	It makes it so easy to get started with just a few details and helps you fill in the gaps from there.
0:21.1	Their smart hints do the hard work for you, instantly unearthing clues to your past from
0:26.0	their vast record collections. You can search other members' family trees to make new connections
0:31.0	and even share your discoveries with loved ones as your family tree grows. In just a few minutes,
0:37.0	you'll have a flourishing family tree
0:38.7	full of incredible stories and revelations. Visit findmypass.co.uk slash journey through time
0:46.0	to start your family tree with a free trial. That's find mypass.co.com.uk slash journey through
0:52.8	time. Free trial auto renews after seven days and less canceled.
0:57.1	Terms and conditions apply.
0:59.9	This episode is brought to you by Google's Notebook LM.
1:04.2	David, we all know what it's like to be buried under a mountain of information.
1:07.6	Notebook LM can get you out from under this because you can upload anything to it
1:11.2	and receive clear summaries and connections between ideas. It's quick, reliable, and backed by
1:16.2	citations, so you can trust the information you're getting. And with the audio overview feature,
1:21.8	your sources come to life in a dynamic conversational style, like hearing experts break things down
1:27.0	for you.
1:32.3	Understand anything with NotebookLM. Try it at Notebooklm.combe.combe.combe.combe. Google forward slash journey. Available in select countries and languages to users over the age of 18. Working men shall Americans or English rule in this city?
1:54.3	The crew of the British steamer have threatened all Americans who shall dare to express their opinions this night at the
2:02.4	English aristocratic opera house. We advocate no violence, but a free expression of opinion to
2:10.4	all public men. Working men, free men, stand by your lawful rights, signed the American Committee. Those were the words
	...

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