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kdscannabisblog · 3 years ago

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Vikings and Weed

Vikings and Weed.

Hello out there. Been a while, the following article is a bit of a roller coaster in that it’s awesome at one point then a bit of a bummer, so I guess it’s more of a slide. I include the bit that’s kind of a bummer as a cautionary tale about making sure you look into PRIMARY SOURCES.

I decided to look into whether or not Vikings used marijuana. There is some fairly concrete evidence that cannabis seeds were used by some Norse people in Norway. There is some truly inconclusive evidence: there might, maybe, but probably not; have been cannabis pollen in a Norse base camp in America.

So let’s start with the cool bit. In 2007 cannabis seeds were discovered in the leather purse of a Viking burial boat! The ship itself was discovered in 1903 in Oseberg and had been studied for over a century. The occupants of the boat itself were women, one about age 25-40, one about age 50- 70. At least one of the women was probably of a high social standing (a queen or Völva(priestess)); based on the type of burial and the presence of a lot of meat instead of a lot of fish in their stomachs. Based on context: it’s assumed the seeds were for psychoactive cannabis. No hemp was used in any of the ropes or fibers on the rest of the ship; the older of the two women also had cancer. The conclusion drawn: the seeds may have been used ritually, or as painkillers for the woman with cancer. the boat is pictured below:

The next bit about Norsemen using Cannabis in America is the bit of a bummer part. I love weed and always approach my projects hoping that there is a lot of evidence that the people I am researching used marijuana and a lot of it all the time. I found a whole bunch of articles by pretty reputable sources about this discovery of cannabis pollen at a Viking settlement in America. These articles were written by smart people who are good at their jobs. The articles themselves are pretty balanced, they just overlook one important detail.

When you read the study written by Paul Ledger who made the discovery:

“The pollen content is notable for tree, shrub, and heath percentages (in particular, Myrica), which are high in respect to the aspect of the site and previous studies at [L’Anse aux Meadows] (1, 9). Apophytes (e.g., Rumex sp. Achillea millefolium type) are elevated at ca. 10% total land pollen (TLP), while exotics such as Juglans (Walnut) and Humulus type (hops or cannabis) are also present. Sporormiella-type fungi, exclusively associated with the dung of grazing herbivores (caribou in the case of Newfoundland), were also found in 7 of 12 samples.”

In context, the “cannabis pollen” discovered was actually only classified under a group of plants called Humulus type that could have been cannabis but could also have been hops. Ledger himself states that this study really raises more questions than it gives answers. So no there is no evidence (yet) that Vikings blew down in America.

So it appears Norse people probably did use cannabis either as a medicine or ritually, but we don’t have a super ton of evidence to tell us which one it was. There is no real evidence that Norsemen in America used cannabis or traded it with Native Americans. Overall, I’m calling this one mostly a win for the “most people throughout history used cannabis in some way shape or form” camp!

Bibliography

Holk, Per. “The Oseberg Ship Burial, Norway: New Thoughts On the Skeletons From the Grave Mound”. August 2006; European Journal of Archeology. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237968995_The_Oseberg_Ship_Burial_Norway_New_Thoughts_On_the_Skeletons_From_the_Grave_Mound. Website.

Brady, M. Michael. “Viking ship cannabis conundrum”. JANUARY 29, 2016, The Norwegian American. https://www.norwegianamerican.com/viking-ship-cannabis-conundrum/#:~:text=This%20suggests%20that%20the%20cannabis,moored%20to%20a%20large%20stone. Website.

Avery , Daniel; Wallace, Jacob. “Did Ancient Vikings Smoke Pot in North America?”. Newsweek, July22, 2019. https://www.newsweek.com/did-ancient-vikings-smoke-pot-north-america-1449984. Website.

Ashley Cowie. “Dispute Over Evidence Of Cannabis Use By Vikings In North America” “https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/vikings-north-america-0012308. Ancient Origins, July 16, 2020. Website

Forbes, Véronique; Girdland-Flink, Linus; Ledger, Paul M. Edited by Piperno, Dolores R.. “New horizons at L’Anse aux Meadows” Introduction. PNAS July 30, 2019 116 (31) 15341-15343; first published July 15, 2019; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas. https://www.pnas.org/content/116/31/15341 . website.

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suburbanidiocies · 7 years ago

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State of North Carolina v. John Hoover (1839), Superior Court transcript

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Be it remembered that at a Superior Court said county on the third Monday after the third Monday in August 1839 by the Honorable John Dick the following jurors are drawn and charged as a Grand Jury for said County to vote Jacob Thomas, Joseph Murdock, Frederic Griar, John Holk, John Stroell, Thomas Thede, David Holesclaw, Christian Clavell, Robert Carson, Luke N. Alexander, John Templeton, John Boyd, Daniel Turner, Thomas Journey, Basil Tomilson, David Criswolt, James McNeeley, and George Watts of whom Samuel Johnson is appointed foreman of the Court aforesaid which said Grand Jury brings into Court.

State of North Carolina Superior Court of Law Iredell County convened in the Fall Term 1839. The jurors for the State upon their oath present that John Hoover late of said County – the man being a person of cruel nature and a savage disposition not having the fear of God before his eyes

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Being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil on the 15th day of December in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight with force and arms in the County of Iredell aforesaid of this malice aforethought contriving and intending on Mira, a female slave, the property of said John Hoover feloniously to kill and murder on the said 15th day of December, 1838 and on eleven other days and times between that day and the 26th day of March 1839 with force and arms in the County of Iredell aforesaid in and upon the said female slave Mira in the peace of God and the State. These and those being feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought did make assaults and then and there, with his hands and feet and with clubs, whips, chains, and sticks which the John Hoover had and held and with force to against and upon the head, neck, breast, back body and sides of his the said female slave, Mira, feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought did strike, cast, punches so hard as to throw the said Mira then and there by kicking and his fists

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the burning with fire as also the striking with clubs, whips, chains and sticks at the said time.

In manner and form aforesaid in and upon the head, neck, breast, back body and sides of the said female slave Mira of which said several mortal bruises the said Mira on the said 26th day of March in the year of our Lord, 1839, in the County of Iredell died and John Hoover killed the said slave Mira in a manner and form feloniously, willfully and of his malice did kill and murder against the form of the statute in such case made one provided and against the peace and dignity of the State.

John Hoover, not having the fear of God before his eyes but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil on the March in the year of Our Lord 1839 with force and arms on Mira in manner and form several mortal bruises in on upon head, neck, breast, back body and sides of her

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Mira, a female slave and property of him, the said, John Hoover in the peace of God and State.

John Hoover made an assault and that said John Hoover with a certain club of wood of no value which he the said John Hoover in both his hands then and there had and held the said female, slave Mira in and upon the back part of the head of her the said Mira than and there feloniously, willfully, and of his malice did strike and wound giving the said slave Mira then and there with a club of wood in and upon the back of the head and mortal bruise of the length of three inches and the depth half an inch of which said mortal bruise on the said female slave Mira on the said 26th of March in the County of Iredell than and there instantly died.

The persons on this oath said that John Hoover has the said female slave Mira then and there in manner and form feloniously, willfully and of his malice did kill and murder against the form of statute in such

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case made and provided against the peace and dignity of the State.

James R. Dodge

Afterwards, the said John Hoover is bought to the Bar of the Court – here in the custody of the Sheriff of the County aforesaid and it being forwith demanded of him concerning the said Bill of Indictment how he will acquit himself of the felony and murder in and by the said Bill above specified and charged upon him who said that he is not guilty of the felony and murder in a manner and form as is by the said Bill of Indictment he stands charged and for good and evil these of he puts himself upon God and his country and James R. Dodge, who in this behalf prosecutes for the State does the like therefore let a Jury of the country by whom the truth of

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Matter may be the better known course and afterwards it is ordered by the Court here that an issue to the Sheriff of the County aforesaid commanding him to summon 100 freeholders to appear in Court tomorrow at 10 o’clock the same being necessary for the purpose of justice and accordingly a list of names of 100 freeholders are returned by the Sheriffs as executed. But failing to make a jury out of the original vissive which was ordered to issue on unbiding to the Sheriff aforesaid. It is further ordered by the court here that another vissive issue forth with to the Sheriff of Iredell commanding him to summons 50 freeholders to appear in Court immediately which is returned by the Sheriff aforesaid executed and afterwards the following jurors good and lawful men are chosen by the said John Hoover and the said James R. Dodge, Esq. prosecuting in his behalf on the part of the State to try the truth of the aforesaid issue found between the State and the said John Hoover.

(12 jurors’ names) Who being duly sworn in and are handeled to try the truth of the said issue and John Hoover guilty of the felony and murder in manner and form as charged in the Bill of Indictment.

And afterwards

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It is demanded of the said John Hoover by the Court, here, whether he hath as knowth anything why judgment of law should not be pronounced upon the finding of the jury aforesaid who saith he knowth nothing to say which has not already been said and therefore it is considered and adjudged by the Court here the premises being seen and fully understood that the prisoner, John Hoover, be taken from hence to the public jail of this County and there kept until Friday, the 25th day of October present and then to be taken to the peace of public execution and then hung by the neck until he be dead . The Sheriff of this County will carry this sentence into execution between the hours of twelve and two o’clock of said day. The defendant’s counsel moved for and obtained a rule to show cause why a new trial should not be granted for misdirection of the Judge to the Jury which rule upon argument was discharged by the Court. Whereupon the Defendant prayed for and obtained an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The following is a copy of the appeal Bond.

We are held and firmly bound into the State of North Carolina in the penal sum of fifty dollars

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to be void on condition that John Hoover prosecutes with affect his appeal to the Supreme Court and in case of failure to pay all such costs as shall be awarded against him and abide by and perform such judgment sentence and as said Court shall pronounce.

COUNTY SEAL

The following forms the case

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State vs. John Hoover

The State proved by one James Woody that about five or six weeks before Christmas last he went to the house of Defendant to work for him and he continued then seven days. The defendant whipped the deceased every day while witness was there with a wagon whip. The first time he whipped her after giving her fifteen or twenty lashes he turned the butt of the whip and beat her on the head. Defendant gave deceased about 20 lashes each day and on 2 other occasions beat her on the head with the butt end of the whip.

The Deceased was then far advanced in pregnancy. Defendant compelled the Deceased to run from one place to another when engaged about her work and would not suffice her to walk. Witness advised the defendant to sell her and told him that he would kill her by such treatment. Defendant said he would not sell her and that he did not care if he did kill her that he would not be outdone by her and that he had already killed a Negro once before. Witness further stated that he heard no insolent language from the deceased and

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she had tried to do what she was ordered to do. The Defendant said the Deceased had called on the old woman a few nights before without cause and when whipping her made him confess that there was no need for the call. Defendant said if she ever did so again he would take her life. Witness heard no other cause alleged by Defendant for the punishment afflicted. Witness further stated he left on unfriendly terms with the Defendant and had not since been at his house. The overbearing conduct of the Defendant towards the witness and Defendant’s cruelty to the Deceased were the causes assigned by Witness for leaving. Andrew Steele was next examined by the State . He stated that he went to Defendants house and heard a noise in the kitchen. Defendant shortly after came into the house and stated that he had been whipping the Deceased with a drawing on chains. That he had set the Deceased to spinning flax and she had done nothing . Defendant made the deceased bring the flax she had spun and show it to the witness. There was not more flax than would have been spun in a few minutes and it was then 12 or 1 o’clock. Henry Tyler was next examined by the State. Witness stated that between the 1st and the middle of January last he went to the house of Defendant to work for him. Before he hgot to the house about daylight he heard the crack of a whip and also heard screams. When he approached

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Hoover he saw Defendant whipping the Deceased with a wagon whip some short time after on the same the Witness, Defendant and others were engaged at working in the yard . Defendant remarked that he would have it out on her or he would kill her. He called the Deceased out of the kitchen and took a Hickory stick about two feet long in both hands and beat her very severely. Defendant commenced beating Deceased with the stick she was bloody and seemed to be much injured. While the Defendant was beating the Deceased with the stick he charged her with stealing turnips and selling them to worthless people in the neighborhood. Defendant also stated that she had attempted to burn his barn and was disobedient and impudent to her mistress. The Deceased admitted the charges to be true. Witness further stated that about two weeks before the death of the Deceased Defendant said that he would whip the Deceased to death. He repeated that he would whip her to death that he paid his own money for her and if he killed her it was nobody’s business. Witness further stated that he was working for Defendant on a fence. The Deceased was also at work on the fence. The Defendant beat her with a brush several times and one of which struck her a severe blow on the side of her head. This was on the Friday before her death. On the next day (Saturday) early

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in the morning the Deceased was ordered to take cattle out to the field when the hands were going to work. The Witness, the Defendant and other hands rode out to the field and overtook the Deceased with the cattle on the road. One of the cattle left the road and the Defendant ordered the Deceased to head the cow. The Deceased made an inefficient attempt to do so. Defendant broke off a pine root and struck the Deceased several times on the head. It was a very cold morning, the ground was frozen. The Deceased was barefooted and her toes seemed to be very sore. Defendant then set the Deceased to hauling timber which was a very heavy haul so heavy that the witness had refused to work with it. Defendant ordered the Deceased to swing the haul over her head and the Deceased failing to do so Defendant took the haul from her and beat her on the head with the handle. He then took his ax handle and beat her on the head, he then ordered her to take the haul to the ranch and wash the blood off the handle and he ordered one of his sons to follow her back to the ranch and beat her back to her work with a stick if she delayed at the ranch. The Defendant on the day last mentioned cut a limb off a post oak sapling and whipped her until he wore the brush off it. He then turned the butt and struck her fiercely on the back. She fell to the ground, he ordered

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her to get up and she made several ineffectual attempts to do so by raising her head . He then beat her while on the ground with his fist. Witness further stated that he was at work for the Defendant the day before the Deceased died. They were at work on the new ground. Defendant ordered the Decease to pull some brush out of the bushes. Deceased attempted to do so but seemed not to be able to do it. The Defendant seized the brush and drew it out violently and in doing so with the brush on his elbow knocked Mira down and he then threw the brush over her while down and piled some other brush on her and some leaves and called to one of his sons to bring him some fire which was done and he set the leaves on fire. The Deceased by repeated efforts got out from under the brush. Witness further stated on the same day he saw the Defendant knock the Deceased down and pile brush and leaves on her. He called his son, John, to bring fire and set the leaves and brush on fire. Which was done. The Deceased got out and witness saw her picking her hand as if she was burnt.

Jacob Hill stated that early in January last during the time of the large snow he was at the house of the Defendant. The Defendant’s wife brought out a bundle of clothes

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and told the Defendant that the Deceased had not half washed the clothes. The Defendant said he would learn her how to wash clothes. He called Mira out of the kitchen and knocked her down with a chain which he had doubled in his hand and struck her several blows with the chain while down. The Defendant remarked while beating her that she was hard to kill but he would kill her. Defendant than went into the house, took a drink of spirits and got his wagon whip and gave the Deceased 75 lashes. Defendant than ordered the Deceased to raise a pile of snow and raise up her clothes and sit down in the snow and remain there for some time. Defendant in the evening ordered the Deceased to go to the barn to feed the cattle and whipped her with his wagon whip part of the way. When she got to the barn the Defendant’s son whipped her back to the house. Defendant ordered her back to the barn and whipped her part of the way with his wagon whip. Witness further stated that the deceased seemed to be weak and unable to work.

James G. Fleming stated that early in January he went to the house of the Defendant and saw the Defendant whipping the Deceased and said she had been stealing turnips, made the Deceased confess that she had stolen turnips and sold

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them to a man by the name of Wooliven. Also, he made her confess that she had told a lie on her young master and had stolen a biscuit. Defendant whipped the Deceased very severely with a wagon whip . He took a Hickory stick in both Hands and beat her and said unless she would acknowledge her faults and obey her Mistress he would kill her . Witness further stated that he was at the house of the Defendant on the Saturday before the 26th of March last Defendant remarked to Witness that the damned Negro would put him to death – that she had frightened him very much when they were on the new ground a short time before. He thought Mira was going to die but he believed it was all pretences. Witness saw the Deceased at this time and she seemed very weak and was very bloody and seemed not to have the use of one of her arms. He could see the blood on her legs and could see marks on every part of her body not covered by her clothes. On Tuesday afterwards, the Witness heard the Defendant’s voice and the crack of a whip.

Jacob Wooliven stated that he lived something more than a quarter of a mile from the Defendant. A short time before Christmas he heard the voice of the Defendant say, “Damn you. I want you to die.”

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He said the whipping continued for some time. On the morning of the 26th of March the Witness heard two or three screams and also heard the voice of the Defendant say, “Get up. Get up.” Witness further stated that he never got turnips or anything else from the Deceased. Witness further stated that he was not on friendly terms with the Defendant and had not been for the past three years.

John Baker stated that he was in the employment of the Defendant as a hireling. That on Tuesday morning the 26th of March he saw the Defendant beating the Deceased with a stick. The Deceased was on the ground and the Defendant was demanding her to get up. The Witness further stated that when he came to dinner the Deceased was chained by the neck to a log in the yard. About sundown the same day she was seen chained got up and attempted to go into the kitchen, fell down and never got up again. The witness and the kitchen and laid her on the bench where she died about 2 o’clock on Wednesday the 29th of March a month after she had her child.

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That the Defendant piled brush on her and set it on fire and about the same time saw the Defendant tie the Deceased to an apple tree and whipped her while naked.

Christopher Barringer stated that on Wednesday morning the 26th or 27th of March last. Early morning John Baker came to my house to dig a grave for his Negro woman. Witness went to the house of the Defendant about 9 o’clock on the same morning and saw the deceased put into the coffin. She was buried about 9 or 10 o’clock on Wednesday.

Mr. Allison stated that his father raised the Deceased – that witness and his brother sold her to the Defendant and that she was an obedient and humble Negro when the father owned her.

William B. Jones stated that as coroner he went to the house of the Defendant to examine the body. He made his business known to the Defendant. The Defendant said he would show the grave and furnish him with tools to take up the body. Defendant said he could supersede the necessity of taking up the body by calling in some of the neighbors and prove that she died of the venereal disease. Witness expressed a determination to take up the body.

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The Defendant forbade him to do so and said he should not have to tools to open the grave. Defendant than stated that the Deceased had attempted to burn his kitchen and Still House. That he had lost some beer in putting out the fire and offered to go and show them the Still House. The Defendant further stated that he had kept her locked up from fire since last December for fear she would burn some of his houses.

John H. McLaughlin stated that he was at the house of the defendant when the body od the Deceased was taken up by the coroner, William B. Jones and he understood by the Defendant that it was the day after she was buried. Defendant stated that he had whipped her with a wagon whip but said he could prove by his family and neighbors that Mira did not die from ill usage but that she died with the venereal disease. Defendant showed us where the grave was but when he discovered that the coroner and jury had resolved to take up the body he seemed to be angry and forbade us to open the grave or go into the field where it was. Witness further stated there were five wounds on the head of the Deceased. One of the wounds was fresh and had not begun to fester and “There was blood on her cap abd blood in the cotton in the coffin from the back of her head to her heels was literally a continuous

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Wound. There were even places on her back that had the appearance of being bruised. Her neck, face, and ear had appeared to be cut with a whip or switch. The wounds on her head were from ½ inch to two inches. The fresh wound was on the back of the head and about one and a half inches long.

Witness further stated that after Defendant was arre4sted on the way to Statesville, the Defendant remarked to witness that he could befriend him and if he would do so money should not be wanting. Witness repelled this advance with indignation. Defendant than said the Negro was his own property and he had the right to do as he pleased with his own property.

Defendant further stated that the Deceased had attempted to burn down his barn or Still House and he was afraid that she would burn him up. He also stated that she had put something in the pot to poison his family.

Dr. Moore stated that he was one of the Inquests. That there were five wounds on the head of the Deceased four of them appeared to have been afflicted a week or more before her death. One of the wounds which were fresh was one and a half inches long and to the bone. This wound was in his opinion sufficient to have produced her death. That there were a great many other wounds on her

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neck, back, hips and legs. Witness further stated as his opinion that the other wounds on her body would have killed her in a short time independent of the fresh wound on her head. She was a perfect skeleton. The whole of the back was covered with scales some of which were from six inches to a foot long. Witness further stated that it being alleged by the Defendant the Deceased died of the venereal disease. He opened the body and found the parts entirely healthy and did not discover the slightest symptom of disease.

Witness further stated that John Baker came before the committing Magistrate he was sure that he did not see the Defendant beat the Deceased on the morning of the 26th of March but he had seen him beat her once or twice before.

The Defendant offered no testimony.

The Court charged the Jury that they must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt - the Defendant killed the Deceased, that he intended to kill her and that he had no legal provocation at the time of killing her, before they would be justified in finding the Defendant guilty of murder if they doubted as to any of these points they ought not to find him guilty of murder.

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The Judge further charged the Jury if the Deceased attempted to burn Still House or kitchen of the Defendant or if she put poison in the pot to poison the family or stole turnips or disobeyed the orders of the Master than those are small acts of legal provocation and if the Defendant killed the Deceased upon discovery of any of the aforesaid offenses or in so short a time thereafter that the passion of the Defendant had not a reasonable time to subside than the slaying would be manslaughter and not murder. The Judge further charged the Jury if they were satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant was the slayer and they were further satisfied that he had no legal provocation at the time of the slaying or so short a time before that his passion had not a reasonable time to cool and subside they come at liberty to presume a deliberate intent to kill and it would be murder. The Judge further charged the Jury that the legal provocation which would extenuate the slaying from murder to manslaughter must be given at the time the fatal blow was inflicted or so short a time before that there was not a reasonable time for the Defendant’s passion to subside and reason to assume his way.

The Court for this charged the Jury if they find beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant was the slayer it was incumbent on him to show that he was

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the influence of legal provocation at the time of the fatal deed in order to extenuate the act from murder to manslaughter lest they might and ought to look into all the circumstances disclosed by testimony and infer from the evidence of they could do so that the Defendant was acting under the influence of passion excited by legal provocation at the time the fatal blow was given.

The Jury found the Defendant guilty in manner and forms as charged in the Bill of Indictment.

The Defendant’s counsel moved for and obtained a rule to show cause why a new trial should not be granted for misdirection of the Judge to the Jury which rule upon argument was discharged by the court and judgment of death pronounced on the Defendant. From which judgment the Defendant prayed for and obtained an appeal to the Supreme Court.

#john hoover #superior court #mira #slavery #south #American history

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