The Ghost of Tarkiln

     Historic Blackstone Valley ranks among the nation’s most important places in the growth of our great country. The region’s history is illustrious with great founders and inventors that helped shape the communities we live in today. When one mentions Blackstone Valley, it conjures up images of factories and commerce along the river named after the first white settler to the area, Reverend William Blackstone. They often tend to shade from their mind the beautiful scenic back roads, woodland, and farms that still command most of the areas domain. There is another side of the surrounding area that many leave for dark nights when the dim light of the lantern flame dances on the wall and shadows pass silently along the outer expanse of the room.
     Yes, it is the ghosts of the Valley. There are many tales and accounts of haunted houses, graveyards, wooded areas, and factories all ripe with history and restless spirits.
One of the most famous accounts is the story of Hannah Franke and John Burke.
     Back in the early nineteenth century there lived an Indian maiden named Hannah Franke who was a housekeeper for Amasa E. Walmsley. They lived in the Tar-Kiln section of Burrillville, Rhode Island. At that time Tar-Kiln was a very busy place having four factories, a tannery, a gristmill, a bank, and even the biggest library and best schoolhouse in all Burrillville. For a small back-wooded area, Tar-Kiln boasted about two hundred people strong. This number hasn't really changed all that much over the last two centuries.
     A peddler from Vermont named John Burke would wander through the prosperous little hamlet selling his wares to the townsfolk. That is when he met Hannah Franke. He immediately fell in love with the Indian maiden and a courtship followed. The Walmsley brothers, being full-blooded Indian themselves dissented the mixed relationship and forbade Hannah to see John Burke. At one point they even forced him from their property. 
This did not deter the peddler, who though infrequent to the area, remained persistent in his conviction giving her a token of his affection on every visit. One of the gifts was a beautiful shell necklace that Hannah swore she would never remove from her neck. Soon after, John Burke was at Hannah’s door with a proposal of marriage. Hannah graciously accepted and the Walmsley brothers became infuriated. They hid their anger from the two for they had other plans that were more evil than one could ever imagine.
     On September 18, 1831, the couple made ready to leave for Vermont. The Walmsley brothers gave them a small celebration with much drink and merriment. The couple then left for Log Road. When they got to the corner of Log Road and Horse Head Trail, the two brothers overtook them and brutally beat them. John Burke ran east down the trail for a few hundred yards but was caught and beheaded with an ax. They then caught up to Hannah who had run in the other direction and shot her with a shotgun. In the scuffle, her beloved necklace was ripped from her neck and lost in the woods. She crawled up against a great pine tree where she was later found by searchers.
     The evil deed attracted national attention and soon it was discovered who had carried out such a terrible act against the loving couple. The truth came out when Mr. J.D. Nichols coerced his housekeeper, a sister of the