Episode #73: 1776 Timeline Twist & The Cannibal of Congleton

The Balladeer

7/20/2025: On today’s episode, Valerie outlines some revolutionary events (‘twas a big year!), including a shit-ton of battles, and the world’s first submarine, whose mission failed, but at least he looked ridiculous while trying. We also cover a 1776 inspired album full of bangers, what the founding fathers ate on the FIRST 4th of July, and discuss the hottest tech trends of the day in the 1776 Timeline Twist. Next, Amy Jo presents the ghastly story of Sam the Butcher, and the slaying of sweet Anne Smith the balladeer as she walked through Priestly Fields. The event terrorized the town of Congleton, which was known more for its festivals, flowers, ribbons, beers, and bears - they wrote a lively tune about it! Thanks to some cannibalism-curious comments, and even more shady behaviour, the vicious scoundrel was brought to justice and even put on display for the littles to observe. Oy!

An emblem of the Bavarian Illuminati

John Trumbull's painting, Declaration of Independence, depicting the five-man drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Congress.

Photograph of the original Liberty Bell

Allan Ramsay - King George III in coronation robes, 1765

John Townley-The Top Hits of 1776, Availability: Amazon and iTunes Only.

Pandowdy

Bushnell’s Turtle

Andrew Becker’s Leather-Covered Diving Suit

Congleton Map

Priestly Fields

The Butcher

The Castle of Chester

Bears on Parade in Congleton

Sources/Photo Sources

Intro Sources:

NA

Timeline Twist Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati

https://adelphirecords.com/shop/the-top-hits-of-1776 

https://www.foodliteracycenter.org/broccoli-beet-year/american-asturtle-soup 

https://www.foodrepublic.com/1881734/what-did-founding-fathers-eat-fourth-of-july/ 

https://shellypalmer.com/2022/07/9-hottest-tech-trends-1776/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalia_von_Helvig 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pehr_Henrik_Ling 

​​https://www.merriam-webster.com/time-traveler/1776

Timeline Twist Photo Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1776#/media/File:Declaration_of_Independence_(1819),_by_John_Trumbull.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illuminati#/media/File:Emblem_of_Bavarian_Illuminati.jpg

https://adelphirecords.com/shop/the-top-hits-of-1776

https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/honeycrisp-apple-pandowdy/

https://shellypalmer.com/2022/07/9-hottest-tech-trends-1776/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Bell#/media/File:Liberty_Bell_2017a.jpg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_III#/media/File:Allan_Ramsay_-_King_George_III_in_coronation_robes_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

The Cannibal of Congleton Sources:

https://visitcheshire.com/locations/congleton https://youtu.be/60bRScQxVaM?si=tw2tb3uBWBqTAw1U 

https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183512/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.thorp/lyrcongl.htm

https://www.100ballads.org/show/32 https://congletonpartnership.co.uk/marketing/bearmania/history-congletons-bear/ https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/congleton-cannibal-intrigued-taste-human-5609470  

https://timedetectives.blog/2024/07/24/the-congleton-cannibal/ 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/europes-hypocritical-history-of-cannibalism-42642371/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYTn5-Z9EVw https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/europes-hypocritical-history-of-cannibalism-42642371/ 

https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/19031339.yester-years-murder-run-family/

The Cannibal of Congleton Photo Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congleton#/media/File:Cheshire_UK_location_map.svg 

https://congletonpartnership.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/bear-picnic.jpg

https://ludchurchmyblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/path-leading-to-priesty-1.jpg?w=450 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Priesty+Fields,+Congleton,+UK/@53.1211711,-2.6778879,127215m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x487a452216ba0683:0xe129ac7eae99388e!8m2!3d53.1607941!4d-2.2140345!16s%2Fg%2F1vhlxqds?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDcxNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 

https://timedetectives.blog/2024/07/24/the-congleton-cannibal/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mow_Cop_Castle