Samuel Green

Serial Killer

Samuel Green: America's First Public Enemy

Early Life

Samuel Green was born in 1796 in Meredith, New Hampshire. From a young age, he exhibited troubling behavior, frequently skipping school, which led his parents to believe he was possessed. This resulted in frequent whippings. During his apprenticeship with a blacksmith, he was punished for stealing and vandalizing the blacksmith's garden. In retaliation for these punishments, Green threw the family dog into a well, contaminating their water supply, and later killed the family pig. These actions led his family to send him to live with a family friend, Albert Dunne, in New Hampton, New Hampshire. However, his behavior did not improve; he continued to skip school and engaged in theft and vandalism. In one instance, he attempted to kill Dunne by setting up a trap in the barn, which failed. This pattern of behavior set the stage for his later criminal activities.

Criminal Career

Green's criminal career escalated when he met William Ash. Together, under the mentorship of a traveling salesman named Franklin Loomis, they learned to forge bank notes and burglarize homes, businesses, and banks. Their crimes spanned several states, including New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Maine, and Massachusetts. Notable incidents during this period include:

• Ambushing and killing a jewelry salesman in Bath, New Hampshire, to steal his goods.
• Robbing a store of jewels in Montreal and, during the ensuing pursuit, killing several posse members.
• Committing numerous burglaries and engaging in violent acts across New England, leading to his notoriety as "public enemy number one."

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Confirmed Victims: (3)

Jewelry Salesman

Samuel Green (criminal) - Wikipedia