• It was the summer of 1809 and John Muldowney’s estate was being finished. He was a thirty- nine year old leading proprietor for the Geo.C.Bryne Brick Yard and A. Bogardus, Brick and Tile Yard. Johns house was a large brick building with white trimmed windows. Everything about the house seemed to glow with excitement. He had a wood barn that was set into the woods so it was almost unseen to the naked eye. Along side of the barn was a garden of white roses that John planted and cared for. He spent a lot of his free time in the garden. The slaves’ quarters were attached to his house matching the immaculate brick and windows but not the excitement. The slaves felt that there was great trouble awaiting Muldowney, He had no worries though he thought it was silly wise tales.
    John was a young, rich, good looking man with no wife or children. He decided that as soon as the estate was finished, he would have a ball to find a bride. Muldowney had been working on his career for many years and he wanted a wife very badly. Therefore the ball would assist in his hopes of finding a bride. Seven days later he his first ball was held. People from all over Columbia County attended. John searched the room until his eyes fell upon Abigail. She was the daughter of one of his clients and he had met her many times before but that night she had stood out.
    Abigail Elizabeth Johnston was the daughter of Sir William Johnston a very rich client who had become very close friends with John. Abigail was a short, voluptuous blonde with big brown eyes. She was a southern belle from Virginia where she was born, her father had brought her to New York to find her a husband. She had a sweet and caring personality who found the beauty in everything. Her and John danced all night. She loved his personality, and his sense of humor. She liked his honesty and his intelligence. John danced with her and found that he liked her innocence and understanding ways. She had a great out look on things to him. By the end of night he was in love with her.
    The following day John went to see Abigail’s father to ask for her hand in marriage. Of course William said yes to John. He was young and rich and that was all he needed for his daughter’s hand in marriage. The wedding was planned immediately. Their wedding was to be two months later at Muldowney’s estate. He told his older brother Gerald, who was not as rich as John because when he had an accident with a horse a few years back that had ruined his chances of a successful business partner.
    Gerald was also very envious of John because when the boys were younger John was the favorite. Due to John being the youngest of eight children and Gerald being the sixth child John was the favored child. Their parents spoiled John rotten. Also, Gerald had met Abigail at the ball as well he had danced with her when John had danced with other women. Gerald had fallen in love with her as well and he had asked her father for her hand as well and he rejected Gerald because he was not very rich. This caused some harsh feeling against John for Gerald.
    On John and Abigail’s wedding day John wore a large top hat, long tailored jacket, and newly seamed trousers. Abigail wore a beautiful white gown and a smile brighter than the sun. She carried a bouquet of white roses from John’s garden. She could not wait to get married to John. She was in love with regardless of what people said. Some people said they were not in love but in love with the idea of being in love. Abigail thought they were just jealous of what her and John had. Other people said that John bribed William into allowing Abigail to marry John. Neither John nor Abigail cared, today she would be his and he would be hers. Three hours were left until they were to be wed.
    Gerald saw how Abigail and John were in love. He became even more jealous. He came up with a treacherous plan--to kill his younger brother! Gerald decided to “talk” to John, so he went to John’s bedroom where John was preparing for the wedding. He talked to his brother about love and treachery. When John did not understand what his brother was talking about Gerald stabbed him in the back. Literally. He stabbed him in the back, straight through his heart. He died instantly. Abigail’s father went to check on John, but he was nowhere to be found. Gerald had taken John’s dead body out to the cutting shed and chopped him into pieces with an ax. He took what was left of John and fed him to the dogs. Blood coated John’s personal garden of white roses!
    Three hours later everyone was searching for the groom but they could not find him anywhere. Abigail thought that he had decided against marrying her so she decided to kill herself. She found some rope and went into the attic of John’s house, where searchers later found her-- hanging from the rafters!
    To this very day people still see John in his top hat and long beard searching for his killer. He is said to be heard banging doors and faintly seen walking around the property. People do not often see Abigail but when they do its her in her long white gown and bouquet, looking for her deceased husband to be. Sometimes if you listen close enough you can even hear her calling him!
    After the wedding people gave up searching leaving the house to John’s closest family member, Gerald. He lived in the house until he died of a heart attack. He passed away in bed. He never married nor had children. Karma took it’s toll on Gerald he died alone the way no one should. He fortunately passed on but only to burn in the depths of Hell!