As the old saying goes, "You can pick your friends, but not your relatives." In tranquil Northumberland County, Ontario, two families are well acquainted with the grim truth of that innocuous-sounding expression. They are the descendants of the first, and only, man executed in Northumberland's history. In a sordid true-crime tale of poison and philandering in 1850s Ontario, the respected Dr. William Henry King astonished the countryside with the sinister murder of his wife and with his subsequent attempts to evade justice. His capture and conviction were triumphs of vengeful relatives and early forensic science.

Dan Buchanan, a blood relative of Dr. King's, grew up dogged by rumours of his ancestor’s bloody crime, but family shame and obfuscation left him with more questions as time wore on. Now, based on original documents, breathless reportage of the sensational King trial, and interviews held just after the notorious hanging, Buchanan reconstructs the full tale of crime and punishment, which shocked the province and has engendered speculation for over a century and a half.

Dan Buchanan, a genealogist and historian, is well known as "The History Guy" for his passionate involvement in many organizations and projects related to Ontario's history and heritage. He has written two books: Murder in the Family: The Dr. King Story and 38 Hours to Montreal: William Weller and the Governor General's Race of 1840. Dan is an engaging storyteller as a guest speaker for clubs and groups across Ontario. He is also the host of history videos and creator of a massive genealogy web site, www.treesbydan.com, which is used by researchers all over the world to make connections and gather information about the family tree they are pursuing. He lives in Brighton, Ontario, focusing on research into local and Ontario history, and finding imaginative ways to bring our past to life. See also www.danbuchananhistoryguy.com.

Dan Buchanan's profile page

This book is at once history, mystery, and family lore, and also reveals much about the middle-class morés prevailing in Victorian Ontario.

Ontario Historical Society Bulletin