The Fitzwilliam Massacre

From DirtyWiki

In 1881, something terrible happened.

Half of the Fitzwilliam children were shot to death by their brother, Geoffrey Fitzwilliam. The fatalities also included a few soldiers and servants from the house.

After the deaths, those left in the family fled for England, ashamed of what their own kin had done. They remained out of the country until the 1920's, when Randolf Fitzwilliam and new wife, Isabella, moved back to restore the old estate. They expanded it and brightened it up and raised their three children, Charles Fitzwilliam, Scott and Alice.

But the catalyst of the massacre itself was larger than the culminating event.

In August of 1879, the youngest son of Lord Alexander Fitzwilliam and his wife Harriet began to have an affair with their two Boer servants, Hans and Willie. The son was Benjamin Fitzwilliam.

While his affair remained mostly secret, there were uprisings all around them and Benjamin's older brothers were sent to war, with Benjamin eventually following.

Benjamin's brother, Geoffrey, was a known sexual maniac, famous for his relationships with women and most likely the father of at least one child. However, Geoffrey had his eye on Hans and tried to woo him, but noticed that he only seemed to want to be with Willie and Ben. Geoffrey's mind was already crippled by syphilis, but his jealousy grew unbearable and he began raping Hans on many occasions before Ben's affair was exposed. The two servants were sentenced to death, but on the day of the execution, Ben, whose immune system was poor and was confined to bed with a terrible cough, managed to free both servants and run.

But Geoffrey flew into a rage and opened fire on everyone, chasing his brother and the servants up the back stairs and shooting all three to death before turning the gun on himself.

His body was burned and the family disowned him.

Benjamin, Hans and Willie all haunt the estate. Geoffrey's spirit is a poltergeist in the cellars, where his body was burned (the house was expanded over that spot).

If you play the antique piano that sits in the music room/ballroom, Benjamin will often come listen. Sometimes Hans and Willie accompany him.

Their carvings and declarations of love remain carved (though faded) on the back stairs they were eventually killed on.