Colonial Williamsburg's Merritt Caposella and Patty Vaticano tell the story of the murder of a young slave boy by Moses Rigg, a madman who claimed the boy was possessed by the Devil. The story, though fictionalized and given supernatural elements, is based on a historical case. The story is one of many told on Colonial Williamsburg's evening ghost tour.

The Bruton Parish graveyard is one of America’s oldest cemeteries. Listen as Anne Conkling—church guide at Bruton Parish Church—describes the church, its graveyard, and colonial burial practices.

Joyce Henry, head coachman and interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, describes the place of the horse in colonial society, including its use in work and transportation, its value, and its training.

Colonial Williamsburg also provides a short video clip demonstrating present-day horse training.

Colonial Williamsburg beekeeper Bill Krebs talks about the importance of bees to English colonists in North America and the ins and outs of bee behavior and beekeeping.

Ron Carnegie, a historic interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, describes the forms of government in the U.S. prior to the ratification of the Constitution, including the Articles of Confederation; the new country's fear of a strong federal government; and the development and ratification of the Constitution.

Colonial Williamsburg's Tom Hays's comments on the treatment of Loyalist prisoners of war kept in Williamsburg during the American Revolution, contrasting it with that of Patriot prisoners under Loyalists.

There is also a short video that accompanies this podcast, which can be accessed here.

To learn more about 18th century jails, check out this article describing Colonial Williamsburg's public gaol.

Colonial Williamsburg's Mark Schneider describes the duel between Vice President Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, resulting in Hamilton's death. Schneider also looks at the other aspects of duel etiquette and talks about several unusual duels, including a duel between a murderer and a dog.

Also check out this slideshow reenacting the duel between John Daly Burke and Felix Coquebert.

Colonial Williamsburg's Mark Schneider follows the history of dueling, looking at what separates a duel from an ordinary fight and at the codes of dueling—including the Irish 1777 "Code Duello." He notes Alexis de Tocqueville's observations that, while duels were not as ritualized in the new U.S., they did occur and were often fatal.

Also check out this slideshow reenacting the duel between John Daly Burke and Felix Coquebert.

Colonial Williamsburg author Mike Olmert discusses the significance and preservation of colonial-era outbuildings, which included structures such as kitchens, laundries, dairies, privies, smokehouses, offices, dovecotes, and icehouses. Olmert focuses on the window onto social norms and expectations and onto indentured and enslaved life that these structures reveal.

To listen to this feature, select "All 2009 podcasts," and scroll to the July 27th program.

Sharon Cotner, a medical historian at Colonial Williamsburg's Pasteur and Galt Apothecary, describes 18th-century medical practices, including basic operations, lacking in antiseptics, antibiotics, and anesthesia; battlefield surgery procedures; bloodletting; and understandings of infection at the time.

Discover more about the apothecary at Colonial Williamsburg by clicking here.