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    The Surratt Family: Lincoln's Assassination Conspiracy

    21 min
    |
    |
    Dec 22, 2025
    HistoryBiographyPolitics

    Explore your distant relatives Mary and John Surratt's complex roles in Lincoln's assassination conspiracy. From boarding house keeper to papal guard, uncover how ordinary family choices led to extraordinary historical tragedy.

    The Surratt Family: Lincoln's Assassination Conspiracy

    Best quote from The Surratt Family: Lincoln's Assassination Conspiracy

    “

    History isn't just about famous people making grand gestures; it's about ordinary people whose everyday choices shape the course of events. We are all potentially one or two bad decisions away from becoming part of a tragedy, but that also means our choices matter.

    ”

    This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member

    Input question

    Lincoln’s assassination and the roles Mary and John Surratt played. I am distantly related to them.

    Host voices
    Blytheplay
    Eliplay
    Learning style
    Fun
    Knowledge sources
    Chasing Lincoln's killer
    Killing Lincoln
    Lincoln Conspiracy
    Mary Surratt - Wikipedia
    link
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Surratt
    John Surratt - Wikipedia
    link
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Surratt
    The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
    link
    https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-assassination-of-abraham-lincoln.htm

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    Part of a Learning Plan

    Discover my family's origins and history

    Discover my family's origins and history

    LEARNING PLAN

    Discover my family's origins and history

    1 h 58 m•4 Episodes

    Key Takeaways

    1

    Opening & Setting the Stage

    0:00
    0:17
    0:37
    0:51
    2

    The Conspiracy Takes Shape

    1:10
    1:24
    1:41
    1:46
    2:05
    0:51
    2:30
    2:38
    2:56
    3:02
    3

    The Fateful Day and Its Immediate Aftermath

    3:16
    3:27
    3:44
    3:46
    4:01
    3:02
    4:19
    4:30
    4:45
    4:48
    5:03
    5:06
    5:21
    0:51
    4

    John Surratt's Great Escape

    5:39
    5:46
    5:56
    5:58
    6:12
    0:51
    6:30
    6:38
    6:51
    6:51
    7:02
    5:06
    7:19
    7:21
    5

    The Trial That Divided a Nation

    7:35
    7:49
    8:03
    8:06
    8:19
    8:22
    8:37
    0:51
    8:56
    8:58
    9:08
    9:20
    9:23
    9:36
    9:38
    9:53
    9:56
    10:10
    10:12
    6

    The Execution and Its Aftermath

    10:22
    10:32
    10:42
    10:43
    10:58
    11:00
    11:10
    11:12
    11:21
    11:28
    11:36
    11:39
    11:51
    11:52
    7

    John's Return and Trial

    12:04
    12:11
    12:23
    12:24
    12:35
    12:37
    12:49
    12:51
    13:04
    13:06
    13:18
    13:19
    13:27
    13:29
    13:42
    13:46
    8

    The Historical Debate and Family Legacy

    14:03
    14:13
    14:25
    3:02
    14:52
    7:49
    15:09
    15:11
    15:20
    15:21
    15:32
    15:35
    15:48
    0:51
    16:04
    16:10
    9

    The Broader Impact on American History

    16:22
    16:36
    16:54
    16:57
    17:13
    3:02
    17:32
    17:38
    17:55
    18:09
    18:24
    18:34
    10

    Wrapping Up and Reflections

    18:47
    18:57
    19:17
    3:02
    19:48
    19:56
    19:57
    20:14
    20:33
    20:48
    20:56
    21:15
    21:30

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