The Bell Witch In Myth And Memory

Apparently, slumber parties in the mid-South 1970s were plied with a strange ritual. At midnight attendees would gather before a mirror and chant “I don’t believe in the Bell Witch” three times to see if the legendary spook would appear alongside their own reflections—a practice that echoes the “Bloody Mary” pattern following the execution of Mary Queen of Scots centuries ago. But that small circuit of preteen gatherings was neither the beginning nor the end of the Bell Witch’s travels. Indeed, the legend of the haint who terrorized the Bell family of Adams, Tennessee, is one of the best-known pieces of folklore in American storytelling—featured around the globe in popular-culture references as varied as a 1930s radio skit and a 1980s song from a Danish heavy metal band. Legend has it that “Old Kate” was investigated even by the likes of future president Andrew Jackson, who was reported to have said, “I would rather fight the British ten times over than to ever face the Bell Witch again.” While dozens of books and articles have thoroughly analyzed this intriguing tale, this book breaks new ground by exploring the oral traditions associated with the poltergeist and demonstrating her regional, national, and even international sweep. Author Rick Gregory details the ways the narrative mirrors other legends with similar themes and examines the modern proliferation of the story via contemporary digital media. The Bell Witch in Myth and Memory ultimately explores what people believe and why they believe what they cannot explicitly prove—and, more particularly, why for two hundred years so many have sworn by the reality of the Bell Witch. In this highly engaging study, Rick Gregory not only sheds light on Tennessee’s vibrant oral history tradition but also provides insight into the enduring, worldwide phenomenon that is folklore.

The Legend of the Bell Witch of Tennessee has haunted and fascinated story tellers, yarn spinners, ghost hunters and serious writers for two hundred years. Good story, bad history says some descendants of the Bell Family that were tortured and tormented by what, at the time, appeared to be a supernatural entity a demon from Hell! What actually happened to the Bells in the early part of the nineteenth century is a mystery that has never been satisfactorily explained. The secrets of the Bell Witch presents to the reader: the family, the history, the legend, and the phenomena that still casts an eerie spell over all those who are told the fascinating story of .. The Bell Witch!

Originally published in 1894, "An Authenticated History of the Famous Bell Witch" is an account of supernatural happenings attributed to the "Bell Witch" of Tennessee.

In the woods and fields of Tennessee, the spirits of the past come to haunt unknowing country residents. For the Bell family, one particular ghost would find its way into their lives, tormenting them for years. The Bell Witch, as she was called, left a mark not only on the Bell residence but also on the farm on which they lived. Here, using accessible language for young readers, the story is re-envisioned and presented on the page using colorful and descriptive illustrations sure to engage and enthrall young audiences.

The story of the Bells, an early 19th-century Tennessee farm family who begin to notice strange occurrence--odd noises, bangings, and gurglings. Eventually, an entity reveals itself to the family, calling itself, simply, the Witch, and makes it clear from the outset that it was sent to kill the family patriarch, John Bell. Word of its existence spreads, first through the Bell's slaves, then through the rest of the community. It tells jokes, makes predictions, offers unwanted advice, sings, and shows an intimate knowledge of the Bible, history and politics. It harasses those who annoy it, but saves its ire for John Bell and his teenage daughter, Betsy. These two become the focus of the apparition's attacks, both verbal and physical. Ultimately, the Witch fulfills its promise of killing John Bell.