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| Photograph ©Historic Bell Witch Cave Website |
Sensationalized, dramatized, made into movies and written into books, the Bell Witch story has fascinated people since it began in 1817, turning the lives of the Bell family upside-down.
Today, the Bell Witch is at rest, or so they say. However, what paranormal website would be complete if it did not tell the legendary story of Adams, Tennessee’s “Bell” Witch?
The story of the Bell Witch is a long one. I will try to get in all of the facts, however, if you want a more detailed story, you might consider buying a book on the subject.
The story unfolded in the year 1817, a tale steeped in mystery and surrounded by unanswered questions regarding why an entity tormented the Bell family for years, particularly focusing its relentless onslaught on John Bell, Sr. until his demise in 1820.
Legend has it that the enigma began when John Bell encountered a peculiar creature in his field, prompting him to shoot at it. Describing the creature as having the body of a dog and the head of a rabbit, this encounter marked the genesis of unsettling occurrences. The Bell family soon found themselves besieged by scratching, thumping, and gnawing sounds both outside and, eventually, inside their house.
The haunting intensified as the children reported hearing knawing and scratching sounds at their bedposts at night. They would be abruptly awakened as their blankets and pillows were mercilessly ripped from their beds by an unseen presence. Faint whispers and barely audible singing further permeated the atmosphere, adding to the eerie ambiance that enveloped the Bell household.
Betsy Bell, in particular, became the target of the unseen menace, enduring hair-pulling, repeated slaps across the face, and visible handprints on her cheeks following these vicious attacks. This reign of terror persisted for about a year before John Bell finally confided in his friend and neighbor, James Johnston.
In an attempt to unravel the disturbances, James and his wife spent a night in the Bell home. The night brought repeated instances of blankets being ripped from the Johnstons' bed. However, James Johnston, driven by determination, demanded in the name of God that the entity reveal its identity and purpose. A night of peaceful reprieve followed, bringing temporary relief to the Bell household.
News of these mysterious events swiftly spread through the community and beyond, reaching as far as Nashville and catching the attention of General Andrew Jackson. Familiar with Jesse and John Bell, Jr. from the Battle of New Orleans, General Jackson, accompanied by his men, set out to visit the Bell plantation.
The first encounter with the Bell Witch occurred on the road near the Bell farm, with the wagon carrying General Jackson coming to a sudden halt. Attempts to move forward proved futile, leading General Jackson to attribute the obstruction to the witch. A disembodied voice confirmed this suspicion, allowing the wagon to proceed but promising a future encounter with the entity.
Despite the unusual incident, General Jackson and his men spent several uneventful hours at the Bell house. However, a self-proclaimed "witch tamer" among Jackson's men attempted to confront the entity, resulting in screams and chaotic flailing. The witch's voice denounced the man as a fraud, revealing that one more imposter among Jackson's men would be exposed the following evening.
Setting up tents in the Bell yard, Jackson's men pleaded to leave, and by morning, both the tents and General Jackson had vanished. Jackson, later quoted saying, "I’d rather fight the entire British Army than to deal with the Bell Witch," left an indelible mark on the legend.
Subsequently, Betsy Bell's romantic interest in Joshua Gardner became a focal point for the entity's interference. Despite parental blessings and excitement about their love, the witch intervened, tormenting the couple and ensuring that their marriage did not materialize. Betsy eventually called off the engagement on Easter of 1820.
Meanwhile, John Bell's health deteriorated, raising speculation about whether it was a disease or the machinations of the entity. John Bell endured relentless seizures, believed by some today to align with the condition now known as "Bell’s Palsy," discovered in 1821 by Charles Bell (no relation to John Bell or his ancestors). While sick in bed, John Bell was slapped in the face, and his shoes were repeatedly removed by an unseen force.
On December 20, 1820, John Bell succumbed to his afflictions. A small vial of liquid near his bed, when tested on a cat, led to its demise. The disembodied voice of the witch claimed responsibility for administering the liquid to John Bell, Jr. The vial, thrown into the fireplace, reportedly produced a blue flame.
During John Bell's funeral, attendees heard the witch's disembodied voice disrespectfully laughing and singing, adding a chilling note to the solemn occasion. In the spring of 1821, Lucy Bell claimed a visit from the entity, promising a return in seven years.
True to the promise, in 1828, the entity revealed itself to John Bell, Jr., engaging in discussions about Christianity and predicting future events, including the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. After a brief interaction, the witch bid farewell to John Jr., promising a return in one hundred and seven years to the closest descendant of John Bell.
In 1935, Charles Bailey Bell, the closest living descendant, authored a book titled "The Bell Witch – A Mysterious Spirit" before passing away in 1945. Some believe that the Bell Witch is now at rest, while others claim she still roams the old Bell farm and surrounding woods, with reports of disembodied voices, phantom children, and camera malfunctions.
Adding to the intrigue is a cave near the old Bell farm, where former landowner Mr. Bill Eden reported strange figures and knocking sounds. The Bell cave, not often highlighted in the legendary haunting, is believed by paranormalists to be a portal drawing activity to the area. Visitors who manage to capture photos often discover odd light streaks or mysterious figures, further deepening the mystique of the Bell Witch legend.