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This article appears here courtesy of Pat Fitzhugh. Thanks Pat!

The Bell Witch - An Overview of the Most Frightening Legend in America By Pat Fitzhugh

Preface

Americans have responded in droves to the lure of the paranormal by making both "The Sixth Sense" and "The Blair Witch Project" box office hits. "The Blair Witch Project" has even been the subject of much Internet-wide debate centered around its authenticity or lack thereof. As peoples' fascination with the paranormal increased as a result of these films, interest in another paranormal entity has also increased. This other paranormal entity is the legend of the infamous "Bell Witch" that disturbed a pioneer family in rural Tennessee during the early 1800s.

Unlike the two fiction films, the legend of the "Bell Witch" has been substantiated by credible eyewitness accounts, sworn affidavits, and meticulously compiled manuscripts penned by those who lived during the period and encountered the "spirit." The old Bell farm was recently featured in a list of "America's 10 Most Haunted Places," taking the number-one slot...undisputedly the most haunted place in America today.

The legend of the "Bell Witch" is a very complicated one, with many factual errors and omissions, and many explanative theories based entirely upon fallacies. To understand the legend fully, one must research it for a number of years, to the point where he/she can draw his/her own conclusions. Since the purpose of this writing is to provide the reader with only an overview of this chilling, yet complex legend, not all pertinent stories and facts are included.

The Bell Family Moves to Tennessee

In 1804, John Bell and his wife Lucy moved their family, which consisted of six boys and one girl, from a 376-acre farm near Blackman's Branch in Halifax County, North Carolina to the fertile, Red River bottomland in Robertson County, Tennessee. Along with their family, they brought two slaves...a 42-year-old woman named Chloe, and her son, Aberdean. They settled in a community that later became known as "Adams Station," located some 50 miles northwest of Nashville.

The Bells developed a good rapport with the other families in the small community, and John Bell was accepted into the Red River Baptist Church on April 20, 1805 by letter issued from his former church, Town Creek Baptist Church, in North Carolina. In January of 1806, the Bells had their second daughter, Elizabeth. On August 27, 1807, Bell purchased 220 acres of land bordering the south side of the Red River, and a large, six-room log and weatherboard house for his family. The house stood just off the Brown's Ford and Springfield Road, which was the main highway at the time. The present-day Johnston Springs Road runs roughly the same route as the old road.

The Bells continued to gain respect in the community by their good deeds, fair business dealings, and strict adherence to popular religious doctrine and beliefs. John and Lucy Bell had two more sons, Richard Williams Bell and Joel Egbert Bell. Bell and his oldest sons, Jesse, Drewry and John, Jr., along with Aberdean and seven new slaves, cleared several fields and created orchards that still exist today on the old Bell property. In 1815, John Bell acquired an additional, 100-acre tract of land which increased the size of his farm to 320 acres. The Bells continued clearing fields and enjoying life for the next two years - until strange things began to happen.

The First Signs of Trouble

One day in the fall of 1817, John Bell was hunting near his orchard when he encountered a strange-looking animal standing in a small clearing. The animal's body was that of a dog, yet the head resembled that of a rabbit. This creature was unlike any animal he had ever seen before, and it stared at him with an intense, hostile gaze. Shocked by the creature's appearance, Bell fired several shots at it, but to no avail. The creature then vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. Bell dismissed the creature's identity as having been that of a mix-bred dog, and thought nothing more of the incident.

As the nights grew colder and longer, the Bells began to hear "beating" sounds on the outside walls of their home...the force and frequency of which grew with each passing night. Bell and his sons often went outside to investigate, but always returned empty-handed and without explanation. The incidents were finally dismissed as being a prank, and all was well until a few weeks later when the Bell children began waking up in the middle of the night, frightened and complaining of noises that sounded like "rats" gnawing at their bedposts. Shortly thereafter, the children began to feel light "jerking" at their pillows and sheets. These disturbances occurred very late at night, sometimes lasted up until 3 o'clock in the morning. The Bells searched every room in the house, only to find nothing in terms of a reasonable explanation for the humiliation and torment they were suffering. When they searched a room, the noises would begin in another room. And when they moved to the other room in hopes of finding the source, the noise ceased...only to begin in yet another room.

These encounters continued with increasing frequency over the next several weeks, and the once "light" gnawing at the bedposts became louder - to the point that it sounded like a dog scratching the floor. The sounds of stones falling and chains being dragged were also heard coming from the floor late at night. It was also during this period that the Bells' youngest daughter, Elizabeth, experienced violent, unbearable encounters with the "spirit." A night did not go by when the "spirit" didn't repeatedly pull Elizabeth's hair, slap her, and scream loudly into her ear. Elizabeth, then only twelve years of age, was in a constant state of fear and often had handprints on her face and body. On cold, rainy nights, the Bells often saw flickering lights in the yard and what appeared to be candles dancing in the nearby dell. Nobody, including the slaves, was outside the Bell home when these manifestations occurred. It was at this point that the Bells realized they were experiencing a type of supernatural being, one with a mind and agenda all its own.

The "Spirit" Displays Intelligence

The Bells wanted to test the intelligence of their unknown "visitor by asking questions that required answers based upon numbers, such as, "how many miles to Port Royal?" The "visitor" answered the questions by rapping on the bedpost or the wall, always the correct number of times. From this point on, the Bells considered their visitor as a "spirit" of sorts, a being of its own device and intelligence. John Bell greatly feared the inevitable skepticism of the community and harsh scrutiny by the church, which was sure to happen at some point in time. In the early winter of 1817, John Bell swore his family to secrecy in the matter of the "spirit." Although curious and terrified beyond imagination, the Bells continued their daily routines and managed to avoid discussion of the "spirit" with others or among each other. The family's vow of silence was especially hard to keep, in that the "spirit" introduced new and different types of disturbances each night.

With cold weather having set in, the Bells used extra blankets while sleeping. The "spirit" pulled the blankets completely off their beds, and slapped the face of any family member who resisted. The slaps were loud and forceful, and could be heard by everyone in the house. The "spirit" relentlessly pulled the Bell children's hair to the point they screamed loudly and violently because of the excruciating pain, about which they could do nothing. These violent experiences led the Bells to once again become interested in what the "spirit" was and what "it" wanted. The Bells urged the "spirit" to speak to them in hopes of learning its identity and purpose.

The "Spirit" Begins to Speak

By early 1818, faint, whistling sounds were heard after the Bells asked questions of the "spirit." The whistles grew into whispering sounds over the next few months. Unclear and difficult to hear, the whispering sometimes sounded like an old woman crying or singing hymns. Over time, the "spirit's" voice gained strength and articulation to the point that it could be understood clearly. Although the "spirit" could seemingly talk now, the Bells could not determine its origin, identity or purpose. After giving the matter much thought, John Bell solicited the help of the Bell family's closest friend, James Johnston, whose farm bordered the Bell farm on the east side.

The Family Secret is Shared

James Johnston, along with his sons Calvin and John, ran Johnston's Campground, a camping area used for religious services and revivals on Sturgeon Creek. Johnston and his sons were regarded as highly-devout Christians by those who knew them, and this was the only thing that the Bells thought could possibly stop the disturbances they were encountering. Johnston was puzzled by the story Bell told him, and agreed to bring his wife to spend the night at the Bell home. Before retiring for the evening at the Bell home, Johnston read scripture and led several hymns, then followed up with a prayer asking that the Bell family be delivered from the disturbances they were experiencing at the hands of this unknown, cruel and terrifying "spirit."

Soon after everyone retired, mysterious noises and other disturbances began. The force and sequence of events suggested that the "spirit" was aware of the Johnstons' presence, and was purposefully putting on a "show" for them. Now very frightened, Johnston asked the spirit, "In the name of the Lord, what or who are you? What do you want and why are you here?" This question silenced the "spirit" for a while; however, it soon remanifested - inflicting terror on the Bell family even more sinister than it had in the past.

The Word Spreads

The "spirit" eventually began talking to others in the community, telling them that its mission was to torment John Bell to his death. As word of the "spirit" inevitably spread throughout the community, the Bells began to have many visitors. There were horses tied to every fencepost along the lane leading to the Bell home, and rarely would there be fewer than four visitors in the Bell home at any given time. It had been suggested by some that the Bells staged the "haunting" in an attempt to make money; however, the Bells never charged visitors a cent, and even fed them if they stayed around long enough.

Word of the "spirit" soon spread to the church, where on January 13, 1818, John Bell was excommunicated for the sin of "usury." Loosely stated, "usury" is the practice of charging an unreasonably high rate of interest on borrowed money. The actual event that led to the charge of "usury" was a dispute with Benjamin Batts, a neighbor, regarding the sale of a slave. At issue was Bell's charging $120 on a debt of $100 (which equates to 20% rate of interest). Many people at the time believed that the real reason behind Bell's excommunication was his family's involvement with the "spirit." The "spirit" never spoke of Bell's excommunication from the church, but continued with its disturbing and frightful antics in the Bell home and throughout the community.

A very "moody" entity, the "spirit" assimilated the persona of different characters. When angry, the "spirit" spoke in a deafening, high-pitched tone. When at ease, the "spirit" spoke in a low, feeble tone that resembled low-pitched notes coming from a musical instruments. The "spirit" was known to have sung hymns, quoted scripture, and carried on intelligent debate about issues of the day, religion in particular.

By 1819, the "spirit" was attending revivals and social gatherings throughout the community - singing, talking and yelling. One Sunday evening, when the Bells and some guests were gathered in the family room, the "spirit" quoted, word-for-word, two ministers' sermons that took place at the same time but some ten miles apart. Both ministers, Rev. Thomas Gunn and Rev. Sugg Fort, were present and confirmed that the "spirit" was correct. The "spirit" also enjoyed engaging in gossip about various goings-on throughout the community, which most of the time embarrassed the subjects of the gossip. The "spirit" repeatedly bragged to Rev. Thomas Gunn and his brother, Rev. James Gunn, about putting the people of the community on their best behavior by "telling all." The "spirit" often checked on peoples' activities and whereabouts when asked to do so, then reported back to the person who had asked.

Jesse Bell, the eldest of John Bell's sons, who then lived in his own home close to the John Bell homestead, had been away on business for several days. In the evening of the day on which Jesse Bell was expected to return, Mrs. Bell asked the family if anyone had heard from him. Nobody had, and there was some uncertainty as to whether he had returned yet. A minute later, the "spirit" said, "Wait a minute Luce, I will go and see for you." The "spirit" quickly returned, reporting that Jesse was at home reading a book by candlelight. Jesse visited the next morning and confirmed this. He also stated that he and his wife saw their door open and close by itself the evening before.

Despite the "spirit's" many and varied demonstrations up until this point, its identity and purpose remained unknown and became the subject of increasing concern. The question, "Who are you and what do you want?" arose once again. Unlike when James Johnston had asked a similar question almost two years earlier, the "spirit" replied this time, stating, "I am a spirit; I was once very happy but have been disturbed." A few years before, the Bells' sons unearthed a grave and brought the jawbone back to the Bell home, where a tooth fell between the cracks of the porch when it was dropped. When the "spirit" claimed the identity of the disturbed spirit in the woods, the Bells conducted an exhaustive search under their porch for the missing tooth. When they finally gave up, the "spirit" laughed gleefully, saying that the entire claim had been a mere joke to "watch 'Old Jack Bell' make an even bigger fool of himself."

The "spirit" never gave a definitive answer as to what it was or what it wanted. It once claimed to be a messenger delivering the news of buried treasure, and that "Betsey," the nickname given to Elizabeth Bell by the "spirit," was to have all the money. On another occasion, the "spirit" told Calvin Johnston that it was the spirit of a child buried in North Carolina. It also once claimed to have been the "witch" of James Johnston's stepmother. After claiming any identity, the "spirit" later dismissed the identity and laughed at those who initially believed and pursued the identity claim.

Rev. James Gunn, who had become increasingly concerned about the "spirit's" evasiveness, posed the identity question in a manner that made a truthful answer the only option. Acknowledging that the question could no longer be evaded, the "spirit" replied, "I am not at liberty or of the disposition to lie to a man of God who asks in the manner you do. I am nothing but Old Kate Batts' witch, determined to torment Old Jack Bell out of his life." The "spirit" often referred to John Bell as "Old Jack Bell."

Kate Batts was the Scapegoat

After the spirit's revelation to Rev. James Gunn, attention turned to the Batts family. Frederick and Kate Batts lived near the Bell farm in what is now known as the "Cedar Hill" community. Kate Batts was considered by many in the area to be somewhat on the eccentric side. She was a large woman, with a flair for pomposity, and was often the subject of gossip in the community. Many people believed that she practiced Black Magic and similar activities because of her sometimes-strange ways, including her seeming ability to gain something out of anyone else's misfortune. Mrs. Batts made it a point to collect a brass pin from every woman she met. It was believed by some that power could be exerted over a person by collecting a brass pin from them.

The incident that perhaps fueled the "witch" stigma associated with Kate Batts the most, involved an anonymous female in the community who encountered the "spirit" while churning butter. The female was churning butter one morning when she noticed a mysterious, terrifying face in the churn. She dropped a hot poker into the churn, and the face quickly disappeared. Suspecting that Kate Batts might have had something to do with the manifestation, the female fabricated an excuse to visit Mrs. Batts. When she arrived at the Batts home, she found Kate Batts nursing what appeared to be a severe burn on her hand. As news of this baffling coincidence traveled, more people began to suspect Kate Batts. Even to this day, many erroneously believe that the "Bell Witch" was none other than Kate Batts.

People in the community began referring to the "spirit" as "Kate," a name to which it answered from that point going forward. Kate Batts knew of the "spirit," and became very upset when she learned that people suspected her of being the culprit. She visited everyone in the community, repeatedly telling them that the "spirit" was neither her nor anything she knew about. Around this same time, the "spirit" introduced and began to assume four distinct "characters."

Blackdog, Mathematics, Cypocryphy, and Jerusalem

"Kate" collectively referred to her four, distinct characters as her "witch family." Aside from occasionally assuming the voice of someone in the community, "Kate" had previously talked only in a soft, delicate voice. The four "characters" brought distinct, new voices. The first character, "Blackdog," spoke in a rough, feminine tone, and purported to be the head of the "witch family." The characters of "Mathematics" and "Cypocryphy" spoke with different voices; however, both voices sounded like the voices of young girls. The character of "Jerusalem" spoke in the voice of a young boy.

For a time, the "witch family" made its presence known at the Bell home almost every evening, putting on a "show" for the Bells and any visitors present. The "witch family" sang hymns, argued among themselves, shouted profanities, and made the Bell home smell of whiskey when they were present. The leader of these demonstrations was "Blackdog." "Blackdog" always had the final word, and often chastised other members of the "witch family" for various reasons during the demonstrations.

A major and most frightening demonstration of the "witch family" took place in mid-1820, when Esther Bell Porter, the eldest daughter of John Bell, encountered a strange-looking woman with little boy and two little girls, sitting and bouncing on bent saplings in a field across the road from her house. When Esther's husband, Alex, returned from doing some carpentry work at nearby Fort's Mill, she pointed the figures out to him. He didn't see the woman and children, but said he clearly saw the bent saplings bouncing up and down. He asked Ester to bring him his gun, which she did. As she handed the gun to him, she (but not him) saw the woman and children leap off the saplings and "take cover" behind a nearby log. Seeing the little boy briefly peek over the top of the log, she said, "Alex, shoot at the knot in the middle of the log...I know that the little boy is right behind it!" Porter, an excellent marksman, fired a shot at the knot in the log - effectively blowing it off the log and into pieces. After watching for several uneventful minutes, Esther and Alex Porter walked to the field and closely inspected the log and saplings. The saplings were still bent somewhat, and the log showed clear signs of Porter's bulls-eye shot; however, nothing out of the ordinary was found - no woman and children, and the saplings were no longer bouncing. That evening at John Bell's house, the "spirit" paid a visit and told the guests about how good of a shot "that Old Alex Porter was," and that he had "shot 'Jerusalem' from seventy-five yards away and broke his arm."

"Kate" Was Not Always a Bad Spirit

While "Kate" harassed other members of the Bell household, especially John Bell and daughter Elizabeth, "she" was particularly fond of Lucy Bell. "Kate" often conversed with Mrs. Bell about issues and matters of the day, and on occasion, sang hymns to her. In the winter of 1819, Mrs. Bell became very sick and was forced to stay in bed for several days. She grew very weak during this time, and needed food to help get her strength back. "Kate" was very concerned about Mrs. Bell's condition, and talked to her repeatedly, asking if she was feeling better or if there was anything "she" could do for her. One afternoon during the height of Mrs. Bell's illness, hazelnuts fell from the ceiling and landed on the bed next to Mrs. Bell. "Kate" explained that she had gathered them in the woods nearby and that they would help her get her strength back. After Mrs. Bell laid there for a while without eating the nuts, "Kate" inquired, "What is wrong, Luce? Why aren't you eating the fresh nuts?" "Thank you so much, Kate, for the nuts and your concern; I am deeply touched. I am afraid my hands are too weak to crack the nuts," replied Mrs. Bell. Suddenly, the nuts cracked open - apparently at the hands of some invisible force. Mrs. Bell then ate the nuts and repeatedly thanked "Kate" for her compassion and good bedside manner.

Other than Mrs. Bell, the only other people "Kate" treated nicely were some, but not all, visitors. People who believed in "Kate" and wanted to witness "her" demonstrations were typically treated well, and often entertained. Skeptics and non-believers, on the other hand, were treated with hostility and usually experienced a number of terrifying demonstrations and physical torment. Of the visitors who came from around the world to witness "Kate's" demonstrations, perhaps the most well-known was Major General Andrew Jackson, who was living in nearby Nashville at the time. Jesse Bell, John Bell, Jr. and Drewry Bell had fought under Jackson in recent battles such as Horseshoe Bend in Alabama (1814) and the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Jackson had heard of "Kate" and the disturbances in and around the Bell place, but wasn't aware that it involved some of his former soldiers until late-1819.

Andrew Jackson's Encounter with "Kate"

Jackson decided to visit the Bell farm to talk with his three former soldiers and John Bell, then try to confront "Kate" and see for himself what all the hoopla was about. As his entourage approached the Bells' property line, they came to a sudden, unexplainable halt. Their horses spooked, and the weather quickly turned cold and windy. The Jackson entourage was allowed to continue on its way, but only after "Kate" said a few words to General Jackson.

While spending that night at the Bell home, Jackson and his men were verbally abused and had their bed covers pulled off repeatedly. One of Jackson's men, who had been a scout in the War of 1812, claimed to be a "witch killer." He pulled out a pistol, loaded it with a silver bullet, and proceeded to "call Kate." He was immediately slapped, kicked in the posterior region, and pulled out the front door by the tip of his nose - all by the invisible hand of "Kate." After this incident, "Kate" informed the others that there was yet another fraud in Jackson's entourage, and that "she" would expose him the following night. In fear of being tormented, Jackson's men begged him to leave; however, Jackson emphatically insisted on staying so he could learn which one of his men was a fraud. What happened later that evening remains a mystery to this day; however, Jackson's mind changed for some reason, and he and his entourage left very early the next morning, never to return. Jackson, who was quoted later as having said, "I'd rather fight the British at New Orleans than deal with the Bell Witch," later went on to become the President of the United States.

After Jackson and his entourage left, "Kate" said it was time to get back to her mission - to torment "Old Jack Bell" to his grave. "Kate" continued to profess a strong dislike for "Old Jack Bell," and many times reiterated her vow to kill him, especially after Jackson's visit.

"Kate" Finishes Off John Bell

For some time, Bell had suffered from a mysterious affliction that caused his mouth and tongue to feel abnormal, making it almost impossible to swallow at times. As his condition worsened, he grew weaker and began having violent seizures and periodic coordination problems with his feet.

One morning, John Bell and his son Richard Williams Bell took a short walk to the hog pen to separate the hogs. Every few feet, "Kate" tripped John Bell or unmercifully jerked his shoes off. Regardless of how tight his shoes were retied, "Kate" jerked them off as quickly as Bell could put them back on. John Bell became very depressed after this incident, and for obvious reasons - he had been in ill health for some time, was not able to walk well, yet he was being physically and emotionally tormented, and laughed at by "Kate" more with each passing day.

A few weeks passed, and John Bell's health took another turn for the worse. On the morning of December 20, 1820, John Bell breathed the last breath of his 70 years. Immediately after his death, his family and friends who were with him inspected a small vial of liquid in the cupboard that he had been given periodically after entering a coma the prior evening, and which had been left by the Bells' family doctor the evening before. But upon inspecting the vial, the contents at the time of Bell's death were not the same as what the doctor had left.

John Bell, Jr. gave some of the liquid to the family's cat, which took a drink and was dead by the time it hit the floor. Dr. Hopson soon arrived and looked at the liquid in the vial. He said he had never seen or smelled such a liquid before, but that he noticed the same smell around John Bell's mouth. The doctor then said he would like to take the vial with him to analyze its contents to determine its origin. "Oh, that is pure nonsense! It is the malevolent work of the devil and must be destroyed immediately," exclaimed Professor Richard Powell as he quickly jerked the vial away from the doctor and threw it into the fire. The vial exploded into a bright, blue flame, then a fireball shot up the chimney.

As a large crowd of family and friends began to leave John Bell's funeral, one of the largest ever in Robertson County, "Kate" laughed loudly and cheerfully sang a song about a bottle of brandy. "Kate" had accomplished her main mission; however, there was yet another task at hand - to make sure that Elizabeth Bell did not marry her suitor, Joshua Gardner. After the death of John Bell, "Kate" visited Elizabeth more often, repeatedly urging, "Oh Betsey Bell, please don't marry Joshua Gardner; it is the wrong thing to do, and I can not tell you why at this time; but future generations will see it true."

Elizabeth Bell and Joshua Gardner

Over the course of time, Elizabeth Bell had become romantically interested in Joshua Gardner, a young man who lived on the farm bordering the south side of the Bells' farm. Joshua's feelings for Elizabeth were mutual. The two often went on long walks by the Red River, had picnics under the pear trees, and were seen together at social events in the community...with "Kate" always in tow, secretly whispering into Elizabeth's ear, "Please, Betsey Bell, don't marry Joshua Gardner." With the blessings of their parents, and despite "Kate's" persistent warnings, Elizabeth and Joshua became engaged. Elizabeth and Joshua agreed not to let "Kate" stand in the way of their happiness and future plans. They endured much torment, including many episodes where Elizabeth was repeatedly slapped and had her hair pulled by "Kate."

Over time, the obstacles to their relationship took a toll on Elizabeth and Joshua. It was now glaringly obvious that "Kate's" harassment and taunting would continue until Elizabeth and Joshua's relationship ceased to exist. On Easter Monday of 1821, Elizabeth, Joshua, and several friends went to the Red River for an outing. Elizabeth and Joshua broke away from their friends and went to a nearby spring by the Red River where they sat and engaged in typical lovers' conversation while watching the river flow by. Elizabeth began to hear loud, shrill screaming in her ears, followed by a loud and sinister voice that said, "do not marry Joshua Gardner." Noticing the terrified look on Elizabeth's face, Joshua turned to her and asked what was wrong. He had not heard the screams or the sinister voice that Elizabeth heard.

With tears in her eyes, Elizabeth turned to Joshua and slowly asked him the hardest thing that she had ever asked anyone - to release her from her promise to marry him. Joshua understood perfectly the hardships that Elizabeth endured because of their engagement, and knew in his heart that ending the engagement was the only right thing to do. There was a long period of silence in which both became teary-eyed, then Joshua slowly removed the ring from Elizabeth's finger as both their hearts sunk. Without saying a word, and sadly looking at the ground, Elizabeth and Joshua proceeded back to the field and joined back up with their friends. The aura of their disappointment and sadness was evident, and their friends walked a good distance behind them when they all headed home, as a matter of respect. When Elizabeth and Joshua approached the Bell property line, they walked in their own, separate directions - never to see one another again.

Joshua Gardner moved to Weakly County, Tennessee a very short time thereafter, where he married, raised a family, and became a successful farmer and businessman. He died at the age of 73. Elizabeth was depressed for some time, but later got over it and began seeing another man, Professor Richard Powell, her former schoolteacher who was eleven years her senior.

Elizabeth Bell and Richard Powell

Professor Richard R.P. Powell, had been noticeably interested in Elizabeth for some time. They began courting, developed a relationship, eventually married on March 23, 1824. Powell became a Justice of the Peace, the sheriff of Robertson County, and eventually a successful lawmaker in the Tennessee State Legislature. His health failed him in 1837 when he suffered a stroke. Powell died eleven years later after a long, steady decline in his health. He also lost a large sum of money in a steamboat accident in nearby Clarksville. Despite the Powells' recurring misfortunes, Elizabeth insisted that her life together with Richard Powell was a very happy one. Oddly enough, Powell was reportedly a student of the occult. Also, during some of the period he was fond of Elizabeth Bell, he also was secretly married to a woman, Esther Scott Powell, who lived near Nashville. Powell never made mention of his secret wife. She died mysteriously.

The widow Elizabeth Powell, after undergoing considerable weight gain and suffering her own health problems later in life, moved to the Panola/Yalobusha County area of Mississippi so she could be near her brother Jesse Bell, her sister Esther Bell Porter, and daughter Eliza Jane Powell. Elizabeth "Betsey" Bell Powell died in 1888 at the age of 82, and is buried in the Long Branch Cemetery near Water Valley, Mississippi.

The Seven-Year Revisit

In mid-1821, "Kate" visited Lucy Bell and told her "she" would return in seven years for a three-week visit. Not much more was said at that time, and "Kate" finally left. Seven years later, in February of 1828, "Kate" returned as promised. Most of this visit centered on John Bell, Jr. "Kate" discussed with him such things as the origin of life, Christianity, the need for a mass spiritual reawakening, and other in-depth topics. Of particular significance were "Kate's" predictions of the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. John Bell, Jr. noted these conversations in meticulous detail and shared them with his son, Dr. Joel Thomas Bell, who took careful notes and passed the information to his own son, Dr. Charles Bailey Bell. After three weeks, "Kate" bade farewell to John Bell, Jr. and the other members of the Bell family still living in the area, promising to visit John Bell's most direct descendant in 107 years. The year would have been 1935, and the closest direct descendant was Charles Bailey Bell, a physician in Nashville. Charles Bailey Bell wrote a book about the "Bell Witch," himself, but it had already been published by 1935. No follow-up was published, and Bell died a few years later, in 1945.

Manifestations in the Twentieth Century

Today, the "spirit" which haunted the Bell family nearly 200 years ago is believed by many to be the source of numerous manifestations in the area where the legend allegedly took place. Some believe that when "Kate" returned in 1935, "she" took residence in a cave on the old Bell property. Sometimes, the faint sounds of people talking and children playing can be heard near the back of the cave. A picture recently taken of a sinkhole near the cave revealed rising ectoplasm in the shape of a face exhibiting great pain. In the mid-1990's, a picture was taken of a girl sitting on a rock outside the cave's entrance. When the picture was developed, there appeared to be a man standing behind her. Upon expert examination, it was determined that the man-like image was not a double-exposure, but an entirely separate entity.

Several years ago, one of John Bell's descendants was rabbit hunting near Springfield, TN and shot at a rabbit, which managed to wander into some dense brush. While searching, he felt a large rock underneath the brush where the rabbit had entered. The rock turned out to be part of the tombstone of his great-great grandfather, Joel Egbert Bell. It also has been said that if you visit the fields of the old Bell farm on dark, cold and rainy nights, you can sometimes see small lights, gliding over the fields and dancing in a sinister way - just as they did back in 1818.

Pictures taken near the cave and the old Bell farm have shown various anomalies such as orbs, people who are not there, and face-like symbols on the walls of the cave. There are many other stories of late nineteenth and twentieth century encounters with the so-called "Bell Witch." A week does not go by that something mysterious does not happen on or near the property that was once the Bell farm. Maybe next time, it will happen to you.

Conclusion

There is much, much more to the legend of the "Bell Witch" than what is contained in this synopsis - much more in terms of both mysterious encounters and history. I have only provided you with one-half of one percent of the "Bell Witch" phenomenon. The cause of the Bells' disturbances nearly 200 years ago, as well as the modern-day manifestations, will continue to remain a mystery for many future generations.

Numerous versions of the legend and theories purporting to explain the real cause behind the "Bell Witch" are plentiful, and vary from person to person. The only constant is that there was something "wrong" in the eyes of the people who lived on and visited the Bell farm in the early 1800s, and there is still something "wrong" at the old Bell place today - nearly 200 years later. Is "Kate" real to you, or was "she" only real to those who experienced her demonstrations first-hand some 200 years ago? Did "Kate" return for a visit in 1935 as promised? Did "Kate" ever leave the place to begin with? "Kate" apparently knew that future generations would ask these and more questions about her. "She" directly answered these and other questions in a very personal and private conversation with John Johnston back in the early 1800s: "I am everywhere. I am in the wind. I am in the woods. I am in your house and in your fields. I am in the water you drink. I am the very air that you breathe with each breath."

For more information about the "Bell Witch," including directions to the cave, visit the "Bell Witch" Web site at http://www.bellwitch.org/. To chat with Pat Fitzhugh and other "Bell Witch" enthusiasts on-line, join the "Bell Witch" Club at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/bellwitchcentral.

About the Author

Pat Fitzhugh is an author and technology consultant based in Nashville, Tennessee. An indirect descendant of John Bell, he has been researching, writing, and lecturing about the "Bell Witch" phenomenon since the late-1970s when he was a teenager. Credited with authoring "The Bell Witch Haunting," many "Bell Witch" magazine, news articles and TV appearances from the US to Japan, Fitzhugh is currently working on a comprehensive "Bell Witch" novel that is tentatively scheduled for completion in the summer of 2000 and intended for screenplay. In his spare time he enjoys train travel, Cajun food, New Orleans jazz, and the Memphis/Mississippi Delta blues. He may be reached by E-mail at pat@bellwitch.org, or at his Web site, http://www.bellwitch.org/.

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This page (http://www.ghosts.org/bell/patf.html) last updated April 17, 2005.