Some things bother me about the Bell Witch, what do you think?

Question

I admt I'm no expert on it. I've heard bits on Coast to Coast and read things elsewhere; that the entity could not have been Kate Batts; that its return during the 20th century has little no reportage, or that it might not have returned; perhaps it never left, and so on.

But what bothers me are two things:

1. How over the top the story seems. I'm not aware of any other ghost story like it from the time. If there are any, they should be interesting.

2. The inexplicable reason for the entity going after John Bell. To me, speculation that Bell cheated someone, or made a deal with the Devil, etc., doesn't suffice. What could bell have done to have his demise come by an entity like the "Bell Witch"? Besides, the story of the Devil and the Blacksmith is not as involved. You could cite the story of Rumpelstlltskin as inspirational metaphor, but that only adds to the idea of the story being false.

I try to be open minded, and like ghost stories, but this one seems too out there.

*admit.

Well, what do you guys think. Does my skepticism make sense?

HeartsNMinds, thank you, but I wasn't asking for the story to be summarised. I'm not sure if you got my point, no offense.

Answer 1

"The best known contemporary version of the Bell witch legend is that related by paranormal researcher Pat Fitzhugh, author of The Bell Witch: the Full Account.

According to Fitzhugh, the first manifestation of the haunting occurred in 1817, when John Bell encountered a strange animal in a cornfield on his property. The animal is described as having the body of a dog and the head of a rabbit, and is said[Please name specific person or group] to have vanished when shot at.

This incident was allegedly quickly followed by a series of strange beating and gnawing noises manifesting themselves around — and eventually inside — the Bell residence. After this the Bell children then allegedly began to report that their bedclothes were being regularly pulled off and tossed onto the floor by an invisible force.

The family then reported hearing a faint voice that sounded like a feeble old woman crying or singing hymns. Betsy Bell, the family's youngest daughter, was later violently assaulted, her hair pulled and her face slapped.

These events are reported by Fitzhugh as continuing for over a year before John Bell reported them to his neighbour, James Johnston, who is reported as also subsequently witnessing them, along with his wife. At this point the strange events experienced by the Bell family are said to have become well known in the Red River community, especially reports of a voice conversing loudly and clearly, singing, quoting from the Bible and accurately describing events taking place miles away.

The next major development in the story, as related by Fitzhugh, is the alleged involvement of future US President Andrew Jackson, who is said[Please name specific person or group] to have heard of the disturbances and decided to observe them in person, in 1819.

On approaching the Bell property, Jackson’s entourage is reported as having encountered an invisible presence that stopped his wagon in its tracks, until he acknowledged that the witch was responsible, upon which the wagon was able to proceed unhindered.

One of the men in Jackson’s entourage is alleged to have declared himself to be a witch tamer who intended to kill the spirit. The man is said[Please name specific person or group] to have begun screaming and contorting his body immediately after making these statements. Jackson and his entourage are reported to have left the Bell property by midday the following day, and Jackson, in response to his experiences with the Bells, is quoted as later saying “I’d rather fight the entire British Army than to deal with the Bell Witch.”

Betsy Bell’s engagement to a neighbour named Joshua Gardner is reported as the next focus of the invisible entity’s displeasure, and it is alleged to have followed and taunted them whenever they were alone together, leading Betsy to break off the relationship on Easter Monday in 1821.

It is reported that the encounters with the spirit became less frequent, although the disembodied voice continued to communicate its dislike of Jack Bell – and its intention to kill him. Bell was by then suffering frequent seizures.

John Bell died on December 20, 1820. A small vial containing an unidentified liquid apparently ingested by him was found near the body. The legend relates that when the remaining contents were fed to the family cat, the animal died immediately – at which point the voice of the spirit was heard to say "I gave Ol' Jack a big dose of that last night, and that fixed him." Later, at Bell’s burial, the spirit is reported to have laughed and sung loudly and cheerfully.

Bell’s death is reported to have signaled the end of the haunting, but before its departure the spirit is said[Please name specific person or group] to have told Lucy Bell that it would return in 1828. It is claimed that this visit did in fact come to pass — and that during a three-week visit the entity communicated mainly with John Bell Jr, predicting such events as the American Civil War, the Great Depression and both World Wars.

According to legend, after the entity last appeared in 1828, it said it would return 107 years hence, in 1935.

Fitzhugh's relation of the Bell Witch legend concludes with a statement to the effect that many people believe that the spirit returned in 1935, took up residence on the former Bell property, and remains there to the present day. He notes that “the faint sounds of people talking and children playing can sometimes be heard in the area,” and asserts that it is “very difficult to take a good picture there.”

The Bell Witch is, according to legend, Kate Batts, an old neighbor of Bell's who was involved with him in a dispute of the sale of a slave or piece of land (story variations tend to differ slightly).[citation needed] She swore on her deathbed to get even and, after she died, the events upon which the legend is based began. Rumor has it that the spirit once referred to itself as "Kate Batts' witch." There is no documentation of this, however. The stories of a piece of land or slave sale conflict involving John Bell do have documentation, although in neither case is there any connection to Kate Batts.

The FAQ states that Kate Batts lived 22 years longer than John Bell, and thus couldn’t have haunted him. Also, her family was too poor to have had any dispute over a slave."

IJ, I was just bringing those up to speed that have not heard the story...no offence sir...

Answer 2

Well that relies. Do you imply a Wiccan or a Witch? The 2 are specific matters. A Wiccan are not able to be a Christian while. You are not able to serve 2 faiths and be trustworthy while to each. It does not paintings. You CAN nevertheless be a Witch and a Christian, as Witchcraft does no longer contain the notion in any deities, accordingly you'll be of any faith, and nonetheless train Witchcraft. Although I could watch as Christianity forbids the train of Witchcraft, so if you're real trustworthy for your ideals as a Christian, then mostly you do not have any curiosity in Witchcraft.

Answer 3

I know People from the family and I do believe something happened. There is not always a clear cut reason for a haunting. Ghost of humans can not kill that is why I believe something else was doing it an entity of some kind. I would think it was a elemental of some kind. There as been other things happen there. I woild like to go and see myself.

Answer 4

I'm no expert on the Bell Witch either....most of what I know about it came from watching the movie "An American Haunting", which kind on takes the idea that John Bell molested his daughter, and she killed him under the influence of the ghost...at least that's how I understood it...I may be way off base, but that's what I got from it all.

Answer 5

I have read some information about the Bell Witch; and there are all kind of hypotheses.

Personally I believe someone became very angry with Mr. Bell, and used black magic to curse him and his family.

Answer 6

Kate Batts

Answer 7

Well i'm not sure of that story either. It's one of those mysteries that will never be solved. I saw An American Haunting and didn't quite get it. And Betsy's dad did not molest her as says that one girl. wow. But i'm not very sure. It's a very interesting story though.

Answer 8

I watched "An American Haunting" and to me it seemed that John Bell molested his daughter and drove himself crazy because he couldn't deal with what he had done. I think that it was his own mind punishing him - the mind is a very powerful thing.