The Bell Witch Haunting

According to the legend, the first manifestation of the Bell Witch haunting occurred in 1817 when John William Bell, Sr. encountered a strange animal in a cornfield on his large farm in Robertson County, on the Red River, near Adams, Tennessee. The animal, described as having the body of a dog and the head of a rabbit, mysteriously disappeared when Bell shot at it. This incident was quickly followed by a series of strange beating and gnawing noises manifesting outside and eventually inside the Bell residence. Betsy Bell, the family's younger daughter and the only daughter still living at home (Bell's oldest daughter Esther married Alexander Bennett Porter July 24, 1817), claimed to have been assaulted by an invisible force.

Bell Sr., later in life, suffered frequent facial seizures, often rendering him speechless. He died on December 20, 1820. A small vial containing an unidentified liquid he allegedly ingested was found near his body. When some of the contents were force-fed to the family cat, the animal died. The vial was then disposed of in the fireplace.

Pat Fitzhugh's retelling of the Bell Witch legend concludes with a statement to the effect that some people believe that the spirit returned in 1935, the year when the witch claimed it would return ("one hundred years and seven" past 1828), and took up residence on the former Bell property. Other sources say that 1935 brought nothing out of the ordinary to the Bell descendants or the surrounding community.

Andrew Jackson, later to be President of the United States, is alleged to have visited the Bell Family and to have witnessed the phenomena. According to legend and the diary of Dr. James Killian, Jackson arrived prepared to spend the night in mid 1817, but was so overwhelmed with fright by what he witnessed that Jackson fled. Killian, a devoted abnormalist and cryptid hunter was originally at a loss to explain the phenomena.

A poltergeist (Bell Witch) haunted the family of John & Lucy Bell from 1817 to 1821. Cate Batts, often spelled Kate, was wrongly given the blame. Instead, three (3) Poltergeists followed John Bell from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to Adams, Tennessee, seeking their revenge. The Bell Witch book entitled "The Bell Witch Unveiled At Last! The True Story Of A Poltergeist" written under my pen name of DJ Lyons unveils the secrets. This breakthrough book and one-woman show by Professional Storyteller Debbie Dunn unveils details about the reasons for the cover-up and the motives of the poltergeists (noisy ghosts or spirits). It also helps alleviate alarm & superstition, and it brings light to a story that has been shrouded in fear & mystery for far too long.

Visit Bell Witch Unveiled Website to buy book using Pay Pal, see an actual sketch of the three poltergeists, Cate Batts, and John Bell, and to view other fun information about this poltergeist.

Rumors and Facts About the Tennessee Bell Witch: There are nine main rumors and facts about the Tennessee Bell Witch, a poltergeist who haunted the family of John and Lucy Bell from 1817 to 1821. Which rumors are based on fact? Which rumors are actually fiction?

Betsy Bell's Tale of the Tennessee Bell Witch: Back in 1817, when the story begins, Betsy's father owned about 1000 acres in Robertson County, Tennessee, 40 miles north of Nashville. Betsy was quite young when strange things began to happen to her family. Betsy will tell what happened.

Many Tales About John Bell from My Past 8th-Grade Creative Writing & Research Class: In 2002, I conducted a 10-week Creative Writing & Research Class. Our primary focus was the Tennessee Bell Witch, the poltergeist who haunted the Bell family from 1817- 1821. This is a compilation of what my 8th-Grade students wrote about John Bell.

Many Tales About Lucy Bell from My Past 8th-Grade Creative Writing & Research Class: In 2002, I conducted a 10-week Creative Writing & Research Class. Our primary focus was the Tennessee Bell Witch, the poltergeist who haunted the Bell family from 1817- 1821. This is a compilation of what my 8th-Grade students wrote about Lucy Bell.

Many Tales About John Black from My Past 8th-Grade Creative Writing & Research Class: In 2002, I conducted a 10-week Creative Writing & Research Class. Our primary focus was the Tennessee Bell Witch, the poltergeist who haunted the Bell family from 1817- 1821. This is a compilation of what my 8th-Grade students wrote about John Black.

Divine Home Security System: Daniel found himself driving toward a stranger's house and knocking on a wide-open door at 2:00 a.m. until a woman comes down the stairs. She demands, "What is our door doing open?" He didn't know. He also didn't understand what he was doing there.
Please note: This is actually based on a true story. I am the Sophie in the tale. The names have been changed as I never did learn the name of the man who came to my door. The police were never called; however, I spent several minutes watching two cars full of men prowling our parking lot before they finally gave up and drove away. If my door had still been open, in all likelihood, those men would have ended up robbing us and stealing my computer filled with my only copy of the Bell Witch manuscript that I was still in the process of channeling.

Family Tree Slideshow: Williams, Bell, & Batts Families: Do you have a connection to the Tennessee Bell Witch through the Williams, Bell , or Batts family lines? I talked with descendants and researched the genealogy at courthouses and libraries in 4 states. Perhaps this slideshow might shed some light.