The Bell Witch: The Full Account (61 page)

II

2

Bell, Richard Williams

Son

I

1

Bell, Robert L.

Husband of the granddaughter

Bell, Sally

Grandniece

IV

3

Bell, Sarah

Grandniece

IV

3

Bell, Sarah Elizabeth

Wife of the grandson

Bell, Sarah Elizabeth

Granddaughter

II

2

Wife of the grandson

22

Name

Relationship with John Bell

Civil

Canon

Bell, Sarah Elizabeth

Great-granddaughter

III

3

Bell, Sarah Etta

Granddaughter

II

2

Bell, Sarah Williams

Granddaughter

II

2

Bell, Shadrach

Nephew

III

2

Bell, Thomas

Nephew

III

2

Bell, Thomas Rader

Great-grandson

III

3

Bell, Thomas S. J.

Great-grandson

III

3

Bell, Whitmal

Nephew

III

2

Bell, Whitmell

Grandnephew

IV

3

Bell, William

Father

I

1

Bell, William

Nephew

III

2

Bell, William

Grandnephew

IV

3

Bell, William Henry

Grandson

II

2

Bell, William Wesley

Grandnephew

IV

3

Bell, Winny

Grandniece

IV

3

Bell, Zadoc Yelvington Xeres

Grandson

II

2

Husband of the granddaughter

Bell, Zadock

Son

I

1

Bell, Zadok

Grandson

II

2

Betsy

Sister-in-law

Burrell, Dicy

Wife of the grandson

Chambers, Eugenia

Wife of the grandson

Dancy, James

Husband of the grandniece

Davis, ???

Wife of the great-grandson

Dickson, Micajah Nicholas

Husband of the great-grandniece

Drew, ???

Husband of the niece

Dunnaway, Fannie

Wife of the grandson

Edwards, Wilmoth

Daughter-in-law

Farmer, W.E.

Husband of the granddaughter

Finch, James

Husband of the granddaughter

Fuqua, Steven G.

Husband of the granddaughter

Gardner, David

Great-grandson

III

3

Gardner, Elizabeth

Great-granddaughter

III

3

Gardner, Martha Ann

Wife of the grandson

Gardner, Robert Lee

Great-grandson

III

3

Gardner, Thomas Cross

Great-grandson

III

3

Husband of the 2nd great-granddaughter

Gardner, William Bell

Great-grandson

III

3

Gardner, William Young

Husband of the granddaughter

Gunn, Daniel Webster

Husband of the granddaughter

Gunn, Elizabeth

Daughter-in-law

Gunn, Elizabeth

Wife of the grandson

Gunn, Martha Lee

Daughter-in-law

Gunn, Sallie

Daughter-in-law

Gunn, Susan

Daughter-in-law

Hearn, Lawrence Henry

Husband of the great-grandniece

Husband of the 2nd great-grandniece

Hearn, Lucy Hall

2nd great-grandniece

VI

5

3rd great-grandniece

VII

6

Henry, Laura Virginia

Wife of the grandson

Henry, Minerva Catherine

Wife of the grandson

Jones, Ann

Mother

I

1

Jones, Richard

Husband of the grandmother

23

Name

Relationship with John Bell

Civil

Canon

Knight, Peter

Husband of the niece

Lawrence, ???

Husband of the niece

Lawrence, Katherine

Daughter-in-law

Ledbetter, Elizabeth

Wife of the nephew

McCracken, Lucy Matilda

Wife of the grandson

McGee, Martin

Husband of the granddaughter

Milton, Susan Amanda

3rd great-grandniece

VII

6

4th great-grandniece

VIII

7

Milton, William Hall

3rd great-grandnephew

VII

6

4th great-grandnephew

VIII

7

Milton, William Henry

Husband of the 2nd great-grandniece

Husband of the 3rd great-grandniece

Norfleet, Absilla

Wife of the nephew

Norfleet, Phereby

Sister-in-law

Orndorf, Elizabeth

Daughter-in-law

Patterson, Ella

Wife of the grandson

Porter, Alex, Bennett Porter

Son-in-law

Porter, Alexander Bennett

Son-in-law

Porter, Dewitt C.

Grandson

II

2

Porter, Eppy Nedious Guion

Grandson

II

2

Porter, Henry Atkinson

Grandson

II

2

Porter, Jesse Bell

Grandson

II

2

Husband of the granddaughter

Porter, Joel Theophilus

Grandson

II

2

Porter, John Alexander

Grandson

II

2

Porter, Lucy Elizabeth

Granddaughter

II

2

Porter, Martha Ann

Granddaughter

II

2

Porter, Mary Jane

Granddaughter

II

2

Porter, Richard Bennett

Grandson

II

2

Porter, Sarah

Granddaughter

II

2

Porter, William Benton

Grandson

II

2

Powell, Dewitt Williams

Grandson

II

2

Powell, Eliza Jane

Granddaughter

II

2

Wife of the grandson

Powell, Eliza Jane

Wife of the grandson

Powell, Emily Caroline

Granddaughter

II

2

Powell, Leftrick Reynolds

Grandson

II

2

Powell, Permelia Adeline

Granddaughter

II

2

Powell, Richard Rowell Ptolomy

Son-in-law

Powell, Susan Amanda

Granddaughter

II

2

Powell, Tennessee Bell

Grandson

II

2

Powell, Virginia Reynolds

Granddaughter

II

2

Pritchard, Rachel

Wife of the grandson

Scott, Althea Iona

Wife of the grandson

Scott, E. A.

Wife of the grandson

Smith, Drew

Husband of the grandniece

Smith, Martha

Wife of the grandnephew

Smith, Winifred

Great-grandniece

V

4

Wife of the grandnephew

Turner, Joshua

Husband of the granddaughter

Unknown

Grandmother

II

2

Unknown

Wife of the nephew

Williams, Elizabeth

Sister-in-law

24

Name

Relationship with John Bell

Civil

Canon

Williams, John

Father-in-law

Williams, Lucy

Wife

Williams, Mary

Sister-in-law

Williams, Milberry

Sister-in-law

Williams, Nancy

Sister-in-law

Williams, Rebecca

Daughter-in-law

Wood, Frances Pheobe

Wife of the grandson

Woodard, Lee

Husband of the granddaughter

25

• Front Cover
  
• Back Cover
  
• Title Page
  
• Legal
  
• Contents
  
• Prologue
  
• A Word of Thanks
  
• Author's Note
  
• Ch. 1: Early History of the Bells
  
  • The Bells in Scotland and Virginia
    
  • The Bells in North Carolina
    
    • The Evil Slave Overseer
      
    • Bell Shoots the Overseer
      
    • The Farm's Downfall
      
    • The Bells Leave North Carolina
      
• Ch. 2: The Bells’ New Home
  
  • The Red River Community
    
  • Religion
    
  • The Bells Prosper
    
• Ch. 3: Trouble Begins
  
  • Strange Apparitions
    
  • Knocking on the Walls
    
  • Children's Bedcovers Removed
    
  • Elizabeth is Tortured
    
• Ch. 4: Terror Takes Over
  
  • A Lifeless Body in a Tree
    
  • Faint Whistles and Whispers
    
  • Mysterious Lights in the Dell
    
  • Elizabeth’s Bed Catches Fire
    
  • A Voice is Heard
    
  • John Bell’s Illness
    
• Ch. 5: The Secret is Shared
  
  • Friends Vow to Help
    
  • Neighbors Encounter the Spirit
    
  • Shaking an Invisible Hand
    
  • John Johnston Tests the Spirit
    
  • Frank Miles is No Match
    
• Ch. 6: Visitors from Near and Far
  
  • Skepticism
    
  • Peddlers and Quacks
    
  • The Englishman
    
  • Mr. Williams
    
  • Dr. Mize the Witch Hunter
    
• Ch. 7: The Spirit Loved to Gab
  
  • Gossip
    
  • Jesse’s Whereabouts are Revealed
    
  • The Business Trip
    
• Ch. 8: John Bell is Scrutinized
  
  • John Bell's Dispute with Benjamin Batts
    
  • John Bell's Dispute with Josiah Fort
    
  • John Bell’s Excommunication
    
  • The Spirit Attends Elizabeth’s Party
    
  • Rev. Fort Keeps his Vow to Help
    
  • John Bell Tortured at Dinner
    
  • The Spirit Quotes Two Sermons
    
  • The Wedding Prophecy
    
• Ch. 9: Multiple Identities and Forms
  
  • Spirit Looking for a Lost Tooth
    
  • A Search for Buried Treasure
    
  • The Spirit Assumed Many Forms
    
  • The Spirit Rides a Horse
    
  • The Playful Rabbit
    
  • The Evil Dog
    
  • Dean is Turned Into a Mule
    
  • Rabbit and Bird Apparitions
    
• Ch. 10: The Terror Escalates
  
  • The Witch Family
    
    • Apparition at the Porter Farm
      
    • A Sick Dog at the Door
      
  • Elizabeth’s Problems Intensify
    
  • The Spirit Spanks a Baby
    
  • Powell Learns of Elizabeth’s Courtship
    
  • The Spirit Denounces the Courtship
    
• Ch. 11: The Spirit Gets a Name
  
  • The Spirit Claims to be Kate Batts
    
  • Kate Batts’ Odd Ways
    
  • Kate Batts Creates an Uproar
    
  • Kate Batts is Scrutinized
    
  • The Spirit’s New Nickname
    
• Ch. 12: Evil and Good
  
  • “Kate” Empties the Milk Viles
    
  • “Kate” Kicks Drewry’s Chair
    
  • Joel’s Spanking
    
  • “Kate” Saves Children from Storm
    
  • A Rescue in the Cave
    
  • “Kate’s” Adoration for Lucy Bell
    
  • Mrs. Bell’s Illness
    
  • Stockings for Martha Bell
    
  • “Kate” Sleeps with William Porter
    
• Ch. 13: Hatred for the Slaves
  
  • Harry and the Fire
    
  • Philis’ Legs Become Locked
    
  • “Kate” Finds Anky
    
• Ch. 14: Andrew Jackson's Visit
  
  • Kate Stops the Wagon
    
  • “Witch Tamer” Becomes a Believer
    
• Ch. 15: John Bell’s Final Days
  
  • John Bell’s Shoes Fly Off
    
  • The Affliction Worsens
    
  • The Death of John Bell
    
  • “Kate” Sings at the Funeral
    
  • The Unanswered Request
    
• Ch. 16: Hearts are Broken
  
  • The Relationship Grows Stronger
    
  • Spring Arrives
    
  • A Marriage Proposal
    
  • Easter Monday on the Red River
    
  • Picnicking by the River
    
  • Powell Speaks to Elizabeth
    
  • The Fish
    
  • Joshua Senses a Problem
    
  • “Kate” Ends the Relationship
    
• Ch. 17: “Kate” Leaves for Seven Years
  
  • “Kate” Says Goodbye
    
  • Elizabeth’s New Suitor
    
• Ch. 18: “Kate” Returns
  
  • “Kate” Visits John Bell, Jr.
    
  • The Past, Present, and Future
    
  • Predictions
    
  • “Kate” Bids Farewell
    
  • Life After “Kate”
    
  • Did She Ever Leave?
    
• Ch. 19: The Trouble Continues
  
  • Reynolds Powell’s Encounter
    
  • Music at the Enchanted Spring
    
• Ch. 20: Early Published Accounts
  
  • The Goodpasture Account
    
  • The Ingram Account
    
  • The “Red Book”
    
  • The FGWPA Account
    
  • Charles Bailey Bell's Account
    
  • The “Black Book”
    
• Ch. 21: “Kate” in the Twentieth Century
  
  • Choking Sensation on the Porch
    
  • Tragedy After Gravestone Theft
    
  • The Eden Family Buys the Cave
    
  • Bell Witch Cave
    
  • A Wire Disappears
    
  • A Distorted Picture
    
  • Human Mist-Figure in the Cave
    
  • A Woman’s Figure
    
  • A Girl is Pushed
    
  • Mysterious Footsteps
    
  • Mysterious Singing at the Red River
    
  • Sounds of Glass Breaking
    
  • Dogs Attack an Invisible Entity
    
  • An Intruder Leaves No Tracks in the Snow
    
  • Flickering Lights on the Farm
    
  • Unidentified Male in Cemetery
    
  • The Old Steel Bridge
    
  • Double Shadows on Brown’s Ford Bluff
    
  • The Kirby Family Buys the Cave
    
  • Strange Figure Appears in Photo
    
  • A Serpent Crawls Up a Girl’s Leg
    
  • Orbs and Mists Appear in Pictures
    
  • A Rabbit Finds an Ancestor’s Grave
    
  • A Rabbit Throws Dirt
    
  • Rabbits Disappear from a Video Tape
    
  • Baby's Cries Heard from a Gravestone
    
• Ch. 22: Letters Describing Encounters
  
  • Orbs, Moaning, and Mist at the Cave
    
  • Bad Day in Adams, Worse Night in Los Angel
    
  • Other Happenings in the Cave
    
• Ch. 23: The Bell Farm Today
  
• Ch. 24: Is Kate Always to Blame?
  
  • The Power of Suggestion
    
  • Can the Encounter be Validated?
    
  • The Mechanics of Persuasion
    
• Ch. 25: Supernatural Concepts
  
  • Is It Really Unexplainable?
    
  • Ghosts and Poltergeists
    
    • Differences
      
    • Poltergeist Progression Stages
      
  • Demons
    
  • Spirits
    
    • Order of Progression
      
  • Magic and Witchcraft
    
  • Sorcery
    
• Ch. 26: What Was “Kate?”
  
  • One or Many Entities?
    
  • Was She Really a Poltergeist?
    
  • Spiritual Aspects
    
  • An Answer
    
  • An Explanation
    
  • Where Did “Kate” Come From?
    
  • History of the Land
    
  • A Vortex on the Bell Farm
    
  • The Spirit Was “Called”
    
  • Early Nineteenth Century Turmoil
    
• Ch. 27: The Agenda
  
  • To Kill John Bell
    
  • To End Elizabeth’s Engagement
    
  • To Leave for Seven Years
    
  • To Return in 107 Years
    
  • About Present-Day Encounters
    
  • Where is the Vortex?
    
  • The Role of the “Witch Family”
    
• Epilogue
  
• Appendices
  
  • A: Biographical Sketches
    
    • John Bell (1750-1820)
      
    • Lucy Bell (1770-1837)
      
    • Elizabeth “Betsy” Bell (1806-1888)
      
    • Dean
      
    • Richard Powell (1795-1848)
      
    • Jesse Bell (1790-1843)
      
    • Esther Porter (1800-1859)
      
    • John Bell, Jr. (1793-1862)
      
    • Drewry Bell (1796-1865)
      
    • Zadok Bell (1803-1826)
      
    • Richard Williams Bell (1811-1857)
      
    • Joel Egbert Bell (1813-1890)
      
    • Joshua Gardner (1800-1884)
      
    • Reverend Sugg Fort (1776-1829)
      
    • Reverend James R. Gunn (1772-1845)
      
    • Reverend Thomas Gunn (1770-1859)
      
    • James Johnston (1759-1851)
      
    • John Johnston (1783-1874)
      
    • Calvin Johnston (1796-1859)
      
  • B: Richard Powell’s Petition for Financial Relief
    
  • C: TN Encyclopedia Sketch of Richard Powell
    
  • D: Early History of Robertson County
    
  • E: The Town of Adams
    
  • F: The Primitive Baptists
    
  • G: The London Baptist Confession
    
  • H: Calvin’s Doctrine of Predestination
    
  • I: The Bells in Mississippi
    
• Frequently Asked Questions
  
• Common Myths
  
  • Kate Batts was the “Bell Witch”
    
  • Elizabeth was Abused by Her Father
    
  • The Legend Was Made Up
    
  • If You Stand in Front of a Mirror...
    
• Internet Resources
  
  • The Bell Witch Folklore Center
    
  • Walter Bell’s Bell Witch Page
    
• Author's Notes
  
• About the Author and Artist
  
• Bell Family Geneaology
  
  • Preface
    
  • Detailed Report
    
  • Descendancy Chart
    
  • John Bell Kinship Chart