TESTIMONY I.

Testimony of Mr. Abner Blaisdel.

May 29, 1800. The Spectre conversed with three of my family. To dispel their fears, she introduced her conversation by these words: “I have come again,[32] be not afraid, I will not hurt you, I did not come here to hurt you, I am a friend to you all.” One of them answered, “I cannot help being afraid.” “You need not be,” said the Spectre, “you need not be. I never did hurt you, did I?” No: it was answered: “And I shall not hurt you,” said the Spectre. “Put your things in place.[33] Conduct as formerly: for nothing will hurt you.”

To Capt. Butler the Spectre said, “Be kind to your wife: for she will not be with you long. She will have but one child and then die.” It was now that the Spirit sent a token to Mrs. Hooper, her mother, by which Mrs. Hooper declares she must have been her daughter.

August 6. I had for some time heard that my father was sick, but had since received no news from him. I ventured to ask how my father did; “He is in heaven,” said she, “praising God with the angels.” I afterwards found by other means, that my father died seven days before this. He lived two hundred miles from me.

When she left us at this time, the voice sounded in the air further and further from us, uttering these words: “I am in heaven, praising God and the Lamb with angels, archangels, cherubim and seraphim. Glory, glory, glory to God and the Lamb. I am going, I am going, I am going to Christ.”

August 8. About thirty people came to my house. That night the Spectre had much solemn conversation with them on religious subjects. Mr. N. H——n expressed his desire to handle her, and she gave him liberty. Some times the inimitable voice would sound ten or twelve feet from us, then close to our face, then again at a distance: and these changes were instantaneous. After broad day-light, the outer door being open, when we could plainly see each other, the voice spake to all, and said, “Let any one who pleases, come and handle me: for Christ says that a spirit hath not flesh and bones.”

Some person then said to Mr. H——n, “Now if you want to handle her why don’t you go?”

Then he crowded through the people to the place where the voice was still speaking, and said, “I find nothing here to handle.”

August 9, 1800. We placed ourselves in order, according to the direction of the Spectre; and a white appearance, at first very small, rose before me and grew to a personal stature and form. It stood directly before Capt. Butler, while he and his wife stood beside each other. I saw him put his hand on the apparition, and I saw his hand pass through it. Then it vanished. There were now about twelve persons here.

On August 11, she discoursed with about twenty persons, of whom I was one. “I come,” said she, “to warn you against sin, and if there is not a change before the soul leaves the body, you will be forever miserable.”

After the Spirit had spoken many things of this nature, Mr. U. expressed his desire to see her, “You shall see me,” said she, “I will appear to you all.” She appeared and disappeared before us several times, and talked while she appeared. She came close to us, and some said they saw the child in her arms. My son P. observed it, and said, “Her child is now in her arms;” “So it is,” said she, “so it is.”

When it was day-light, she told us that this was the day when Christ rose from the dead—that it was God’s precious time and must be kept holy, and that she must return to carry on the work of praise, and then sang praises and left us.

Next morning, while I was at work in my field, I was told that the Spirit had sent for me. I went into my house, heard a voice, but saw nothing.

This voice, which declared itself to be N. H. said, “Call for my parents, P. S. S. C., his wife and others, who appear to you to know Christ, that they may hear and see; for they will tell the truth.” I performed the errand, and those persons came with more than forty others that night. I went into the cellar and asked who should come. “They must all come,” said she, “leave not a soul behind.” I gave the information and they complied. The Spirit first asked her parents whether they believed she was her daughter: and they said, “yes.” “Do you want to see me?” said she. And they said, “No.” She asked her father if he was ready to go with her, if the Lord should call him. “I am afraid I am not,” said he, “but the Lord can make me willing.” “That is right,” she answered. Then after conversing with her mother, in a very affecting manner, she said to both, “You were my dear parents once; but now you are no more to me than others.” Then to Capt. P. S. she said, “You have become hard against me.” “So I have,” said he. “Do you love Christ?” “Yes, I do,” said she, “yes I do.” P. S. “Then you love me.” “Yes, I do. Do you not remember that soon after I was married, you told me that I was married to G. B. and how happy I should be, if I was married to Christ: and I said I was not; but I wished I was.” P. S. “Yes, I remember it very well.” “Now I am married to Christ,” said she, “now I am married to Christ, now I am married to Christ.”

“You used to meet with us at my house, and once, at the time of a certain prayer, I observed you to be much affected.” “Yes, I was,” said she, “and the Lord was then breaking my heart.”

I then spake to her myself, and said, I never knew that you experienced a change of nature before you died, and I should be glad if you would tell when you experienced it. It was, said she, when I laid upon my death bed. Then she spake to her parents, and reminded them of the conversation which had passed between them at that time, respecting the loss of her child. Then it was, said she, that I received my change.

After much other conversation, which I do not remember, the Spirit said to us, “There is one of this family, who is not here.” Some person asked if we should go and call him. She said, “No; I am going where he is. They say I can appear no where but here; but I mean to convince them that I can appear in other places. I must appear before you all this night, and go to the next house and to another. You must all go up and be ready to walk with me. But you must walk in order, two and two, solemnly, as if you were following a friend to the grave. For the Lord is a God of peace and not of confusion. Sing a Psalm as you walk, and I will walk with Lydia after you.” We all went up, and in about an hour after, we heard the token, and placed ourselves before the door, and hearing it again, we walked on to Capt. M’s, and the Spirit knocked under his floor. He and my son went down and, after conversing with my son, she told Capt. M. who she was, and the purpose of her coming to his house, and asked him if he was satisfied, and he told her that he was. Then she directed him to go up and tell the people to stand in order before the door and she would appear before them in the field. They did so, and she appeared to them and disappeared, as some of them informed me. By her direction we walked back to my house in the same order, and then I saw her plainly about thirty feet from me, in the form and stature of a person; white as the light and moving after us like a cloud, without ambulatory motion. ABNER BLAISDEL.

TESTIMONY II.

Testimony of Miss Mary Card.

I am not only a witness to many things in the preceding relation, but I further declare that, on August 13, about two o’clock in the day, while Mr. Blaisdel was gone for evidence, the Spirit knocked, and M. M. and I went near to the place of the sound and asked what was wanted.

The Spirit answered “I have come, I have come. Make room for I am coming among you.”[34] I pleaded that she would not. I must, I must, said she, don’t be scared. I answered we were poor sinful creatures, and could not help it, and again earnestly entreated her not to come.

I now plainly saw her appear in shining white; and she asked me if any person in the house wanted to see her. I then called on Miss P. C. who in the same hour had said that “though she had heard the voice speak, she would not believe it was that of a ghost.” I asked her now to come and see her, and she did. Now, said the ghost, satisfy yourselves. Here I am, here I am, satisfy yourselves. Miss P. C. answered that she was satisfied.[35] The ghost then spake several other things which I cannot remember. M. CARD.

TESTIMONY III.

Testimony of Miss Margaret Miller.

I was present at the same time, and heard all that is here declared by Miss Mary Card. I saw the apparition, and heard her speak at the same time. M. MILLER.

TESTIMONY IV.

Testimony of Capt. Paul Simson.

January 3, 1800, I was at the house of Mr. Blaisdel. His son P. desired me to go with him into the cellar. I went down with him and his two sisters, and Mrs. C. M.

I heard a rapping, and asked in the name of Christ what it wanted. I heard a voice considerably loud, but could not understand it. But some who were present, told me that it said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make his paths strait. Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”

After some silence it rapped again. I spake to it in the name of Christ, and said, if there was any thing it could utter for peace, to utter it. It answered, “I am not to be trifled with. I am not to be trifled with. I am not to be trifled with. Peace, peace, peace.”[36]

Then they all went up, except Lydia and myself, and I held her by the hand. She was much terrified, and said, “I feel so I cannot stay: I must go up.” Stay awhile, said I, perhaps it will speak again. “I cannot,” said she, and began to urge me away. I consented, and when we had come up, she told me what I had myself perceived, that the cellar began to grow light, where the voice was uttered and that she heard a rushing noise.

Sometime after I was in the same cellar with a number of people and heard a plain voice; clearly understood by others, but not at all by myself, though as near to it as others and free from deafness. The voice appeared to me inimitable.

August 8, I was there again with thirty others and heard the conversation of the Spectre with several persons. Mr. N. H. mentioned his desire to handle her. “Handle me and see,” said she, “for Christ tells you that a spirit is not flesh and bones.”

Mr. T. U. said, “if you are a happy soul, intercede for me.” The reply was, “None but Christ intercedes.” “There are among us,” said Mr. U., “several denominations of Christians: Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, and Methodists. Which of all these are right?” The voice answered, “There are good and bad of all these sorts for the elect’s sake.”[37]

In August 13-14, while I was at the same house, the Spirit informed us that she could not speak freely in the night of August 9, because the behaviour of the people had been so rude, but expressed her joy in discoursing with christians. You know, said I, a thousand times more than any of us. Yes I do, said she. Mr. Blaisdel said to me, you stand too near her. Then I asked, do I stand too near you? No, said she, stand as near as you please. I felt surprised, and said, it was a wonderful event. Yes, the spirit replied, it is a wonderful event indeed—do you not remember what you told me, just after I was married that if I was married to Christ, how happy I should live? Yes, I answered, I remember it very well. She exhorted the young people and told them that without a change they would be miserable.

After this, the spirit expressed her resolution to convince us that Mr. Blaisdel and his family were clear of the evils alleged against them.

They say I am a witch and a devil, said she; and they said that Christ was a devil. The spirit said other things, which I remember not.

At last she told them she was about to appear in order to convince them. Then by her direction we went up, and having prayed together, and heard the token, we walked on to Capt. M’s, singing the 84th Psalm. I was one of the foremost of the company and did not see it then; but the greatest number of those who were behind me, said they saw it plainly.

When we were at Capt. M’s house, we stood in the field, while Mrs. Butler, in great fear, walked with the Spirit before us,[38] a few rods toward Capt. Simson’s; and then returned and told us that we must walk back, two and two, to her father’s house singing, and the spirit would follow us back. We did so. Mr. D. and I walked behind all, except Mrs. Butler, in order if possible to see the apparition. When we had walked about fifteen rods, I saw a white appearance forward of us to the left hand. As we passed by it, it fell in after us and walked with Mrs. Butler.

Mr. D. and I turned and looked upon them, and heard them talk. We walked a little way further, stopped and looked upon them, and heard them talk again; but they spoke with so low a voice we could not understand them. The spirit appeared in personal form, white as snow, about as tall as Mrs. Butler.

It was now day-break. I turned my eyes from the object, and in half a minute looked toward it again, but it was gone. Mr. D. then told me he saw it disappear. PAUL SIMSON.

TESTIMONY V.

Testimony of Mr. Samuel Ingalls.

August 13-14, 1800. I was at the house of Mr. Blaisdel in the evening, with about forty people: went into the cellar with a candle, which discovered to us the whole cellar, so that no person here could be concealed from us. The light being put out, we heard a knocking. It was spoken to, and a voice shrill and pleasant, like what I never heard before, answered, (and talked with us.) Mr. Downing asked her if she knew him, she said, yes: and called him by name three times. She often uttered her sentences three times. He asked the Spirit if she had never been at his house. The answer was that she had been there once.

Capt. P. S. said, “You know as much as a thousand of us;” “Yes, yes;” she answered, “but it will not be long before some here will know as much.”

Mr. Blaisdel asked the Spirit when she experienced her change. She answered that it was on her death bed; and then uttered the words, “Glory, glory, glory. Alleluia.”

After some silence, some person asked the Spirit, “Are you about to leave us?” She answered, “I must go when Jesus calls. I must appear and walk with you this night; but you must walk in order. I will walk behind with L. and told us that she had walked with her before.” If you do, said Mrs. Butler, I shall faint away. No, said the Spectre, you shall not faint again; and then said to the people, “If she faints again,[39] don’t you believe me.”[40]

Mrs. Butler never fainted after this. We went to Capt. M’s, and stood there. Mrs. Butler walked, as I was told she was before ordered, several rods from us, and I saw something appear white by her side, but no personal form. I heard Mrs. Butler say that when the Spirit was with her and talked with her, she was not so much afraid, as when she expected her coming. SAMUEL INGALLS.

TESTIMONY VI.

Testimony of Mr. James Springer.

August 13, 1800. After much conversation with the Spectre, she told us that she must talk and appear at the house of Capt. M. because he had reported that she could not be any where but at Mr. Blaisdel’s house. And L. must walk with me, said she, that you may all see that she is one person and I another.

We walked in order to that house, and I saw the Spirit as plainly as ever I saw any person. I saw the Spirit appear and disappear several time that night. * * * * * * JAMES SPRINGER.

TESTIMONY VII.

Testimony of Mr. John Simson.

August 8, 1800. I heard the discourse of the Spectre, in company with about thirty other persons. The sound of her voice was sometimes hoarse and faint, but for the most part it was clear and free from any impediment, and then it was inimitable, and the most delightful that ever I heard in my life. In discoursing with her parents, she said, “My dear parents, if the Lord should call you to go away with me this night, are you willing.” I fear I am not, said her father, but the Lord can make me willing. Yes, she answered, and none but he.

While Mr. U. was talking with her, he observed that there were among us various distinctions of christians, as Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists, and asked which of all these are right. There are good and bad of all these sorts, said she, for the elect’s sake. Mr. N. H. expressed his desire to handle her. Handle me and see, said she: for Christ tells you that a Spirit hath not flesh and bones. Accordingly, after it was broad day-light, and we could all plainly see each other, the outer cellar door being open, he extended his arms round the space in which the voice was then speaking, and exclaimed, “O, there is nothing here.” The voice and this experiment were about four feet from me, so that I am sure that no living person could be concealed from me.[41] JOHN SIMSON.

TESTIMONY VIII.

Testimony of Mr. Richard Downing.

August 9, 1800. I went to the house of Mr. Blaisdel with a number more. After sometime we heard a knocking. Then four persons with me went into the cellar. A light was called for and brought. We searched the cellar to see if no person or thing might be found there whence that knocking might proceed. Then the light was carried up, and immediately there was the sound of knocking. Mr. Blaisdel and Mr. D——ns several times asked what was wanted. At length a voice answered, that, if we would all go into the cellar, we should be satisfied;[42] we then all went down.[43] There was then in my hearing, much disorder and much profanity among the people. Nothing remarkable being heard, all but three or four of us left the cellar. Then again there was a knocking several times, we spoke, but obtaining no answer, I also went up.

Soon after I was informed that the voice had spoken to those who remained there, declaring that we must all return, and we went again. Immediately there was a knocking all round the cellar by several persons there, as they afterwards owned to me. Mr. Blaisdel desired them to be peaceable and give room. After a few minutes, Mr. D——ns expressed his sorrow that so many should be deceived, and advised us to pray and return home. We therefore returned as unsatisfied as we went.

On the 13th, while I was very much engaged in business, I felt very much concerned for Mr. Blaisdel, on account of his troubles, and thought I would go and see him, and advise him to a settlement, to prevent the expense of the law. I went, and he asked me the cause of my coming. I answered, to visit him as a friend. I am glad to see you, said he, you went away the other night very unsatisfied. You did not then appear to be afraid: would you not be daunted now? I told him I did not think I should. Providence, said he, has sent you here, I believe, and you must tarry all night. I told him I would. Then he informed me that he had talked with the Spirit in the forenoon, which directed him to persuade certain people to come to his house. About an hour after sunset, the Spectre knocked; and being addressed, answered, “I have come to satisfy you all; who is now speaking to me?” It was answered, Mr. Blaisdel. Let him and every one of this family, said the Spectre, go out from here.

They went out. The voice then said that Mr. Blaisdel’s family were all clear of what was alledged against them.

After this, the voice talked with me. To know what answer would be made, I asked, to whom are you speaking? It answered, “Richard Downing.” I asked again, was you ever at my house? It answered, “Yes, I was there once with my mother, Mrs. M. and others, when your wife was sick.” I had not then told any person what the Spectre now told me, and which I and my family know to be true. Her mother asked[44] how long before her decease, she experienced her change. She answered, when I was on my death bed.

Soon after the Spirit said to the whole company, I will walk with you to the next house, if you will walk in order, two and two, singing a Psalm as you go; for God is a God of order. I asked her what Psalm we should sing? Any, said she, which may suit best. We then left the cellar, sang and prayed, and immediately the token was given by knocking. We then placed ourselves in order and walked on toward Capt. M’s house.

Anxious to unveil the deception, if there was any, I walked near those who were foremost, and was first at the door and knocked. Capt. M. came to the door and asked what all this meant. I answered, they are come to visit you. Immediately I went and stood on the trap-door—the only door of the cellar, that no person might go into it without my knowledge. Some of the company told Capt. M. our design, and he made us welcome. Then hearing the miraculous sound under the floor, Capt. M. with others, went down and talked with a voice, which I heard and understood not; but was informed by them that she told them she had come there to give evidence that she could be and talk at other houses, as well as that of Mr. Blaisdel; and that if the company would properly stand in the open field, she would pass before them, so that they might see her. The company did so. The Spirit then appeared and walked back and forth, two or three times, in view of the company and by the side of Mrs. Butler. This my eyes saw. The apparition, with Mrs. Butler, having advanced a few rods, disappeared. Mrs. Butler then came and told us that if we would return to Mr. Blaisdel’s house, she would walk behind us. The company complied. Having a desire so be as near the apparition as possible, I walked with Capt. P. S. behind the whole company. Mrs. Butler walked behind Capt. P. S. as she had been ordered by the apparition. When we had walked about twenty rods, Mrs. Butler said, “there it is now.” Where, said I. There, said she, pointing to the left side of the company forward. I looked there and saw the dark appearance of a person, and kept my eye upon it till we passed by it, and till I saw it come in next after me, and by the side of Mrs. Butler. Thus it followed us. But now this object was become as white as the light. As we walked, I kept my eye upon this object almost without intermission, that I might see it disappear. It followed us by one direct motion, like a cloud. The motion was not ambulatory in the least degree. In this manner the apparition followed us about twenty rods, and then disappeared in my view. It opened into two parts and vanished. RICHARD DOWNING.

TESTIMONY IX.

Testimony of Capt. Samuel Simson.

August 5, 1800. In the evening after I had prayed, I looked toward the opposite side of the room, and saw a white personal form, having on a woman’s cap, and the same countenance and features which Mrs. N. Butler had when she was alive and in health, so that I knew her immediately. In the name of the Lord, said I, for what purpose are you here?—But there was no answer. I spoke again—“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are you, and what do you want here?” My wife greatly surprised, and seeing nothing, asked what was the matter. I told her I saw an apparition. No, she replied, you are deranged. It is the moon you see. At that moment the apparition disappeared. When we were composed, we agreed to mention the matter to no person, and we conducted accordingly.

Two nights after, Mr. Blaisdel called us up about two o’clock, and informed us that the Spirit had been at his house, and sent him to call for more evidence. He desired that we would go with him to his house. Well, said my wife, she appeared here the night before last. Then perhaps she has performed the message before me, said Mr. Blaisdel. We went to his house. Hearing nothing for some time, by the desire of Mr. Blaisdel I prayed with the company who had collected there. Immediately after, we heard the usual sound on the side of the house. We all went into the cellar, and heard an articulate voice unlike any sound which I ever heard before. SAMUEL SIMSON.

TESTIMONY X.

Testimony of Mrs. Sarah Simson.

I can attest to the truth of what my husband has now related, and further, that when we were in the cellar, the spirit told us that she was once N. H. N. B. repeating the words three times, “you have done right,” said she, “you have united in prayer: and it is true what that man said, who made the prayer, he did see me with a cap on.” I am sure Mr. Blaisdel could have told no one of it, for we had not told him, nor any one else that the apparition had appeared with that article of dress. I asked the spirit, are you from happiness or misery? She replied, “I am from above, I am not from beneath. I have come on God’s errand.” Then she sung alleluias, and mentioned the cherubim and seraphim. She told me that my child which I had lost was in heaven, praising God with the angels. I should have spoken to that man, said she, the other night, if some person had not been affrightened. I asked, who was it? She answered, it was his wife. Mr. Blaisdel and Capt. M. asked several questions, and the answers were wonderful.

August 9-10. I tarried after the people in general went off with the opinion that the words of the spirit were in reality the words of Mrs. Butler. I was much surprised with the sound of knocking, which made the house tremble. I then heard Mrs. Butler say, “If I am guilty, let her stay away. If I am clear, let her come and clear me.” In a few minutes after, she arose from a bed on which she had sat, and stood wringing her hands in distress. What have I done, said she, that I must be accused of all this. “Nothing, dear, you have done nothing, but you must go into the cellar,” answered a voice in a vacant space where no person was—a voice the most delightful that ever I heard.

Some of the people then told her that she must do as the spirit had said. So I must, said she, if I don’t she will come into the room, and if she does, I shall die. She then went down with a number of others, and immediately came up, and told me that she was released. I was soon after informed, that the spirit was about to appear, and that we must all be present. I went with the rest, but prayed that I might not see her. She had promised that none should see her but those who desired it. Accordingly I did not see her, though I looked directly before me, where they said she was.

August 13. I was again at the same house, and while I was sitting in the room, near a candle, two persons came and looked upon a watch, and found it twelve, and said it was exactly what the spectre had just told. At one o’clock they came again, and found the same agreement. SARAH SIMSON.

TESTIMONY XI.

Testimony of Mrs. Abigail Abbott.

August 10, 1800. I was at Mr. Blaisdel’s house, with many more. In the first part of the night there was much indecent conduct, and some profanity. The spirit knocked sometimes, but uttered only a few words. The company in general having in vain waited to see or hear something extraordinary, withdrew; but I tarried with several other persons. Soon after they were gone, the spectre knocked several times very loud, and we went into the cellar. After saying many things to us, she appeared in the shape of a person and moved before us, without stepping, passing and repassing several times. She gave so much light that we could see other persons and other things in the cellar, which we could not see before her appearance, nor afterwards. I saw her appear and disappear several times. At last the apparition came to Capt. G. Butler, and then he appeared to be immersed in her radiance so that he appeared white and shining like the apparition. And I did particularly see his hand in the midst of the apparent body of the apparition. He cried in surprise, “Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Spirit asked me if I lived in such a manner as I would wish to die.[45]

I have from time to time heard the voice speak in open space, where I am sure no living person existed, as others can testify who were with me.[46] And upon August 9-10, I was present and saw the Spectre when she appeared, and I plainly saw Capt. Butler’s hand pass through the apparition.

August 11, I saw her again, and heard her pious discourse, with nearly twenty other persons. To those who were present, I said, “She has her child now in her arms.” “Yes, I have,” she answered, “yes I have.” She came so near to me and others, that either of us could have handled her without changing our places.

August 13. Being informed that the ghost had promised to come this night, I left my father’s house, and went to Capt. M’s that I might not see nor hear her. Just before daylight, she came to this house with more than forty people, and reproved me again for speaking against her in the presence of six or seven persons. This is the second time, said the voice, that you have been warned.—Beware of the third time. She asked me several times to handle her, to see whether she had material substance or not. I confessed to her that I believed her to be the spirit of N. H. Then I went back with the company to my father’s house. Before she vanished she came and stood within three feet from me.[47] The personal shape was all light, the particles of which had constant motion. But I was afraid to put my hand upon her. PAUL BLAISDEL.

TESTIMONY XVI.

Testimony of Mr. David Hooper.

January 2, 1800. By the request of the spectre, sent by two messengers, I went to Mr. Blaisdel’s house, and by conversing with her, obtained such clear and irresistable tokens of her being the spirit of my own daughter, as gave me no less satisfaction than admiration and delight.

She gave a reason satisfactory to me why she put me to the trouble of coming there instead of her coming to my house.

By her request I went in a few days after to Mr. Butler’s family and expressed my conviction to them.

August 8, I was there again, with my wife and many others. I again asked the ghost who she was. The voice answered, “I was once N. B., your dear child. If the Lord should call you this night, are you willing to go with me?” I said the Lord can make me willing. Yes, she replied, and none but he. Then she mentioned certain articles of property which she had left, as belonging to us. I hope, said I, these matters do not disturb you. “No, no,” she answered, “No, no. Peace. There must be peace.” DAVID HOOPER.

TESTIMONY XVII.

Testimony of Mrs. Joanna Hooper.

Her next words were spoken to me in particular. “Do you not remember what I said on my death bed?” I answered, yes, I do remember that you then said you desired peace while you lived. Yes, I did, said she, yes I did.—Sometime before this the spectre had sent this token to me, which, though not certain, had yet been attended with such circumstances, as rendered the use of it for deception utterly improbable.

August 13, we went again. The spirit then asked if we wanted to see her, and we both said no. Did I ask you in your last sickness, said I, whether you was willing your child should live? The voice answered, “yes, yes, and I told you I should be a vile creature to desire the life of the child.” [For that was the time in which it was God’s will it should die.[48]] I asked this question for further satisfaction, knowing that this very question and answer had passed between us.

The spirit then told us that she had not freedom to converse on the night of August 9, by reason of disorder and profanity, and expressed her liberty and joy in discoursing with christians. In the midst of her discourse with others, I silently indulged my painful reflections on the distress of her last sickness. Suddenly I was surprised with these words of the voice to me, “Mourn not for me, for I am a happy soul.”

Capt. P. S. observed that her free conversation with us was a great wonder. “Yes, a miracle, said she, such as never was since Christ was upon earth.”[49] When she had told us that without a change of heart, mankind would be miserable, I desired Mr. Blaisdel to ask her when she experienced her own change. He asked, and she answered, “When I was on my death bed.” Mr. D. proposed this question, “Do I believe that you are such as you profess to be?” Her reply was, “You have believed, and you have not believed, and satan will tempt you again.”[50] Then he asked, “Was you ever at my house in your lifetime?” “Yes, once, yes, once,” said she. I knew the time of this visit, for Mrs. M. and I were there with her. By my desire therefore, Mr. D. asked, “Who was there with you.” “My mother and Mrs. M., said she, when your wife was sick.” Then Mr. D. told the people that he remembered she had been there at that time. Have you been any where but here, said he, since your death. Yes, she answered, to five places.

Mr. Blaisdel’s family being now excluded from that apartment where the spirit was, she told us that Mr. Blaisdel’s family were innocent. “They say I am a witch and a devil, said she, and they said that Christ was a devil. It is reported that some of this family have raised me, but it is not in the power of man or devil to fetch a soul from heaven.”

After much more conversation the spirit told us that she would walk with us to Capt. M’s, and to another house beyond it; but she only walked with us to Capt. M’s, and there talked with him and Capt. P. B. to convince them who she was.

When we had come within twenty rods of the house, the company stopped. Then we two looked round and saw a white shining appearance by the side of Mrs. Butler, and about as tall as she.[51] After this, we observed nothing worthy of particular notice. JOANNA HOOPER.

TESTIMONY XVIII.

Testimony of Mrs. Eunice Scammons.

August 11, 1800. I was at the house which the ghost had so often visited, and was one of seventeen people or more, who were present when she appeared and conversed with us. After she had discoursed particularly with several persons, she said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths strait. But you who are sinners, do not make them strait. Some of you say that I am not a Spirit. Others, that I am an evil Spirit. The words which I have spoken unto you, have been misimproved, perverted and turned to ridicule. But I shall see you all when you will not laugh.”

In the intervals of conversation, she sang praises.

Being asked who she was, she said, “I was once N. H. and when I died I was N. B.,” and mentioned several circumstances which attended her death to confirm her declaration.

After much other conversation, she appeared in the midst of us and talked while she appeared. She came so near me that I could have laid my hand upon her. She had before solemnly entreated us to stand round separate and in such order that all might see her while she moved in the midst of us.[53] Within our two ranks she slowly passed and repassed from end to end three times, and passed by me six times. There were several persons in the company dressed in white; but I could not see them at all, while the Spectre was as white as any thing could possibly be. She moved in such nearness to every one of us, that every one might have handled her. I saw her vanish instantly in the midst of us. After this, she spake to us again by exhortation. I am sent, said she, to warn you against sin. I was myself a great sinner when I lived in this world. In my last hours, I received mercy. But if you go on in a course of sin and waste your time as I did, it may not be so with you. One half hour now gives me more happiness than this whole world can give you through your whole lives.

It was now daylight, and she observed to us that it was the Lord’s day, that we must retire to our homes and keep it holy. She desired Mr. Blaisdel to pray with us before we parted.

After many other words, she left us singing alleluias to God and the Lamb. I heard the voice of her praises sounding further and further from us, for a considerable time before it entirely ceased uttering the words, “Alleluia, alleluia. Glory, glory to God and the Lamb.” Her notes were solemn and exceedingly delightful. Then we all went up, and Mr. Blaisdel’s prayer was our dismission. EUNICE SCAMMONS.

TESTIMONY XIX.

Testimony of Mrs. Mary Bragdon.

Sometime in January, 1800, I was at the house of Mr. Blaisdel, and heard such a voice as I never heard before among the living; and they told me it was that of the Spirit, talking with Mr. and Mrs. Butler.

August 7. At the same house we heard a knocking on the partition next to the chimney, where no person could be. Then several persons with me went into the cellar, and the Spirit told us she was once Nelly Butler. She told me that I must not be scared.

August 13. I was again at the house with forty-eight others, besides children. The Spirit, after her conversation with several persons, exhorted the youth: “I was once young and vain as you, said the voice, and, if the Lord had taken me away in that condition, how miserable I should have been! Now is the time, while you are young, to seek the Lord. Delay not till it is too late.” Then it was that I saw a white personal form shining in the space from whence the voice proceeded; and I afterwards saw the same appearance in the field. MARY BRAGDON.

TESTIMONY XX.

Testimony of Mrs. Dorcas Johnson.

I was present at the house, and at the time dated, August 13, by other testimonies. There I heard and saw the Spectre. Her voice was distinct from any other, and her music the most delightful that I ever heard. When she walked with us, she moved without stepping. And when we arrived at the house, by direction of the Spectre given to my brother, James Springer, and by him to the company in our hearing, we opened to the right and left, so that the Spectre and Mrs. Butler passed together between our two ranks. Then she vanished from my view and I saw her no more. DORCAS JOHNSON.