The Legend of the Bell Witch

The Bell Witch Haunting is the worlds largest most unexplained phenomena. Unlike any other haunting, the legacy of the Bell Witch has never changed. It is backed by unending amounts of evidence making it one of the worlds greatest legends.

This is not your "Blair Witch" as so many misunderstand. As a matter of fact, the Bell "Witch" was not a witch at all. In the early 1800's, the Bell family moved to Tennessee from North Carolina and settled on a large acre farm located next to the Red River in what is now the sleepy little town of Adams, Tennessee in Robertson County. One day as John Bell went to check on his crops, he noticed an unusual creature sitting between two corn rows. When Bell shot at the animal..it vanished. Soon after, the family began to experience unusual sounds and knockings around their home. The children's covers where pulled from their beds and funiture would mysteriously knock over.

The oldest daughter, Betsy Bell, seemed to be the target of the spirits dislike. She was beaten, slapped, pinched and constantly assaulted by the unseen force. John Bell shared his part of the unfair deal as the force plagued him with an unknown sickness causeing his tounge and throat to swell to the point were eating and talking were impossible. The force continued to harry the family to the point that finally John Bell confided in a trustworthy friend to try to figure out the means of the being. Nothing ever became of his explanations and soon others were summoned to the home to marvel at the events.

The spirit soon gained a voice, starting as only answering questions with knocks or whistles. The whistles turned to whispers and then a loud, clear female voice. When the spirit was asked of her origin, she would state an answer, only for it to turn out as a prank. The only final answer she ever gave was that she was a "Witch" of a local rather eccerate woman by the name of Kate Batts, whom most in the community found rather unpleasant. Therefore the Bell Spirit earned the nicknames "Bell Witch" or "Ol' Kate". She stated her only reason for plaguing the family was to kill John Bell...for reasons unknown and also to see that Betsy does not marry her love, Joshua Gardner.

The haunting continued for years and the home was filled with loud noises and cackles. The "witch" would occasionally sing gospel hymns and preach the scriptures of the Bible and even pray and cry to God as if she were a lost soul. She could even read minds, travel to anywhere in the world to relay events, and even predict future events. Kate never made herself visible but did, however, allow few others to shake her hand. Most explained the "hand" they felt was soft like velvet and very small, but sadly enough it was strong enough to fight off the strongest man around and crimson poor Betsy Bell's cheeks.

The witch remained with the family until she successfully murdered John Bell by posioning him, and saw to it that Betsy broke off her engagement to her love. The witch then left the household declaring she would be back in 7 years, and as declared, she returned to predict future events to John Bell's oldest son...all which have occured, such as the Civil War, The Great Depression, WWI and WWII. All recorded documents that the Bells took of Kate's predictions are pure evidence that the haunting was very real and very horrifying.

Kate left again to say she would return in 107 years (1935), but noone has made it known if she ever did return. Now, in present day Adams along the Red River where part of John Bell's homestead once stood...resides a cave were at one time the Bell children used to play. It was also used as the family's storage cellar for food because the year round temperature remains at 57 degrees. Many of the witch's events with the children occured in the cave. Most believe Ol' Kate still resides in the cave. Odd photos have been taken in and around it, unusual sounds have been heard in it and on occassion beautiful singing has been heard coming from the mouth of the cave. The Kirby family whom own the cave give tours to any thrill seeker willing to go into the cave. The Bell Witch Haunting was true and terrifying. Maybe you should go feel the chill up your spine for yourself.