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The Bell Witch — Adams, TN (1817–1821)

A black and white woodcut illustration of a man and a spirit by a fireplace in a cabin, from the book Authenticated History of the Bell Witch

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Ghost / Haunting Historical case When: 1817–1821 (as told in the legend)  ·  Where: Adams, Robertson County, Tennessee

Status: Unverified — a folklore legend whose main written source dates from 1894; some skeptics treat that book as fiction.

About the pin: Pinned near Adams; the farm and cave locations are not marked.

A black and white woodcut illustration of a man and a spirit by a fireplace in a cabin, from the book Authenticated History of the Bell Witch
An illustration of the Bell Witch story from M. V. Ingram's 1894 book.
Credit: M. V. Ingram, Authenticated History of the Bell Witch (1894) · Licence: Public domain (published 1894) · Source

The Bell Witch is a legend from northwest Robertson County, Tennessee. It says that from 1817 to 1821 the family of farmer John Bell Sr., near the present town of Adams, was attacked by a mostly invisible entity that could speak and affect objects around the farm.

The main written source is Martin V. Ingram's 1894 Authenticated History of the Bell Witch. In it the spirit called itself “Kate” and focused on John Bell and his daughter Betsy. Some skeptics see Ingram's book as historical fiction or fraud, while others view it as a record of what people in the region believed in the 1800s. Some accounts say Andrew Jackson was intrigued by the story, but that detail is part of the legend.

The Bell Witch Cave became a tourist attraction in the 20th century, and the story has inspired books, films and music. It is a legend: much-loved, widely told, and not independently documented.

Sources: Wikipedia: Bell Witch

Historical case. This is a summary written by the Department from the published sources listed above, in our own words. It is a historical case added to the map for context, not a reader submission. Reports are claims or findings as described in those sources; they are not proof of anything, and where an official or widely accepted explanation exists we say so. For entertainment and curiosity only. Spotted a mistake, or know more? Add a verification note below, or email paranormaldepartment1@gmail.com.

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