The Epworth Poltergeist: 7 – Old Jeffrey Signs Off
Since the vigil, The inhabitants of Epworth Rectory had a few weeks respite from Old Jeffrey. During this time, family letters were passed to and from Samuel in London. It is these letters which give the best eye-witness material for the events, rather than the fanciful storytelling of John Wesley in his Haunting of Epworth Rectory some 70 years later.
The only disturbances at this time were knockings at the family prayers when prayers were said for the king This has led some to believe the poltergeist was the spirit of a Jacobite as we’ve seen earlier. Or perhaps it was merely an annoyed Mrs Wesley – a Jacobite sympathiser?
Information revealing a previously undocumented apparition as well as a new one now comes to light, which may help pinpoint a possible perpetrator.
A final letter in March includes an instance of movement by unseen forces, and that’s it, no more haunting phenomena recorded at Old Epworth Rectory.
White Rabbit?
| Date | Thursday 24th January, 1717 |
| Sun Data | Rise: 07:42 Set: 16:50 |
| Moon Data | Rise: 02:04 Set: 11:17 Phase: Waning Crescent (49% Full) |
| Phenomena | Audible: Knocking – Only during prayers for the king. Visible: White rabbit-like creature – Back Kitchen |
| Locations | Back Kitchen, Wherever family prayers were said |
| Witnesses | Mr Wesley and rest of family. |
| Letter References | FJ, LIV, LV, LXI, RB2J |
| Text Entries ““All the family heard it together, in the same room, at the same time, particularly at family prayers. It always seemed to all present in the same place at the same time, though often before any could say it is here, it would remove to another place.” – Mrs Wesley, LIV “It is now pretty quiet, only at our repeating the prayers for the king and prince, when it usually begins, especially when my father says, “Our most gracious Sovereign Lord,” etc. This my father is angry at, and designs to say three instead of two for the royal family. We all heard the same noise, and at the same time, and as coming from the same place. To conclude this, it now makes its personal appearance; but of this more hereafter. Do not say one word of this to our folks, nor give the least hint.” – Suky, LV “Having received a letter from Samuel the day before relating to it, I read what I had written of it to my family; and this day at morning prayer, the family heard the usual knocks at the prayer for the King. At night they were more distinct, both in the prayer for the King, and that for the Prince; and one very loud knock at the amen was heard by my wife, and most of my children, at the inside of my bed. I heard nothing myself.” – Mr Wesley, FJ “After nine, Robert Brown sitting alone by the fire in the back kitchen, something came out of the copper hole like a rabbit but less, and turned round five times very swiftly. Its ears lay flat upon its neck, and its little scut stood straight up. He ran after it with the tongs in his hands, but when he could find nothing, he was frightened, and went to the maid in the parlour.” – Mr Wesley, FJ “One night being ill, he was leaning his head upon the back kitchen chimney (the jam he called it) with the tongs in his hands, when from behind the oven-stop, which lay by the fire, somewhat came out like a white rabbit. It turned round before him several times, and then ran to the same place again. He was frightened, started up, and ran with the tongs into the parlour [Rear Dining Room].” – Robin Brown, RB2J “Besides, something was thrice seen. The first time by my mother, under my sister’s bed, like a badger, only without any head that was discernible [23/12 / 24/12]. The same creature was sat by the dining-room fire one evening; when our man went into the room, it run by him, through the hall under the stairs. He followed with a candle, and searched, but it was departed. The last time he was it in the kitchen, like a white rabbit, which seems likely to be some witch; and I do so really believe it to be one, that I would venture to fire a pistol at it, if I saw it long enough.” – Emily, LXI | |
| Comments The family prayers are still provoking a response from whatever is causing the disturbance. Emily reports three apparitions, the first of which she personally experienced on the 23rd December. However, two are from Robin Brown who is the only witness to these: the same “badger” type creature, and lastly a “white rabbit”, leading some of the family to believe the disturbances may have been caused by witchcraft. However, he is the only eye witness to these last two apparitions, and was also the only eye witness to the levitating hand mill at the beginning of December. Hmmm… | |
Mr Wesley’s Prayer Experiment
| Date | Friday 25th January, 1717 |
| Sun Data | Rise: 07:41 Set: 16:52 |
| Moon Data | Rise: 03:03 Set: 11:54 Phase: Waning Crescent (39% Full) |
| Phenomena | Audible: Knocking |
| Locations | Wherever family prayers were said |
| Witnesses | Mr Wesley and rest of family. |
| Letter References | FJ |
| Text Entries “On Friday, the 25th, having prayers at church, I shortened, as usual, those in the family at morning, omitting the confession, absolution, and prayers for the king and prince. I observed, when this is done, there is no knocking. I therefore used them one morning for a trial; at the name of King George, it began to knock, and did the same when I prayed for the Prince. Two knocks I heard, but took no notice after prayers, till after all who were in the room, ten persons besides me, spoke of it, and said they heard it. No noise at all the rest of the prayers.” – Mr Wesley, FJ | |
| Comments Mr Wesley realises that by missing out the prayers for the king and prince, there’s no knocking. For a trial, he uses them but allows others to comment on whether they heard the knocking or not to prevent priming them to expect a response. | |
Jeffrey’s Final Goodbye?
| Date | Saturday 26th January, 1717 |
| Sun Data | Rise: 07:39 Set: 16:54 |
| Moon Data | Rise: 03:57 Set: 12:36 Phase: Waning Crescent (30% Full) |
| Phenomena | Audible: Knocking – Above Stairs |
| Locations | Above Stairs |
| Witnesses | Mr Wesley and rest of family. |
| Letter References | FJ |
| Text Entries “Two soft strokes at the morning prayers for King George, above stairs.” – Mr Wesley, FJ | |
| Comments The haunting fades away to nothing from this point, save for one odd incident which seem unrelated. Perhaps whatever was causing the trouble had proved its point… or got bored? | |
Bring on the Dancing Plate
| Date | Sunday 24th March, 1717 |
| Sun Data | Rise: 05:28 Set: 18:42 |
| Moon Data | Rise: 01:57 Set: 10:57 Phase: Waning Gibbous (55% Full) |
| Phenomena | Visible: Dancing plate on a table. |
| Locations | Unknown – Probably one of the dining rooms. |
| Witnesses | Mr Wesley and rest of family. |
| Letter References | LXII |
| Text Entries “I should farther satisfy you concerning the disturbances, but it is needless, because my sisters Emilia and Hetty write so particularly about it. One thing I believe you do not know, that is, last Sunday, to my father’s no small amazement, his trencher danced upon the table a pretty while, without any body’s stirring the table. When lo! An adventurous wretch took it up, and spoiled the sport, for it remained still ever after. How glad should I be to talk with you about it. Send me some news, for we are secluded from the sight, or hearing, of any versal thing except Jeffery.” – Suky, LXII | |
| Comments Whether this is related to the main haunting is unknown. It’s interesting to see Suky’s reaction as being curiousity instead of fear. What is noteworthy is that Suky mentions Hetty has written to John about the events. None of the Wesley letters appear to contain such a letter, its whereabouts is a mystery to this day. It’s conjecture that this is because it was destroyed by John after she sullied the family name by becoming pregnant out of wedlock and ended up marrying a local plumber. It’s a real shame this letter is missing as it would potentially have given us an insight into one of the main suspects of the haunting. There are a number of magician’s tricks which can make props become animated by unseen forces. Perhaps this was some “invisible thread” type effect, put on by someone wanting to return to a more exciting time in the family’s life? | |
As usual in poltergeist cases, there are ripples which quickly die away, in much the same way as cases begin… Life soon returns to normal for the Wesley family, though John’s interest in the paranormal has something solid in his own experience to go on. This affects his outlook on the afterlife, including an intermediate state between death and the final judgement.
Next Time – In the final part of this series, we put a number of possible suspects under the microscope and attempt to draw some conclusions based upon the written evidence available. Was it one of the girls having a joke? Was it servants in league with annoyed villagers? Was it the spirit of Old Jeffrey or a relative? Or was it poltergeist phenomena centred around one or more of the family members?
Bibliography
Southey, R. (1820), The Life of Wesley; and the Rise and Progress of Methodism, Volume 1, London: Longman, Rees, Orme and Brown.
Footnotes
[1] Moon Phase information for Epworth on the dates shown has been taken from Moonpage.com; Moonrise / set taken from TimeAndDate.com (moon); Sunrise / set taken from TimeAndDate.com (sun).
