The Bell Witch | American Folklore
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- čas přidán 14. 04. 2022
- Today on The Lore Lodge, Aidan discusses the backstory and tragedy of the Bell Witch, allegedly the creation of Kate Batts, who tormented the Bell family in Tennessee. Supposedly, Batts was a witch, using her powers to get revenge on John Bell and his family after a civil disagreement. The accusations of witchcraft, though never proven, would haunt Kate Batts until her death. But who was truly to blame? Was this an elaborate hoax by the Bell family? Or was there truly a "Bell Witch" terrorizing the town? Welcome back to the Lore Lodge...
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Imagine your pastor comes over to exercise the witch/demon from your house, and instead starts having a theological discussion. "BRO, REBUKE IT."
One of the sons was such a Chad that when he saw the bell witch in his living room one night, he threw a blanket over her, and tried to drag her to the fire place, and throw her in. The thing seem scared too, because she made herself so Heavey, that he couldn't move her.
Absolute chad status. I practice charging my literal nightmares head-on with an ong bak flying knee so im prepared to destroy any fictional creature that i should encounter. No days off. Im so sleepy.
@murphylhunn "Cosmic child-eating clown causing chaos in your sewers? A werewolf? Karen in the drainage ditch again? No issue! We have the perfect fix to help you with all your nightmare fighting needs, with only a single knee to the chest!"
@@murphylhunn 100% the best comment on this app
NO VISITORS! AUDFIHDUDDYST!!!
absolute king
In Indian folklore, black dogs are thought to be reapers in disguise. So, black dogs are usually treated better than your average stray because even if there's 1% chance that it is a reaper, you wouldn't want to piss it off.
I've adopted two of them, guess I'm doing well!
Super appreciate that you took time to address the arsenic poisoning he was likely experiencing, because it makes the things that happen without such a solid explanation MUCH scarier.
I like how it seemed like for a while everyone was just chillin with this thing, like it was part of the community or something.
they treated it like a homie bro why did it had to be evil💀
I went to the Bell Witch Museum in Adams (the old school house turned museum) when I was 4 or 5. I don't remember it much but my mom took me. I got separated from her and she found me in a different level passed a roped off section in a room by myself. She asked me why I wasn't responding when she called and why I went off by myself. Apparently, I told her I followed the lady. There was no one else up there. We left immediately and she refused to even drive through that town again. Over 20 years later I had a moment where I zoned out driving, only to end up in that town at the museum. It's a 25+ min drive for reference.
Oh hellllll noooooooo! lmao
my boy, you got cursed
Sounds like she misses you
That witch wants you.
Hehe no
I have some family in Adams entire town has some creepy vibes. I’ve never been to Bell Witch Cave because I ain’t getting cursed.
It's blocked off now and sneaking in isn't an easy feat
I have… I like north of bowling green kentucky. It’s pretty cool during the fall.
arsenic was not just a rat poison. it was used in a lot of places, including paint, usually copper acetoarsenite (paris green) a slightly pale, bluish green, or cupric arsenite (scheele's green) a very intense green with a hint of yellow.
I believe I've heard of people being mislead to think it can be taken as a medicine as well, though not very widespread.
What a shame. It's a pretty green.
@@dirtpounder yep. my theory is that people in the 1800s were just straight up built different. stomache pain? drink some arsenic. cant sleep? take some alcohol lazed with opium and choloroform. want to fight the ensuing migrane from all the other gnarly shit that you just chugged down? how about sucking on this little rod of lead, its gonna calm you right down.
@@squelchotron8259 its a very pretty color, and nowadays you can almost perfectly imitate it aswell, so if your heart desires some arsenic green, you can have it, and even without getting poisoned.
Imagine being poisoned by your wallpaper?
I wonder if John Bell knew how to get to Bell's Canyon.
Lmao Mr ballen just covered this story
Lol fellow Ballen fan! Good one!
Haha! Priceless!
😂😂
Hey! Followed you from basically the jump and love watching your videos! I'm from Tennessee, born and raised my whole life. My father is native American, Apache from Arizona. He told me all kinds of stories from the rez down there when he was a boy. My own story happened when I was a little kid. I was a horribly asthmatic kid with other health problems and I was in and out of the hospital weekly. One night we were driving home, and I looked out the window and saw something running beside the car. It was like a coyote, but it's head was bigger, more like a person's, and it's legs looked wrong. It's fur was thin, almost like it had mange. I stared at it, and it looked up at me, still running at about 50MPH, and it had giant glowing yellow-white eyes. I never felt scared, not once. I just felt at peace. Like it wasn't going to hurt us. Eventually my dad made the turn to our road and I climbed around to look at it through the back windshield. It sat down on it's haunches and disappeared. I asked my dad about it, and he said it was the Coyote spirit, that they are tricksters, but also great healers and teachers, and that I was blessed to have seen Him. That was the last time I had an asthma attack, and as creepy as the creature looked, I believe I truly was blessed.
That's an amazing story. I've only heard a couple that left a good feeling after seeing them
That kind of sounds like a Druid
I live near the cave and can confirm it is definitely haunted. When we go on the tours, they tell us not to take anything from the caves. I of course, being a skeptic, took a little rock and brought it home. That night I had sleep paralysis and for a few weeks after, I would hear and see stuff around my house
...do you still have the rock?
@@the_hottest_vitch no way. I put it back after a bit
well i would like to see you placing something from the cave into somebody's house who does not know about it as an experiment. Only then you can confirm it is definitely haunted. Also do it atleast 4-5 times with different people without telling them.
@@yo4156 you want them to throw the rock into someone house 😭😭 how are they even going to get it back? Most people will throw away a rock they find, you did not think out the holes in your master plan 😭
@@the_hottest_vitch well idk the details, just gift them.
Yknow what I love these spooky stories, and I appreciate that in looking for an explanation, you didn't outright dismiss potential supernatural occurances. It's a refreshing change
8:48 How dare you, that whisper creeped me the hell out lol.
So uhhhh we didn’t put that there, and with the mic setup we have, I don’t know how it could’ve possibly come through if it were the camera man…
@@TheLoreLodgebro stop that’s scary as hell 😂fr ?
This is why the more I listen to stories about the Bell Witch, the more I'm thinking it's an Egregore or a Tulpa (if your familiar with Chaos Magick).
This is what I’ve always thought. One that is manifested by one John Bell, IMO. From all of the accounts I’ve read/ heard he was a SOB. As a person of color, one thing I’ve noticed all throughout American history is that crappy white people that did people really dirty were haunted by their own conscience. So much American folklore is deeply rooted in fear of uprising. I’ve always felt that this was the case with this story. If something was going on that was supernatural, they willed it with their own fear.
You know, kind of like how when Al Capone started to lose his mind due to syphilis, it was claimed that he thought himself to be haunted by the ghosts of his murder victims. I mean, possibly, but I think is far more realistic to consider that guilt works like a big-time monkey on your back when you really know you were a dirty dog to someone else. Especially if you are religious.
Dude I've been in the hospital for 19 days now just now getting to play catch up on the channel.... It'll be nice to catch a live
What happened?
@@Maven0666 I thought I had kidney stones turns out i was septic and had perforated bowls ... Lucky to still be here
@@cliffordhorne1 Crikey! I’m sorry to hear that. I really do have kidney stones. The doctors said it would pass in a few days. It’s the third year now. Take it easy,my friend. Glad you made it!
not a native TN person, but very close in the northwest ga mountains and have been up around the Bell witch area. it was quite unnerving and I swear I felt a presence. ofc I believe in so much thanks to being raised to never go outside at night, don't whistle, etc. hope you get to go explore the area and see for yourself! 💚
Wow! I’d love to visit the area in the middle of the day when the sun shines bright ☀️ 🌞
Why not whistle?
When I was in middle school my family took a vacation to Tennessee. I always wanted to go in a cave and we happened to pass the Bell Witch cave. I didn’t realize that it was haunted until after getting out. Nothing too crazy happened but we did have a collection of pictures taken in perfect lighting and what not that just refused to devolve right.
And I didn’t realize until years later just how infamous this haunting is. I’m really glad that I had a chance to check it out.
I know there was a guy who had a thing for the daughter who was engaged and had a bone to pick with John Bell because he refused to let him marry the daughter. I forget his name though but they covered this in another podcast I listen too
i live 20 min from there and i never realized how widespread this story was until the last couple years with people posting it on youtube, its fantastic seeing a local legend on youtube
CRACKING up at the entity giving different versions of events of where it came from or what it was. Reminds me of how The Joker gives a bunch of different origin stories for his he got his "smile" 😂😂😂😂😂
What always fascinated me about the Bell Witch was that many of the neighbors and other townsfolk did in fact go to the property and experience the entity speaking or manifesting in some way. They didn't just throw it off as a hoax whipped up by the Bell family, so that alone always convinced me that there was something to the stories.
wow, this sounds demonic. you are right. the quote, particularly, about it being from heaven / hell / the air reminded me of ephesians 2:2. specifically principalities and powers of the air. add to that, in christiandom demons are actually from heaven and are angels that fell. so, a demon is from heaven, hell, and a spirit of the air as i understand.
the level of confusion and misdirection it introduced into the community also sounds highly demonic... e.g. being on native land, etc. in my experience, demons like to confuse, misdirect, and frustrate individuals when true spiritual warfare is in play.
lots of interesting stuff here assuming it isn't just a story told for a publicity stunt and a man behind the curtain.
The "millions of years old" comment is what really got me. That doesn't strike me as something someone in the early 1800s would've conceptualized for the purpose of a lie.
I grew up in nashville and when I was little it was always a dare at sleepovers to summon the bell witch but I didnt realize how local a legend this was until I moved to the west when I was 13 and no one ever mentioned her there
Off topic but I love your profile picture
On the topic of black dogs, it's always interesting to hear regional differences in interpretation. Most stories I've heard align with the omen/harbinger of doom route but I've also read a number of accounts talking about a large black dog helping travelers lost in the woods or along a dark road and keeping them safe till they get to their destination. Most of the time it's young women and children who seem to report that from the sources I've seen.
I love listening to these episodes when I'm busy doing work and the stories themselves are awesome!
Agreed
A little late but I lived in Tennessee for a while and was homeless during most of it. At one point (long story as to how I got into this situation) I was in a tree watching my house. I had seen a couple dark shadows dart from the steps on the porch to the sliding glass door one by one. I think I remember three of them. Then, as soon as I had seen it the cops roll up and chaos issues. Not witchy persay but I deff think shadow ppl are drawn to negativity…. Kinda like the dean koontz book
It's incredible how the more we're able to document and study stuff like this, the less paranormal stuff happens. I don't believe in the paranormal/supernatural, but events like this always make for an interesting story and often a good movie too
As a close tangent, *Bell Witch Doom* is one of the best melodic doom metal bands out there.
Their album “Mirror Reaper” is just a symphonic masterpiece.
Such a good album. Now I have to go listen to it again 👍
Omg yes!! I love the band Bell Witch, Mirror Reaper is so good and these guys are one of the bands that got me into doom metal!
Hell yeah! i've been listening to them for several years now and I never get tired of listening to Mirror Reaper
It’s a little crazy to me watching a video over something so local to me. I’ve heard about the bell witch my whole life, but never looked into it. I appreciate you doing the research into this and making it entertaining along the way.
This is really fascinating being a Methodist in Georgia I had no idea that demonology was a thing
We Catholics know of it, but we are told to stay away from that topic (at least when I was in high school)
@@lordkroak6670 The study of demons just kinda screams "fuck around and find out" to me. I have no idea why people would willingly risk exposure to that shit.
because people want to eithe rbe edgy and say " oooooo demon come to me" or think the demon will do their bidding. At the end of the day you are just screwed if you mess with demons
@@jaffarebellion292
It is notable that Arsenic is also used in like, hats and fake flowers at the time.
I live in the Sumner county. It is right next to Robertson. They have plays on Halloween and there is a cave you can tour. It's said that the ghost escaped to the cave and that's were it is to this day.
The intro was PERFECT
I like your choice of topics you cover. It seems like Lore Lodge goes to efforts to cover cases that do have compelling evidence and good back stories.
I do like how you incorporate both story telling and investigation. Thank you!
Ahh, Robertson County Tn. My Home. Legend has it if you walk through the cave and you take a rock out with you. She will haunt you until you send it back.
Can you do a video talking about all the witch lore you're familiar with, or just about magic/ witchcraft in general? I feel like that would be an interesting
Oh man, that would take so long it could be a channel, not just a video.
Magic and witchcraft span throughout history in so many different forms.
Can't wait to hear you tell this story you seem to be so much more informed than other people Ive heard tell the story
I am from Robertson county, TN so I grew up with this story. I remember watching the movie in 3rd grade and to be honest, it still has me effed up to this day, primarily because the woods that they shot the movie in are near where I lived.
I live in East Tennessee (near gatlinburg if you know where that is lol) and I want to go see the Bell Witch property so bad! To be fair, a large portion of East TN/ Appalachia in general seems to be haunted. I've had some weird experiences growing up here.
We were actually just in Gatlinburg!
If you've read Peter Levenda, he points out "blessed" and "cursed" areas within North America. Certain places in Tennessee and Kentucky are definitely mentioned. (Fortunately for me, *cough cough,* I happen to inhabit yet another "cursed" geographic locale. And kids tend to um, "move"...or BE moved... around here. A lot. My whole 6-decade life. Still.)
Kinda weird that they didn't try to get rid of it. That'd be my first thought.
I'm actually from Robertson County and though I never been to the museum we were taught this story in grade school during Halloween and people definitely believed in the story. I personally believe in it.
My mom told me to look up the bell witch as she grew up in the area with that tale. She passed away last march and now I’m learning more about her through this. Thank you
You see, what they should’ve done is called the ancestors of Scooby and the gang, ‘cause this was right up their alley
I'm from southeast TN, have been to Amdrew Jackson's plantation and I could totally see how one of these places could be haunted. But then again, the entire south could be since there's been so much that has happened here: Appalachian peoples, slavery, moonshinin', civil war to name a few.. love your videos!
When I was around 16 my friends and I used to screw about at an old school under renovation and I thought I brought something back with me on accident for breaking in. I used to be scared as hell hanging out by myself, especially when I went in the garage to smoke. One night though, I remember walking out and saying, "This is my fucking house, I'll do what I want, you have no power over me." I felt like there was a pressure above me or something but I continued to smoke and eventually I stopped feeling proper spooky sensations in my house altogether. If ghosts are real then I'm a proper sceptic, I just don't have an explanation for what was going on
I watched the ghost adventures episode on this and the info you give is much more in depth and skeptical than theirs
Part of me wonders if John Bell the Soldier from the Dakotas specifically came to test if the Witch would attack him because it might get confused by having the same name. It definitely sounds like people wanted to experiment with the witch and use the opportunity to test the boundaries of how it works.
i heard about this story on Ghost Adventures when i was little and ive never forgotten it since
My heart skips a beat whenever Welsh folklore and culture is mentioned ily
Love this channel
my favorite negative effect: "Death."
If you ever visit the hermitage in Nashville TN around halloween season (Jacksons House) they actually do talk about his encounter with the Bell Witch.. I don't remember much of the story but remember something about the horses refusing to cross a river or creek at one point also... very interesting story all around and the cave has tons of visitors leave talking about encounters especially those who apparently think taking a rock from it home would be a smart idea!! Great Vid :)
I've heard that prayer makes a demons butt pucker so hard it has to leave. Now that's just what I heard. I'm no demonologist
I live close to this an am excited to hear this!!!
"And that's when things start to get Harry"
You're a wizard Harry!
(I know he said hairy)
10:26 why did your tongue stick out weirdly that spooked me lol
Great video thank you
Is this a positive comment from Mikey B???
Yes guys! Thank u for the excellent content.
I am curious about the daughter that broke off her engagement. I have heard a few similar stories of demonic/ghost-like happenings and there seems to be a correlation between them and teenage girls being present in the household. Perhaps the daughter was, unwittingly, the creator of the ghost witch all along.
This story is similar to the Ghost of Edgefield in South Carolina. Even down to a government official taking interest. Strange.
"I hope this rings a bell "
This man😂😂
I’m a wizard. The supposed demon was a really old and powerful human soul who was twisted by horrible decisions, like a skinwalker, but to a much lesser extent. They are rather different from normal ghosts because they are not disoriented and they have rational objectives etc. they are referred to as discarnate entities for reference.
An storm that was not forecasted rolled in while I was listening to this. It's February. Probably just a coincidence, but it sure was creepy.
Are you ever going to do the Bennington triangle video just wondering keep up the good work 👍
Bell Witch is a great Funeral doom band
Investigated the property awhile back. Place is wild
Very nice!
I live less than 30 minutes from there and have never heard of this until now. I'm considering going to check out the cave.
"Theres a witch ruining my life!"
"Ok......but what'd you do tho?"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
One of my favorite Mercyful Fate songs!
I’m from Wilson, but right now I’m in Putnam. I can still fuckin feel the bad vibes when I think about this place, and I’ve never even been!
horrible demon witch thing torments family. Family friends: cool lets invight everyone we know to talk with the abomination of nightmares it'll be a fun activity we'll bring a pot luck.
Just found your channel, very good content! You should look into Charles Stanton of Stanton, Arizona. I think his story is of interest to you.
I would feel bad, but they killed their cat. No mercy.
I actually know someone who is related to the Bells! Her husband is of direct relation and he claims that the story is 100% true... v interesting!
I love the idea of a demon sitting in a house, trying to have theological discussion with some random believers just for the fun of it.
I wouldn't have used the term "a member of his staff" to refer to someone who was enslaved. That is not how it really was. The word "staff" implies paid employment and a level of respect that enslaved people were not afforded.
Did you ever upload that part two to Roanoke? Was always a big interest to me when I was younger and I loved learning more about the situation and colony as a whole
Coming soon!
oh oh
pouringh
I know that The Exorcist is a movie, but I must say, the movie, (and the novel) is incredibly well written and faithful to the depicted religions. The manner of the voice reminded me of some of the scenes between Regan and Karras, and the voice saying it was from everywhere was also reminiscent and definitely the sounds being made like the dogs fighting also happen in the movie. Maybe it's just heavy inspiration, but it seems like Blatty did his research
I think the first time I heard about the bell witch story the presenter described it as a poltergeist wow that's way off
Had to be around 2003-05; I was a pre-teen at a sleepover. She wasn't going to hurt you. But you were supposed to leave the water running and if she appeared and disapproved of you it would turn red like blood.
Whatever it was, it clearly enjoyed fucking with people, and folks played right into its hands.
The large black hound with glowing yellow eyes sounds familiar
In Supernatural season 3 when Dean was having the hellhound problem the lines started to blur and even though it is a fictional series it is something to think about.
Damn, my dad's name is John Bell. My name is partially that too. Makes this feel kinda personal
what's this strange substance? I dunno see how the cat likes it. lmao wtf hahahahaha
Sounds like a demon. One of the original fallen to be exact since it said it was from heaven and hell. Very interesting.
They had a sleep over? So, they probably ate dinner with them as well. Maybe everyone who comes to interact are given a glass of water loaded with just enough arsenic to cause people to hear whispers their mind translates into words. Sorry, did you say how people “interact” with it. Voices in head or audible words, etc?
The problem was everyone heard the same thing my guess was is it was a person. There is apparently a guy in town who disliked john bell because he wouldn’t let him marry the daughter was engaged so that’s my guess
It was reportedly audible to everyone around at the same time
"Subscribble" If I wasn't already subscribed this would have made me do it xD
Not a good way to test for arsenic 😾
I only had heard Bell Witch as a super depressive Doom Metal band, good to know the full story now :)
@6:05: stigma, isolating people, well, since people became people
If there's something strange
In your house in the woods
Who ya gonna call?
Not Johnstons!
They fed it to their cat????
also tortured me with an 80-minute song
This is a fun thing to listen to at night especially since I live in Robertson county
Also yeah why a demon in middle Tennessee of all place
THEY TESTED POSSIBLE ARSENIC ON THEIR CAT, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM LMAO
AND THEY HAD SLAVES
suffer, John Bell
My take out. Poor cat.
This is a good vid. In your opinion , what is a demonic entity? Did u find out anything specific about the theological discussions ?