Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-14
CQOrtcster Gully spp.
From "Owens FOOTBALLS"
The GHOST OF THE WESLEY PARSONAGE
GRAVE DISTURBANCES IN THE PARSONAGE
AI EPSWORTH
IS10 and I7I7.

1916 and I7I7.
In the year l7l6, the Rev. Samuel Wesley.
rather OF the celebrated John Wesley. the
founder of Methodism, was rector of Epworth,
Ill the county of Lincoln, England In his
ParSonage-house, the same in which John was
porn, there occurred, throughout the months
OF December, 17l6, and of January, 1717, sun
ury disturbances, of which Mr.. Samuel Wesley
Kept detailed journal The particulars are
further preserved in II letters written on the
subject at the time, to and from various mem
bers of the family In addition to this, Mr..
John Wesley himself went down to EpwOrth
IN the year 1920 inquired carefully into the
particulars, received statements In writing
from each member of the family, touching
what they had seen AMI heard, and compiled
from these narrative which he published in
the armenian Magazine"
The original documents were preserved in
the family, came into the hands of Mrs Earle
grand daughter of Mr.. Samuel Wesley, 1.-THE
eldest brother Of john were intrusted by her
to Mr.. Babcock, and by him given to the
welknown DR.. Joseph Priestey, by whom
the whole were first published in 1919
They have been reprinted by DIR. Adam
Clarke, in his memoirs of the Wesley Fam.
ny. I They cover forty-six pages of that
werk: and as they contain numerous repeti
'iO'oJ SOntSHI ySGu Will tTdHSCrlDlng q
portion only, commencing with the narrative
drawn up by Mr.. John Wesley, to which have
already referred.
NARRATIVE.
On December 2, 1716, while Robert Brown,
my 1athers servant, was sitting with one OF
tne maids, little before ten at night in the
dining room, which opened into the garden
they both heard one knocking at the door
Robert rose and opened it, but could see no.
body Quickly it knocked again, and groaned
1T is Mr.. Turpine, said Robert; 'he has the
stone, and uses to groan So He opened the
door again twice or thrice the knocking being
twice or thrice repeated but, still seeing no.
thing, and being little startled, they rose up
and went to bed. When Robert came TO the
top OF the garnet stairs, he saw a handmi
which was at a little distance whirled about
very swiftly When he related this, he said
thought vexed me but that it was empty. |
thought if it had but been full of malt he might
have ground his heart out for me-" When he
was IN bed, he heard, as it were, the gobbling
OF turkey close to the bedside and sooa
after the sound Of one stumbling over his
shoes and boots but there was none there
he had left them below. The next day he and
the maid related these things to the other
maid, who laughed heartily, and said, "What
couple of fools are you! l defy anything to
fright me- After chumng in the evening,
she put the butter in the tray, and had no
sooner carried it into the dairy, than she heard
Knocking on the shelf where several pun
cheons Of milk stood, first above the shelf
then below. She took the candle, and search
ed both above and below, but being able to
find nothing, threw down butter, tray and all,
and ran away for life. The next evening, be-
tween five and six o'clock, my sister Molly
then about twenty years of age, sitting in the
door that led into the hall open, and person
walking in that seemed to have on silk night
gown, rustling and trailing along. 1t seemed
to walk round her, then to the door, then
round again but she could see nothing. She
thought, at signifies nothing to run away ;
Tor, whatever it is, it can run faster than me- ,
SO she rose, put her book under her arm, and
walked slowly away. After supper she was
sitting with my sister Sukey (about year
older than herr in one of the chambers, and
telling her what had happened. She made
quite light of it, telling her, Il wonder you are
so easily frighted; l would fain see what
would fright me- Presently a knocking be-
gan under the table. She took the candle and
looked, but could find nothing. Then the iron
easement began to clatter, and fine lid of a
warming pan. Next the latch of the door
moved up and down without ceasing. Size
, started up, leaped into the bed without I'M
dressing, pulled the bed clothes over her head,
and never ventured to look up until next morn
ing.
"a night or two after, my sister Hetty IA
year younger than my sister Molly was wait
ing as usual between nine and ten, to take
away my fathers candle, when she heard one
coming down the garnet stairs, walking slowly
by her, then going down the best stairs, then
up the back stairs, and up the garnet stairs /;
and at every step it seemed the house shook
from top to bottom. Just then, my father
knocked. She went in took his candle, and
got to bed as fast as possible. In the morning
she told this to my eldest sister, who told her,
You know | believe none of these things !;
pray let me take away the candle tonight, and
| will find out the trick She accordingly
took my sister Hetty's place, and had no SOON
er taken away the candle than she heard a
noise below. She fastened down stairs to the
hall, where the noise was but it was then in
the kitchen. She ran into the kitchen, where
twas drumming on the inside of the screen.
When she went round it was drumming on
the outside, and so always on the side opposite
to her Then she heard Il knocking at the
back kitchen door She ran to it, unlocked it
softly, and, when the knocking was repeated,
suddenly opened it; but nothing was to be
seen. As soon as she had shut it, the knock
ing began again. She opened it again, but
COulu see HOlHIlS- w men size went 10 Suul
the door, it was violently thrust against her
but she set her knee and her shoulder to the
door, forced it to, and turned the key. Then
the knocking began again; but she let it go on
and went up to bed. However, from that time
she was thoroughly convinced there was no
imposture in the affair
"The next morning, my sister telling my
mother what had happened, she said, If
hear anything myself, shall know how to
judge Soon after she begged her TO come
into the nursery She did, and heard, in the
corner of the room, as it were, the violent
rocking of cradle but no cradle had been
there for some years. She was convinced 1t
was preternatural, and earnestly prayed it
might not disturb her in her own chamber at
the hours of retirement; and itnever did. She
now thought it was proper to tell my father.
But he was extremely angry, and said, 'Sukey.
am ashamed of you These boys and girls
frighten one another; but you are woman of
sense and should know better Let me hear
of it no more
"Ats six in the evening he had family prayers
as usual. When he began the prayer for the
king knocking began all round the ROOM
and a Numbering knock attended the Amen
The same was heard from this time every
morning and evening while the prayer for the
king was repeated AS both my father anc
mother are now at rest, and incapable of being
panied thereby think it my duty to furnisl
the serious reader with Il key to this circum
stance.
"rhe year before King William died, my fla
Their observed my mother did not say amer
to the prayer for the king. She said she coulC
not, for she did not believe the Prince o
Orange was king. He vowed he would neve
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