United States, Tennessee (folk tale, 1817-1821)

The Tale of the Bell Witch

Folklore — not a documented case

A tale of a supernatural entity said to have haunted a farming family in Tennessee in the early 19th century — one able to speak and mimic voices. It is regarded as one of the best-known 'haunting' stories in American folklore. It has no scientific or judicial confirmation of any kind, and has been carried down to the present entirely through oral and written folk tradition.

The events said to have befallen a farming family in Tennessee between 1817 and 1821 make up American folklore's best-known 'haunting' story.

The stories in this section are folk tales and legends; they are not verified, real events and should not be confused with the rest of the archive.

From the same region