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Astonishing Legends

The Bell Witch Part 1

Astonishing Legends

Scott Philbrook

History, Society & Culture

4.69.8K Ratings

🗓️ 9 October 2017

⏱️ 125 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Every family has their stories passed down from generation to generation, but most aren't as fantastical or have made as much of an impact on regional history as the legend of the Bell Witch. From about 1817 to 1821 in the Red River Community, now known as Adams, Tennessee, some sort of supernatural entity known as the "Bell Witch" was claimed to have terrorized the family of John Bell. The activity was not just confined to the Bells, but many in the area at the time reported instances of poltergeist annoyances like slapping and pinching that then progressed to pranks and premonition, then to beatings and even murder. If the story of the Bell Witch is just a family's "tall tale" then it's one of the most fascinating and enduring family legends in American history. If the Bell folklore is even remotely true, then the consideration of trying to keep your own family safe from an omniscient, deceitful, vengeful and violent entity that wants you dead, surely makes for one of the most frightening tales ever told.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Fancy a fever tree and vodka.

0:04.0

Yes, vodka, not gin, because this is

0:07.4

Fever tree Mexican lime soda.

0:10.0

Yes, soda, not tonic.

0:12.9

With Mexican lime and Japanese

0:14.7

Yuzu for a zesty, refreshing lime

0:17.0

soda that's just sweet enough.

0:19.6

Delicious with vodka or on its own.

0:23.0

Fever tree Mexican lime soda

0:25.4

mixed with the best.

0:27.5

Mmm, now that hits the spot.

0:30.0

This week's episode of Estonishing Legends

0:31.7

is brought to you by Stamps.com,

0:33.3

the Great Courses Plus, Beachbody,

0:35.3

Harries, and our contributors at patreon.com.

0:38.6

Tonight's legend is of a nature similar to many that we share

0:42.3

in that there are a wide variety of variations

0:45.0

on the stories associated with it.

0:47.4

We've handpicked some of our favorites in full recognition

0:50.4

that many of them have prominent altered versions.

0:54.1

Between 1817 and 1820,

0:56.7

something very strange took place at a large cabin,

...

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