You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart radio and Grimm and Mild

from Erin Manky.

Like most American women in the 1800s, Rachel Baker didn't have a lot of autonomy.

Her fate rested in the hands of men, both her fathers and others within society.

Her father, Ezekiel, was deeply religious and raised his daughter with strong views

about sin and sinners, but little else in the way of education.

Rachel was 17 when the sleepwalking began in November of 1811.

At first, these episodes of synambulism horrified her and she became despondent.

When the rate of incidents increased to nearly every night, she gave her parents a solemn

warning, soon she'd be dead and would go straight to hell.

She even seemed unhappy during the incidents, becoming agitated in her sleep.

These fits of despair lasted until January of 1812.

But one night, Rachel said God had spoken to her and forgave her sins, but from then

on, she remained calmer during the episodes.

When seeing their daughter's mood had significantly improved, her parents no longer hid Rachel's

affliction, instead they invited others to investigate her nightly activities.

Observers witnessed the synambulism for themselves.

Rachel got out of bed and started with a half hour of prayer.

Still asleep, her breathing became labored and she gnashed her teeth.

Everyone waited.

As her eyes met a church elder, she warned him of the dangers of internal damnation.

A witness's gasped at the short tie rate, then Rachel regained her composure and spoke

...