Another providence, no less remarkable than this last mentioned, happened at Portsmouth in New England, about the same time: concerning which I have received the following account from a worthy hand.
“On June 11, 1682, being the Lords Day, at night showers of stones were thrown both against the sides and roof of th ehouse of George Walton: some of the people went abroad, found the gate at some distance from the house wrung off the hinges, and stones came thick about them, sometimes falling down by them, sometimes touching them without any hurt done to them; though they seemed to come with great force, yet did no more but softly touch them; stones flying about the room, the doors being shut; the glass windows shattered to pieces by stones that seemed to come not from without but within, the lead of the glass casements, window-bars, &c. being driven forcibly outwards, and so standing bent.
While the secretary was walking in the room, a great hammer came brushing along against the chamber floor that was over his head, and fell down by him. A candlestick beaten off the table. They took up nine of the stones and marked them, and laid them on the table, some of them being as hot as if they came out of the fire; but some of those marked stones were found flying about again. In this manner, about four hours space that night.
The secretary then went to bed, but a stone came and broke up his chamber-door; being put to (not locked), a brick was sent upon the like errand. The abovesaid stone the secretary locked up in his chamber, but it was fetched out, and carried with great noise into the next chamber. The spit was carried up chimney, and came down with the point forward, and stuck in the back-log, and being removed by one of the company to one side of the chimney, was by an unseen hand thrown out at window.
This trade was driven on the next day, and so from day to day; now and then there would be seome intermission, and then to it again. The stones were most frequent where the master of the house was, whether in the field or barn, &c. A black cat was seen once while the stones came, and was shot at, but she was too nimble for them.
Some of the family say, that they once saw the appearance of a hand put forth at the hall window, throwing stones towards the entry, though there was no body in the hall the while; sometimes a dismal hollow whistling would be heard; sometimes the noise of a trotting of a horse, and snorting, but nothing seen.
The man went up the great bay in his boat to a farm he had there, and while haling wood or timber to the boat, and there left it; but while he was going up to the house, the iron came jingling after him through the woods, and returned to the house, and so again, and at last went away, and was heard of no more. The anchor leapt overboard several times as they were going home, and stopped the boat.
A cheese has been taken out of the press and crumbled all over the floor. A piece of iron with which they weighed up the cheese-press, stuck into the wall, and a kittle hung up thereon. Several cocks of English hay, mowed near the house, were taken and hung upon trees; and some made into small wisps, an dput all up and down the kitchen, cum multis aliis, &c.
After this manner have they been treated ever since at times; it were endless to particularise. Of late, they thought the bitterness of death had been past, being quiet for sundry days and nights: but last week were some returnings again; and this week (Aug. 2, 1682) as bad or worse than ever. The man is sorely hurt with some of the stones that came on him, and like to feel the effects of them for many days.”
Thus far is that relation. I am moreover informed, that the daemon was quiet all the last winter, but in the spring he began to play some ludicrous tricks, carrying away some axes that were locked up safe. This last summer he has not made much disturbances as formerly; but of this no more at present.
In ‘Remarkable Providences illustrative of the earlier days of American colonisation’ by Increase Mather (reprint 1856 of ‘An essay for the recording of illustrious providences: wherein an account is given of many remarkable and very memorable events, which have happened this last age, especially in New England’, printed 1684.)