A long and circumstantial account of the disturbance in George
Walton’s house is the subject-matter of a tract, printed in London,
1698, 15 pp. 4to., a copy of which is in the Dowse Library belonging
to the Massachusetts Historical Society. The title of the tract is
“LITHOBOLIA; or the STONE THROWING DEVIL. Being an exact and true
Account of the various actions of Infernal Spirits, or (Devils
Incarnate) Witches, or both; and the great Disturbance and Amazement
they gave to George Walton’s family, at a place called Great Island,
in the Province of New-Hampshire in New-England.... By R. C. who was
a sojourner in the same family the whole time, and an ocular witness
of these Diabolic Inventions; the contents thereof being manifestly
known to the inhabitants of that Province, and the persons of other
provinces, and is upon record in his Majesty’s Council Court held in
that Province.”
The writer says, “Some time ago being in America, in his Majesty’s
service, I was lodged in the said George Walton’s house, a planter
there.”
The following names appear as attestants of the truth of the
narrative: “Samuel Jennings, Governor of West-Jarsey; Walter Clark,
Deputy-Governor of Road-Island; Arthur Cook; Matt. Borden of
Road-Island; Oliver Hooton of Barbadoes, Merchant; T. Maul of Salem in
N. E. merchant; Capt. Walter Barefoot; John Hussey and John Hussey’s
wife.” The narrative treats of throwing about, by an invisible power,
stones, brick-bats, hammers, mauls, crow-bars, spits and other domestic
utensils, for the period of three months.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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