The Haunting Tale of the Drummer of Tedworth: A 350-Year-Old Mystery
(Adapted from The Ghost Report by Lisa Morton. Video on YouTube)
Today, we're diving into one of the most famous hauntings in history—no, it's not Amityville or the Conjuring house. It's a lesser-known, yet equally spine-chilling case known as the Drummer of Tedworth, which dates back over 350 years.
The Origins of the Haunting
Our story begins in March of 1661 in a quaint village where a British magistrate named John Mompesson was making a visit. While there, he was persistently disturbed by the incessant sound of drumming. His investigation led him to a drummer, who boldly claimed to have legal papers justifying his relentless drumming. However, those documents were later revealed to be fakes, leading to the drummer's arrest and the confiscation of his drum, which was taken to Mompesson’s home.
Unseen Hands and Mystic Lights
Not long after the drum's arrival at Mompesson’s residence, the family began to hear mysterious drumming noises emanating from various parts of the house. The eerie incidents escalated to sightings of blue lights flitting about, singing echoing from the chimney, and their children being lifted from their beds by invisible forces. The drummer had previously claimed he had learned sorcery from another soldier, which deepened the town’s suspicion, resulting in charges of witchcraft and other crimes. Although imprisoned for a time, the peace was short-lived, as the disturbances recurred once he escaped custody.
The Investigation of Joseph Glanvill
Word of these supernatural events spread quickly, catching the attention of Joseph Glanvill—a respected clergyman and philosopher. Driven by curiosity, Glanvill visited the Mompesson house in January 1662, where he experienced scratching noises that seemed to communicate with him. Convinced of the authenticity of these occurrences, he documented his experiences in his book, *Saducismus Triumphatus*, contributing to the case’s worldwide notoriety.
Legacy of the Drummer of Tedworth
The haunting in Tedworth became widely known, inspiring books and plays, including a copycat drummer event in America. Glanvill is now often regarded as the first paranormal investigator, and this case stands as one of the earliest detailed accounts of what we now call a "Poltergeist."
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