An essay on demonology, ghosts and apparitions, and popular superstitions : also, an account of the witchcraft delusion at Salem, in 1692 / by James Thacher.

  • Thacher, James, 1754-1844.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An essay on demonology, ghosts and apparitions, and popular superstitions : also, an account of the witchcraft delusion at Salem, in 1692 / by James Thacher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    the evening, perceiving his female companions in a gloomy mood, he took one of them and danced a minuet with her, then taking out his watch, said, ' Look you here, it is now nine o'clock, according to the vision I have but three hours to live, but don't you mind this, madam ; never fear, we'll jocky the ghost, I warrant you.' At eleven o'clock he retired to bed ear- lier than usual with him, but his pretence was, that he had planned foi- the party to breakfast early, and spend the day in riding into the country. Admiral Woolsey and his friend re- solved to sit in the parlor till the predicted hour was past, and the clock was privately put a little forward, and as soon a^it struck twelve, his lordship said, ' you see I have cheated the ghost;' but soon after a voice was heard from the staircase, uttering these words. ' He's dead? Oh, my lord is dead!' Instantly run- ning up stairs, they found him in bed, fallen back, and struggling. Admiral Woolsey took his hand, which was grasped with such vio- lence that it was painful to endure, but he spake no more. His eyes were turned up and fixed. They opened the jugular vein, but no blood issued, and he was entirely dead at mid- 2