Lithobolia: or, the Stone-Throwing Devil is a 7,000-word narrative folk tale by Richard Chamberlayne first printed in London in 1698. It is considered an early example of esoteric literature and supernatural horror writing, and has been compared to modern poltergeist stories.[1][2][3][4]
The book describes events which supposedly took place during 1682 in Great Island (present-day New Castle), Province of New Hampshire. During the summer months, hundreds of stones rained down on a certain tavern. Nobody witnessed anyone throwing the stones. The tavern owner accused a female neighbor of using witchcraft against him, and she in turn accused him of being a wizard. The tavern was already controversial in the area, because the owner was a prosperous Quaker, its personnel included Native Americans, and its regular customers included so-called "godless" fishermen. The events marked the first major accusations about witchcraft in New England, starting a trend of similar accusations in other New England towns.
Overviewedit
The book's frontispiece describes itself as being "an Exact and True account (by way of Journal) 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, chiefly in throwing about (by an Invisible hand) Stones, Bricks, and Brick-Bats of all sizes, with several other things, as Hammers, Mauls, Iron-Crows, Spits, and other Utensils, as came into their Hellish minds, and this for space of a quarter of a year ..."
The "Stone-Throwing Devil" created quite a sensation on Great Island (present-day New Castle, New Hampshire) in 1682. Hundreds of stones mysteriously rained down on George Walton's tavern, as well as onto him, his son Shadrach and others in the area over the entire summer. Yet, no one ever came forward who saw anyone throwing the stones. Many other unexplained events also occurred at that time. Demonic voices were heard, and items were flung about inside Walton's tavern. Prominent Boston minister Increase Mather described the strange events in his book Illustrious Providences.[5][6]
George Walton, who was in a property boundary dispute with his neighbor, accused her of witchcraft. She, in turn, accused him of being a wizard. Others in the area may also have had reasons to throw stones at Walton. He was a Quaker. Quakers were looked upon with great suspicion by Puritans, and just being a Quaker was a crime. Walton was a successful innkeeper, merchant, and lumberman, and became the largest landowner on the island. Walton was envied by his less industrious neighbors. There were also a number of lawsuits over business and property disputes. He also had two Native American employees, which would have caused great concern so soon after war with the Indians (King Philip's War) and because of the uneasy peace that existed. His tavern customers included a variety of rowdy outsiders, including "godless" fishermen, who were considered undesirables by others on the island. Regardless of what caused Walton and his inn to be the victim of a months-long rain of stones, it was the first major outbreak of apparent witchcraft in America.[7][8]
News of it traveled throughout America and England. Within a few years, accusations of witchcraft would occur in other New England towns, culminating in the famous Salem witch trials.[9]
Referencesedit
^Benjamin Crocker Clough (1947). The American imagination at work: tall tales and folk tales. A. A. Knopf.
^Myra Jehlen; Michael Warner (1997). The English Literatures of America, 1500-1800. Routledge. pp. 388–. ISBN978-0-415-90873-3.
^The Yale Literary Magazine. Herrick & Noyes. 1887. pp. 95–.
^Baker, Emerson W. The Devil of Great Island, pp. xiii, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2007.
^Baker, Emerson W. The Devil of Great Island, pp. xiii, 4-5, 7-12, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2007.
^Palmer, Ansell W., ed. Piscataqua Pioneers: Selected Biographies of Early Settlers in Northern New England, pp. 446-7, Piscataqua Pioneers, Portsmouth, NH, 2000. ISBN0-9676579-0-3.
^Baker, Emerson W. The Devil of Great Island, pp. 4-5, 7-12, 48-51, 58, 66, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2007.
^Palmer, Ansell W., ed. Piscataqua Pioneers: Selected Biographies of Early Settlers in Northern New England, pp. 446-7, Piscataqua Pioneers, Portsmouth, NH, 2000. ISBN0-9676579-0-3.
^Baker, Emerson W. The Devil of Great Island, pp. 177-201, Palgrave MacMillan, New York, 2007.
lithobolia, stone, throwing, devil, word, narrative, folk, tale, richard, chamberlayne, first, printed, london, 1698, considered, early, example, esoteric, literature, supernatural, horror, writing, been, compared, modern, poltergeist, stories, book, describes. Lithobolia or the Stone Throwing Devil is a 7 000 word narrative folk tale by Richard Chamberlayne first printed in London in 1698 It is considered an early example of esoteric literature and supernatural horror writing and has been compared to modern poltergeist stories 1 2 3 4 The book describes events which supposedly took place during 1682 in Great Island present day New Castle Province of New Hampshire During the summer months hundreds of stones rained down on a certain tavern Nobody witnessed anyone throwing the stones The tavern owner accused a female neighbor of using witchcraft against him and she in turn accused him of being a wizard The tavern was already controversial in the area because the owner was a prosperous Quaker its personnel included Native Americans and its regular customers included so called godless fishermen The events marked the first major accusations about witchcraft in New England starting a trend of similar accusations in other New England towns Overview editThe book s frontispiece describes itself as being an Exact and True account by way of Journal 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 chiefly in throwing about by an Invisible hand Stones Bricks and Brick Bats of all sizes with several other things as Hammers Mauls Iron Crows Spits and other Utensils as came into their Hellish minds and this for space of a quarter of a year The Stone Throwing Devil created quite a sensation on Great Island present day New Castle New Hampshire in 1682 Hundreds of stones mysteriously rained down on George Walton s tavern as well as onto him his son Shadrach and others in the area over the entire summer Yet no one ever came forward who saw anyone throwing the stones Many other unexplained events also occurred at that time Demonic voices were heard and items were flung about inside Walton s tavern Prominent Boston minister Increase Mather described the strange events in his book Illustrious Providences 5 6 George Walton who was in a property boundary dispute with his neighbor accused her of witchcraft She in turn accused him of being a wizard Others in the area may also have had reasons to throw stones at Walton He was a Quaker Quakers were looked upon with great suspicion by Puritans and just being a Quaker was a crime Walton was a successful innkeeper merchant and lumberman and became the largest landowner on the island Walton was envied by his less industrious neighbors There were also a number of lawsuits over business and property disputes He also had two Native American employees which would have caused great concern so soon after war with the Indians King Philip s War and because of the uneasy peace that existed His tavern customers included a variety of rowdy outsiders including godless fishermen who were considered undesirables by others on the island Regardless of what caused Walton and his inn to be the victim of a months long rain of stones it was the first major outbreak of apparent witchcraft in America 7 8 News of it traveled throughout America and England Within a few years accusations of witchcraft would occur in other New England towns culminating in the famous Salem witch trials 9 References edit Benjamin Crocker Clough 1947 The American imagination at work tall tales and folk tales A A Knopf Myra Jehlen Michael Warner 1997 The English Literatures of America 1500 1800 Routledge pp 388 ISBN 978 0 415 90873 3 The Yale Literary Magazine Herrick amp Noyes 1887 pp 95 Baker Emerson W The Devil of Great Island pp xiii Palgrave MacMillan New York 2007 Baker Emerson W The Devil of Great Island pp xiii 4 5 7 12 Palgrave MacMillan New York 2007 Palmer Ansell W ed Piscataqua Pioneers Selected Biographies of Early Settlers in Northern New England pp 446 7 Piscataqua Pioneers Portsmouth NH 2000 ISBN 0 9676579 0 3 Baker Emerson W The Devil of Great Island pp 4 5 7 12 48 51 58 66 Palgrave MacMillan New York 2007 Palmer Ansell W ed Piscataqua Pioneers Selected Biographies of Early Settlers in Northern New England pp 446 7 Piscataqua Pioneers Portsmouth NH 2000 ISBN 0 9676579 0 3 Baker Emerson W The Devil of Great Island pp 177 201 Palgrave MacMillan New York 2007 External links edit 1 Lithobolia Text Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lithobolia amp oldid 1221517952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
