I am a direct descendant of the Bell family and was curious about the story. It's something my family doesn't talk about except in hushed tones.
213337
I have read about the bell witch before if you would like to know more about it I have found some good information at the sites below
41150
yes i would care to know the deeper meaning to the story! it would interest me! good luck w/ ur research!
656753
As a matter of fact me and my family were sitting around telling "ghost" stories just the other night.\n\nI have had several encounters w/ what could of only been ghosts.  My brother actually swears he seen our mother "floating" over us when all five of us kids were saying good bye to her in the hospital (she had just died) - he swears she was crying and looking down at all of us.  This is just one of several things that has happened over the years.\n\nI think your father wanted to talk to you.  Maybe he wanted you to know he was watching over you even thought he wasn't here on earth any longer.  \n\nI think that as long as their not "bad" or mean ghosts it's ok - even kinda cool - I have heard some stories from people who have encountered sightings w/ mean ghosts.  I think your dad was telling you and your mom that he will always love you.
275831
i have several times..brought some friends along for some trips. In this area we have acient colonial plantation and slave houses just scatterd every where. Some are deep in over grown forrests others are lucky they survived the paving of the new raods they are so close.\nI really enjoy the sights of those old old houses...so much history...but it feels like there are the ghosts of the previous owners watching your every move..not quite hostile yet but wary...enough to give you prickles up your neck.\nAnd how could it be illegal if no one has lived in it for ages upon ages? I mean really why waste the history lesson of how people lived.\nThen the next adventure is to wander into the family grave yards and try make out the dates and writing on the stones...
265972
It opened Friday. I saw it. I live in Tennessee, actually only about 20 minutes from where the real events took place. I have personal stories about the reality of the legend. The Bell Witch is real, and the movie portrayed the events really well. The movie I thought was great, but then again I have the personal ties. The movie itself did seem sort of retro in the way it was depicted, but I must say. The portrayal was so real. Excellent movie. Read about the legend first and then you'll understand. Here in TN, some people got so freaked out because of the realness that they puked in the theater. For real!!!
399553
ive tried looking, they wont reveal any of that. I do believe it is hereditary though
406222
Is that the only people you hang out with? You told me to stop dwelling on slavery (which im not) it was a question for people in the myth/folklore topic..I didnt know u specialized in that.
275464
I like horror stories, so here are some...\n\n***\n\nAbout six or seven years ago, my family lived along Teays Valley Rd. before the big "industrial boom" of Putnam County. Seems like it went from a farming community to a city right before my eyes. Well anyway, We rented land off of a fellow by the name of Jim Umberger. On this land was an extravagant pre-civil war almost Victorian house. It was simply beautiful. Off to the side of this massive antique sat our trailer. Now I was awful young through all of this and kids will have thier fabled ghost stories, but there was something quite odd about this house. Something was down right sour. \n\nThe story had it (and I know nothing of the truth in this) a family was brutally butchered in the house. Back then, there wasa whole lot of nothing for miles around, so no one even found these folks for a good long time. As a youngster, I had the "creeps" about anything just about, but I've never been quite as frightened of a place as I was here. The place had an eerie air to it. To make things even more insane, my stepgrandmother, Evelyn, died of brain cancer there (in our trailer, of course). My other Grandmothers' entire cancer eaten body siezed up and shut down on her, yet she died oficially in a hospital. Strange things went on at this trailer. Pockets of not cool, but cold air in the middle of July, for example. Once in the winter my mother was out on the town. My younger brother and I were watching some TV when there was a knock on the door. There, on the freshly fallen snow, was nothing. No footprints, no tire tracks, nothing. Needless to say I spent the rest of that night with my head buried under the covers. Speaking of doors, once I heard the doorbell ring, seemed innocent enough, but WE DIDN'T HAVE A DOORBELL!! Pictures falling off the wall, creaky floors and long sleepless nights were only minor nuisences we had to deal with everyday. The most disturbing incidences, however, and the most annoying were when the smoke detectors, located in various parts of the trailer, would take turns going off one at a time. \n\nAfter that, they'd go off simultaneously, quite a ruckus. For a long time, I thought I was the only one who felt a presence, then one night, my mother went completely irate screaming "Show yourself, Evelyn! I'm tired of these f*ck*ng games! Show yourself!" We never saw anything. Things continued as they were until we moved. Mr. Umberger sold the land to someone and it became South Brooke, a ritzy subdivision with $500,000+ houses that wouldn't hear of our humble trailer depriciating thier property. However, I believe they'll get theirs, Although they tore the house down for the project, there was a well and a system of underground streams and springs which probably rendered the whole operation illegal. The thing about the springs and wells may not sound important, but in my own personal research I have found negative forces and spirits can channeol themselves through waterways. I'd like to see how South Brooke likes it's neighbors! \n\nI believe I have some pictures of that house somewhere in the mess that is my apartment.\n\n***\n\nThe story I would like to tell is about an apartment building in Spokane, WA. This building is only about seven years old, if y'all are anything like me you expect a haunted house to be all scary and falling down, not clean with nice landscaping. It really started the day after we moved in, my hubby came in from the deck (I am a cigarette nazi - no smoking in ze house!) scared as heck. I have never seen my ex-marine hubby look so scared. He absolutely would not talk about it! hmmmm. \n\nNot two days later my little year and some odd daughter was supposed to be asleep for the night but instead was talking to someone. Of corse, no one was there when I checked, but I swore I could hear an old lady talking to her. I figured it was my dead grandma, she comes to visit now and t
68455
Wasn't that show interesting! I could look at henry's parents and tell that he wasn't all black even his great great grand mother looked like she was german! but i am not that surprised by Oprah she looks asian to me! So does mae jamison. honestly the fact that there are a lot of white people that could have black in them did not surprise me at all. there were alot of blacks that passed and went into society with out being discovered that went on to procreate children. So it is very possible for that to happen. i think henry's family wanted to stay 'above " the colour line that is why he was on a crusade to prove his black ness I found it ironic that he wasn't as black as he thought he was.
226567
There's no harm in asking the history, if you don't want them to know you think the house is haunted, then don't say anything about it, just tell them you are interested in the history of it.  Working on a house will stir up the spirits, I know it has in my house.  But talk to the oldtimers in the town, they are always full of info on old houses. Also, children can see thing til they are about 4, spirits think they are innocent til they are about that age and show themselves to them.  If they don't hurt you and your not scared of them, then leave them be, but they also say that if you tell them to go to the light that they will eave, that they just need someone to tell them where to go.  I fully believe in ghosts, but they don't scare me since I live with them in my own home.  good luck with them, and some people will think your crazy, but others will believe.
198679
Hi, Jen....wow...I have experienced simliar scenario......the drup thing with strange family members reason enough to say...no thanks.....I really dislike the idea of being around that type of crowd....not wishing to be snobby.....but...I am with you 100%....James
387874
Yes this is a very old saying, and your family is not crazy I remember my mother saying it, but I don't know the reason why, I shall watch this question in the hope that someone does.\nGood question
408961
i usually stop after 3rd cousin, and call anyone else 'distant' cousins, odds are we dont know and didn't grow up with or around them anyhow.  check with someone that does family tree/ancestry and they could explain what you want to know i would imagine
518948
It was probably very painful for them and they just couldn't talk about it. I am glad that you are able to hear stories and see pictures now. Live in the moment and be happy that they are sharing it with you. If it bothers you then ask them why.
351341
I have never felt the need to tell my children that there is a Santa Claus, yet they come home with these stories and I am expected to go along with this. I see nothing wrong with telling them the truth that Santa Claus is a story SOME parents tell their children.
194131
Why won't you write to me about this so we can have an intelliegent discussion about this?  Or even a debate about this?\nYou've read one writer's opinion in a Readers' Digest magazine, now you think you're an expert in the behaviors, lifestyles, and traditions within ALL the American Indian tribes.\nI've posted responses in your 3 previous questions/rants about my ancestors, and still you haven't responded.\nI've written to you through Yahoo mail inviting you to discuss your views in a rational manner, but you won't respond.\nI even have posted a question titled  "Zeepogee, why won't you contact me about your words about American Indians".\n\nI'll go to the library tomorrow to try and find this book you want everyone to read. If I can find it, I'll read it and get back to you. If I can't find it, I'd like a link from you where I can check out your source of opinion.\n\nYour "questions" are just rants. You ignore my open invitation for a friendly discussion, now you post this rant on here.\n\nYou can say I'm calling you out to talk about your views in front of all the readers on here.
232701
It could be argued that some family trees in the deep dark south don't have branches, but are straight lines. Inbreeding happens, no matter what color you are.