I am an nonfiction author and am working on historical fiction as a change. I grew up in Johnstown, Ohio, and remember a story my elderly neighbor told me. (now deceased) At the time I wasn't paying attention, but as an adult and writer, I realize the tale has potential.

Have you ever heard that a 13 year old girl was burned alive at the stake for being a witch in 1830s Johnstown? She is supposedly buried in the Concord Cemetery, Liberty Twp, Licking County. If the story is true (my neighbor swore it was), what on earth made the people of a small rural town afraid enough of a little girl to kill her? Especially for witchcraft in the 1830s? The Salem, MA, tragedy happened in the 1690s!

If you have any information about the validity of this old tale, know someone who might have the info, or have suggestions on how I might validate (or negate) this story, please write me. I would love to know if this is a real event in Johnstown's history. Thank you for any leads. Christine

That sounds interesting I have access to the Genealogy library at the High School here in Johnstown. I look at the stuff for a short moment before our Board Meetings once a month.

If you can get me more specific dates I might be able to find something or get permission to get in there more to look.

I just went through - Historical collections of Ohio; containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history; with descriptions of its counties, principal towns and villages. Illustrated by 180 engravings ... By Henry Howe. 1851
The only mention of witchcraft was about the indians killing anyone suspected of it and that was before the time period you mentioned.
I would suspect the lady had over a 100 years of facts mixed up, the girl may have died in a house fire. The killing of witches had long died out, but superstition did hang on about people's odd habits.
Barbara

this story bears a familar note. could possibly be confused with the story of Victoria Claflin Woodhull and family of Homer Ohio. who used to climb the mound in Homer, Ohio and preach in the tounge, which caused fear among some of the residents there and they claimed the family to be witches. The story of this family can be found at the Homer, Ohio Library. The Family was ran out of Homer in the early 1840's however the small town now celebrates the birth of Victoria and have a festival in her honor every summer now. I remember a story told by my Great Uncle John Miles of Johnstown of claims of witches by some of the old residents, from stories he heard when a child. but nothing of any burnings, other than a deranged girl that spilled lamp oil and as she ran outside on fire burned to death as people tried to help her to no avail. most of the tales of that day orginated about people or children who were deranged in one way or another who babbled and killed small animals and etc.(strange). as years passed from one generation to another the stories grew. In all probality it was just one of those old tales.

Dan Fleming (Newark Library) and Jack Morter have been doing some research for me. There are only two 13 year-old girls buried in the Concord Cemetery in the right time frame. They are Sarah Lavina Emerson, DOD August 4, 1846, age 13 years, 11 months, daughter of Jasper and Eliza.

The other girl is Mary Stockwell, daughter of Eli and Mary, DOD: Dec. 20, 1835, age 13 years, 8 days. That's what I have so far. Interestingly, I had a dream about it and in my dream her name was Sarah. I'll start with her.

One person responded to me saying that it was "impossible" for the tale to be true because no one was burned in the US, only hanged, drowned or pressed to death. True, burning was a European "sport," which makes this tale more horrific.

The other possiblity is she was odd or maybe had epilepsy, something to make her stand out. Then through the years, the tale got more skewed with each telling. All I know is I have to find out. Maybe she died in a fire. Couple that with any perceived oddity and you have the stuff of novels.

The old saying goes where there's smoke, there's fire, no pun intended. If it is false, wonderful. I grew up in Johnstown. If it's true, it will rewrite American history because there are no recorded witch burnings in the US. And herein lies our problem: no *recorded* burnings. Thank you for taking the time to write!

Thank you so much for taking the time to research and respond! Please read my response under "Sue." I agree with you. Maybe she had epilepsy and had one too many fits during church. Maybe she died in a house fire. Over the years, people talked across the fence: "Her Mama always did say she was odd, etc., etc." With each retelling, the story became more skewed. Thanks again for your time.

Thank you! I have had wonderful help from a lot of people. Dan Fleming of the Newark Library found out that there are only two 13 year-old girls buried in the Concord Cemetery in the right time period. One Sarah Lavina Emerson, DOD: Aug.4, 1846, age 13 years, 11 months, daughter of Jasper and Eliza; and Mary Stockwell, DOD Dec. 20, 1835, age 13 years, 8 days, daughter of Eli and Mary.

I had the thought, too: What if she were odd? What if she had epilepsy and had one too many fits in church? What if she burned in a fire. Over the years, people would say: "Well, her Mama always did say she was odd." Etc., etc. Then the story got more skewed with each telling.

So far, your version rings the most true to me. Interestingly, I had a dream that her name was Sarah. Now if we can find out that little Sarah Emerson died in a fire, we have our story, thanks to you. Or, at least the basis for a good novel with a few twists of the imagination.

Do you remember any more of your uncle's tales about witches in Johnstown? My favorite writer is Sharyn McCrumb. She writes historical fiction of Appalachia. I grew up in Johnstown. This whole tale reminds me of Sharyn McCrumb's work. Thank you again for your wonderful response!

Okay I found out so much the last week it has been interesting

On this subject the details are fuzzy on things .......
The girl did die at the age of 13, Witches are not buried they are burned,
their ashes are not buried. Some people say she is a Witch others say she
was just a popular little girl that was well loved by her parents. She was
re-searched and her obituary was found in the Newspapers archive and
nothing was ever found on the cause of her death. The archive that was
searched through at the Newspaper office was auctioned off by the
Independent when it was purchased by the Dispatch. (I have no idea why the
books were auctioned off and where they are at now. Someone suggested
contacting the Ashbrook family to see if they have the papers. )

Every couple of years the story comes back on the teenagers within this
town go nuts over facinating little stories and attempt to go out to the
Cemetary. Rumors are everywhere on her and why .....
1.) Emerson house was located in town and was later used as a Funeral home.
For some reason and no one seems to know yet (at least the people I am
talking to) as to why the Emerson house was taken down.
On Sarah Emerson -
Stories say she became ill for no reason and then started babbling. That
when she pointed at others that visited her they became ill and died. (Now
a days you can account the babbling to a fever and the virus she had was
contagious.) They tried to burn the house down and destroy her when her
parents were out one evening. Upon returning home they got the fire out and
discovered that she had died and they buried her out in the country where
no one would know about her and leave her grave alone. There is another
Emerson family buried out there right next to her. Her parents are not
buried out there we searched through the graveyard to see. If you look at
Sarah's grave site there are three red flowers and a child beaded necklace
left there for her. By who ............. no one knows. No flowers have been
planted by any of the other Emerson Graves.

I took pictures and when I get home from work I will get them loaded to
computer.

The poem on the gavestone will explain as to why people may think what they
think.

Young People all as you pass by
As you are now once was I
As I am now you soon will be
Prepare for death and follow me
My dust is mouldering back to dust
My soul returned to God
May those who read know soon they must
Lie cold beneath the clod.

Of Monster death why blast so soon
The flower that just began to bloom
But boast thou now weel not complain
For Sarah soon shall rise again
Then in that resurrection morn
We all shall meet her in the sky
From our cold graves dark and forlorn
We'l bask in scenes that never die

D. Stockwell
Harlem Delaware Co Ohio


The graveyard is located out Concord Road and then you turn left at the
Liberty Church. In the center of the Cemetary on the hill is a pillar
gravestone. The family site is shadded by trees

FYI there is a third 13 year old buried right next to Sarah, it is another Emerson girl and she died 20 years before Sarah.

There are the following the parents of the thrid girl and it looks like a set of twins (maybe babies) and then the parents. Then Sarah Emerson then there is room for more and then another headstone. We looked around to see if we could find her parents buried there but none were found ?

Thank you, Sue. Here is the "strange" part: I grew up in Concord. (I now live in Cincinnati.) My parent's farm is just down Castle Road. I can see the cemetery from my mother's front window. As a child I walked to the cemetery many times and read her poem. Then I grew up and put away childish things and forgot about Sarah.

Recently I had a dream and all the dream said was "write about Sarah." I have had much research help from many, many people like yourself, Nola Rogers, Jan H and Dan Fleming of the Newark Public Library.

Independent of your research, Dan located the cemetery record and from the dates, we decided only two girls were candidates. Mary Stockwell, age 13 years 8 days, date of death December 20, 1835, and Sarah Emerson, date of death August 4 1846, age 13 years, 11 months.

Dan helped me locate the family history of both Mary Stockwell's parents and Sarah Emerson's parents. The Stockwells sold their farm in Dec of 1846 (the year Sarah Emerson had died, 11 years after their girl died) and moved to Madison County. In the extensive Emerson history, there is only one mention of Jasper, Sarah's father: "He removed himself to Iowa in the 1850s and there died."

This is a strange entry because he had three brothers and five sisters. The history goes on and on about all the siblings' accomplishments, who they married, what children were born and died, occupations, etc. In the three page small print history , except listing him as a son of Stephen and Elizabeth Emerson and one of the first families in Concord, there is but one sentence: he removed himeslf to Iowa and there died. No mention of wife, no mention of child Sarah. Other Emersons in this history who had children dying in childhood are listed. Not Jasper.

I believe the child had epilepsy or Tourette's syndrome. She probably had tics that made her "strange" and people were afraid of her. As Nola Rogers suggested in an earlier posting, there is a legend of a "deranged girl who caught fire from an oil lamp and no one could help her."

Without knowledge of neurological medical conditions, she was "different" and it was the fear of differences that probably led to her death. Think about the impact a seizure or tic would have had on the public say, during a church service? She was not a witch, only different. If she had Tourette's she would have seemed profane and twisted indeed. Even "possessed."

I'll take it one step farther based on nothing but my instincts and my dream. (Yes, I know this is speculation and look peculiar on a web site, but I'll go out on a limb here.) In my dream she was alone and she was killed, perhaps unintentionally. Someone threw the lamp at her in fear when her parents were away. Not meaning to kill her perhaps, but to "stop" her.

In my dream, she was also dramatically pretty, a lot like the young Elizabeth Taylor in National Velvet. It was the combination of beauty and neurological problems such as seizures or tics and the paradox scared people.

Anyway, I am a writer (author of five nonfiction books in the metaphysical genre, three out, fourth due out this fall, fifth out next year) and I intend to take a little fact and write fiction.

Still, think about it: independently of any of your research, Dan and I concluded that it was Sarah Emerson or Mary Stockwell. In my dream her name was Sarah. Her father Jasper "removed himself to Iowa and there died." (Taken from the Memorial Record of Licking County, Ohio. No author, 1894, in Newark library) No mention of wife Eliza.

I will send your posting to Dan Fleming. I believe it needs to be in the library as "The Legend of the Johnstown Witch, Separating Fact from Fantasy." Every few years people get curious, as you stated. I believe there needs to be a record in the Licking County Library system just as there is a record of "ghosts" in the Granville Inn, etc.

Not stating it as truth, simply stating where the legend may have come from. I want to separate fact from fiction because my book will be fiction pure and simple. I can refer readers to information found in the Newark Public Library Sysyem.

My list of people to thank will be long and it will include you. Yes, my publisher is interested in the idea as I take the leap from nonfiction into fiction. It will take at least a year (maybe longer) to write and another year to be published. We're looking at 2004, at the earliest, to be out in print, probably 2005. My historical fiction writing hero is Sharyn McCrumb.

Thank you again for the followup. I am visitng my mother next month and plan to walk across the road and look at her grave again, this time through the eyes of an adult. Christine

Sue,

It is interesting to me that the poem on Sarah Emerson's grave was written by a Stockwell. The Stockwells were one of the first families in Concord, but after Mary Stockwell's parents (the other 13 year old girl buried at Concord in the right time frame, DOD 1835) moved away in 1846, no mention of them again in Johnstown history. Stockwells show up in Newark and other counties such as Madison and Delaware, but not Johnstown. Dan Fleming found this information for me.

Mary's parents are listed as Mary and Eli Stockwell, but when they sell the farm in 1846, the land deed lists Eli's wife as Sally. What happened to first wife Mary? Or, was the grave stone incorrect and Sally is the correct name? No mother named Mary Stockwell buried at Concord, only the 13 year old girl named Mary Stockwell.

Then, who is listed as the author of the poem on Sarah Emerson's grave? A Stockwell. D. Stockwell of Delaware County. Just an interesting connection. The Stockwells (Eli and Mary) also have a 13 year old girl who dies in 1835. 11 years later, another 13 year old girls dies (Sarah Emerson) and that same year the Stockwells sell their farm, move out of the county, never to return to live in Johnstown.

Then a Stockwell writes a poem for Sarah Emerson's grave. I sense a connection, don't you? Meanwhile, Jasper, Sarah's father with no mention of Sarah's mother Eliza, "removes himself to Iowa and there dies" taken from a source I quoted in the entry above. Eliza Emerson is not buried in Concord Cemetery or Licking County as far as I can research. Could they, the Stockwells and Emersons, have been neighbors? Was it just too sad for either family to stay? Interesting...

Also, the other 13 year old girl buried next to Sarah was born and died too soon, 20 years before. The time frame for the legend is 1830s - 1840s. Thanks again for your help and posting of information. I look forward to the pictures.
Christine

Sue,

I can't seem to organize my thoughts today into one letter. I keep thinking of things after I sign off. I'll try to make this the last note today. Please excuse me!

I very much like your theory of contagion. She was sick and people who came to see her died later. Burning makes sense. It is one old way to rid a community of contagion. I'll have to ask Dan if there are a lot of people buried in Concord Cemetery in the year 1846.

If her fever was high, she might have seizured or she became delusional, also making her look "possessed." I still think she could have had a neurological disorder such as Tourette's or epilepsy (or even Attention Deficit Disorder or hyperactivity disorder) to begin with. Somethng made her appear "odd" to the community. Coupled with fever or contagion, you have a recipe for disaster.

She was not a witch, just very unfortunate. This was, and still is, a Christian community. People at that time would have been afraid of contagion. There was so little they could do. They might also perceive seizures as some kind of possession simply because they didn't know any better. They could have been a little superstitious. These people were pioneers. They left their homes in New England, or England, and came to settle a new land. I'm certain they brought their share of folk tales with them.

By the way, the Emersons were the first settlers in Concord--Stephen and Elizabeth, grandparents of Sarah, parents of Sarah's father Jasper. They came from Ware Township, New Hampshire, city of Concord. That's how Concord got its name. In 1815, they settled first in St. Alban's Twp, then moved to Liberty Twp in 1818, although one record says 1817. Son George E. Emerson was the first white child born in the community. He would have been brother to Jasper, Sarah's uncle. There are Emersons still living in Concord. Wonder if any Emerson family Bible lists Sarah's cause of death? I won't ask them. It's too intrusive.

I guess the main theme of this mystery is that fear causes destruction. How did the fire start? My gut tells me it was set, but of course, that's pure speculation.

And, over the years, the tale grew more skewed, lost facts, etc. With modern technology, there probably would be nothing mysterious about the tale, still sad, but not mysterious. Everything could be explained away, diagnoses made, medication given, autopsy performed, the cause of the fire determined through forensics. But the early 19th century was a different time.

I will try to research Sarah's cause of death but we will never know exactly what happened. Maybe we are not supposed to know. (Isn't it fun speculating?) Thanks again for posting the poem. Christine

Christine - Did you ever write the book? I am now looking into the Claflin family, of which daughter Victoria Claflin Woodhull was the most famous. The Claflins were "run out of town" from Homer ~ 1840-- to say they were ne'er-do-wells is being polite -- so it might be useful to me to see what information you gathered about Sarah Emerson, who was of course apparently "run out of life" in 1830, not "out of town" for being strange. I'd love to see what you learned!
Thanks, Pat

Our exchanges from yesterday have all been deleted by Rootsweb for some reason.

The Claflin generation which includes Victoria and Tennessee has 122 pages with approx. six people per page. I'll look up some individuals for you but can't transcribe that many.

rkinkead11@adelphia.net

No wonder! What I would like to know is the names of their direct siblings and birth dates if possible.

Genealogy of the Claflin Family, p.124-5

408 Reuben Buckman6 [Claflin](Robert5 Abner4 Joshua3 Daniel2 Robert1), born at Sandisfield, Mass., 1796. Married Anna Hummel, about 1825. He lived at Troy, Pa., for about three years after his marriage. Then removed to Sinnamahoning, Pa., and engaged in mercantile business. He lived there anumber of years and then removed to Licking County, O. He died Nov. 19, 1885. She died 1890, aged eighty-five.

CHILDREN

1126 Margaret Ann, born at Troy, Pa., Feb 2, 1827
1127 Delia, died young.
1128 Mary, born Jan.6, 1831.
1129 Maldon.
1130 Hebern, born at Streetsborough, O., Aug. 27, 1835.
1131 Victoria, born at Homer, O., Sept 23, 1838.
1132 Utica, born 1843.
1133 Tennessee Celeste, born 1845.
1134 Odessa Maldiva; died young.
1135 Hester Ann, died young.
____________

That's what's in the book.

Dick Kinkead
Lantana, FL

I saw that you were looking for information on Victoria Claflin and she shows up in my Woodhull family tree. From what I can see she was married to a Canning Woodhull but then divorced in 1864. I am a descendant of the Woodhull family, if you have anymore information I would greatly appreciate it.

I have quite a bit of information on Victoria and a bit on Canning. He has purportedly a physician and was called in to help Victoria when she had been ill for years and was close to dying. She was being paraded around as a child medium and clairvoyant by her father, Reuben Buck Claflin, in Ohio. Her symptoms, among other things, suggest that she had a Dissociative Disorder, often developed by children (and adults) when they have experienced a severe or recurrent trauma and are helpless to stop it. Dissociative Disorders are related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

There is a fair amount of evidence that she was sexually abused by her father and possibly even pregnant by him. She was, depending on which sources you believe, 12, 13, or 14 when Canning "cured" her & then proposed. Again, depending upon which source you believe, her parents agreed to the marriage OR her father let Canning have Victoria in exchange for canceling a gambling debt. They were married when Victoria was 13, 14, or 15 (14 was the technical age of consent) in October or November of 1852 or 1853. Canning proved to be a heavy drinker, gambler, and womanizer -- later an opium addict too. Of course, if a teenaged girl had been pawned off on him as a virgin who was actually pregnant by incest, he might have reason to DRINK!

A boy child, Byron Woodhull, was born to them in December of 1853. He was profoundly retarded, never learned to speak, and never developed teeth. As I said above, he might actually have been Reuben Buck Claflin's child, not Canning's. I don't have a solid date of death for him.

A second child, Zulu Maud Woodhull (who later called herself Zula Maud Woodhull)was born to them on April 2, 1861. Victoria and Zulu nearly bled to death because cAnning was too drunk to tie off the umbilical cord properly after the birth. She left him and divorced him ca. 1864, but took Canning back in in about 1871, when he was dying of his addictions. She nursed & supported him, with the complete approval of her then-husband, James H. Blood, until he died about April 8, 1872, in NY NY.

I don't have a solid date of death for Zulu Maud either.

Neither Zulu nor Byron Canning (the son) ever married.

Victoria was famous -- notorious -- as a spiritualistic, woman suffrage supporter, free love supporter, and the first female candidate for president of the US. There are some good but old books about her, including Mary Gabriels' Notorious Victoria (1998). I am writing a new one.

Let me know if I can tell you more.
Pat

I only just saw this point for some reason. Thanks! I do know that Reuben Buck Claflin died in London, too.

Also at some point earlier in this thread, I said the Claflins were run out of Homer in the 1840s, but I find they are listed as living in Homer in the 1850 census.

-Pat