Flying stones of all sizes rained with such force that those outside quickly ran for shelter. But the effort was futile: stones crashed through glass and fell down chimneys; some were hot as flames while others were bitterly cold. Hundreds at a time flew through the sky crashing down on to the tavern, making their way into walls and bruising or severely injuring anyone unlucky enough to come in contact with them. Lithobolia had arrived.
The whirlwind of stones began furiously on the evening of June 11, 1682 on the small and peaceful isle of Great Island, New Hampshire. There, at the home and tavern of George and Alice Walton, friends and boarders were running for shelter and protection. Small and large stones, some as hot as fire, pelted the tavern, breaking windows, causing damage, and injuring anyone who came in contact with them. These treacherous, mysterious attacks continued for three months until they came to a sudden end in September. No one ever came forward to claim responsibility, yet no one was ever seen. How could one person or even several cast hundreds of stones over four-hour periods? Some too big to lift or too hot to touch. Coincidentally, other oddities such as demonic voices and items being moved or thrown about the tavern occurred during the same three month period. There was no other answer but witchcraft.
At the time George Walton was in a property dispute with his neighbor Hannah Jones. He accused her of resorting to using forces of the occult upon him. His proof…Hannah’s mother had been accused before of witchcraft, and those who believed knew that witchcraft was passed through the female generations. Hannah of course retaliated with a charge of wizardry against George. Unfortunately, when Hannah confronted George regarding her mother, her temper got the best of her and she threatened to cast stones at him. This was enough proof to put Hannah on trial for witchcraft.
However, Hannah was not the only one capable of casting stones upon George. He was a successful and envied Quaker in a land of Puritans who did not take too kindly to him. In the nearby Massachusetts Bay Colony, Quakers could be hung simply for stepping on Puritan land. In addition, he employed questionable characters and catered to rowdy customers including those known as “godless fishermen.” Hannah was later acquitted of witchcraft charges, but not before similar accusations began to spread through the New England Colonies, coming to a head ten years later, at what is known as the Salem Witch Trials.
A boarder at the tavern by the name of Richard Chamberlin (secretary of the British Colony of New Hampshire) witnessed the onset and wrote about it in his journal. Sixteen years later he published it and called it “Lithobolia.” Translation: the stone-throwing devil.
Thank you Wayne Marshall Chase for this Modern-day Tavern Image
Today, Great Island is better known as the quiet and peaceful New Castle, New Hampshire, located at the mouth of the Piscataqua River.
If you would like to learn more about "Lithobolia," the stone-throwing devil or the pre-Salem history of witchcraft and strife in the New England colonies, please read or visit the below resources. Thank you.
If you would like to learn more about "Lithobolia," the stone-throwing devil or the pre-Salem history of witchcraft and strife in the New England colonies, please read or visit the below resources. Thank you.
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Thank you to the following resources that helped make this blog possible:
References:
Brown, J. (2007, May 7). New Hampshire Glossary: Lithobolia–The Stone Throwing Devil. Retrieved April 26, 2015, from http://www.cowhampshireblog.com/2007/05/07/new-hampshire-glossary-lithobolia-the-stone-throwing-devil/
Chamberlin, R. (1698). LITHOBOLIA. Retrieved April 26, 2015, from http://w3.salemstate.edu/~ebaker/chadweb/lithoweb.htm
Robertson, D. (2003, April 14). Attack of the Rock-Throwing Devil. Retrieved April 26, 2015, from http://www.seacoastnh.com/arts/please041403.html
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