Haunts, Hexes and the Supernatural

Hannah Shingle

Northern Chester County was a rather wild place in the middle part of the 1800's and the old stories are still told of one of the more brutal murders ever committed in the region, that of poor Hannah Shingle (or Shengle, as appears on her gravestone).

Necromancer Convicted

Pughtown Man Found Guilty of Practicing Arts of Incantation West Chester, Feb 5. David Blair, of Pughtown, on trial here since Thursday, was today convicted on charges of practicing charms, necromancy and incantation. Pending a motion for a new trial sentence was deferred.

There was an unusual scene in the the court room prior to and during the the time when the verdict was rendered. Followers of his cult knelt in prayer and continued in this attitude until after Blair was convicted.

Blair was arrested several times weeks ago for practicing charms in the northern part of the county.1

  • 1. Reading Eagle, 2/5/1927

Phoenixville Gravestone House Located

I was intrigued last year by an article from 1921 that mentioned a house made from gravestones in Phoenixville, and, thanks to an prompting from a site visitor, I was determined to locate the house and learn more about its builder, George A. Detwiler.

Red Rose Inn - Jennersville

Even before the Red Rose Inn gained a reputation for being a 'spirited place', it already had an interesting history. The tract of land on which the Inn stands was once part of a parcel given to William Penn by King Charles of England and was known as "No Man's Land", as it was placed between the existing lands of William Penn and those of Lord Baltimore. The property was first leased in the 1730's with the annual payment to be made each June 24th of a single rose, and hence, the name of the Inn in modern times.

The Thing in Northern Chester County

The "Thing" the mysterious animal which aroused residents of North Coventry township last November, and later was seen and heard in the Birchrunville area, now is reported in the Charlestown township-Kimberton area.

Witchcraft in Chester County

Superstition in the early days seems not to have been confined to Salem whose witches so much exercised the Puritans of New England. The imaginary crimes of witchcraft at that time ranked among the most heinous, and hence were only tried by the superior courts. The parties concerned in the celebrated witch trial, which occurred before the proprietary, William Penn, and his Council, at Philadelphia, Feb 27, 1684, resided near the mouth of Crum Creek, were in good circumstances,and, for naught that is known to the contrary, were quite as respectable as their accusers. The following is a record of the trial, copied from the published minutes of the Council:[bib]32[/bib]