Thank you

I’m sure there are many errors throughout this website. It represents nearly 20 years’ research & writing, online, and another 20 years’ work before that. If I didn’t change my opinions, I’d have stagnated and been a far less effective researcher. However, updating all 500+ articles at this website… that’s not a productive use of my time.

However, my Bell research has never disputed the existence or reality of the phenomena. My only questions are just how much can be explained, and

I don’t accept that the Ingram version is entirely factual, as additional information came to light after that. (Including information from descendants, who may be part of an apparently silent side of the family.) This includes a greater emphasis on the hidden passages and secret access to many homes, known to the schoolmaster and his father, who was one of the builders.

We have to consider the possibility that some of the “secrets” revealed by the Bell Witch actually involved ventriloquism or other deliberate use of information gathered without the knowledge of the victims.

I am horrified by the vandalism at Betsy’s stone and at haunted locations — particularly graves — aggravated by “ghost hunters.” Now that some “ghost hunting” events include a BYOB note… I’m disgusted by what this field has become. It’s a significant part of some recent decisions I’ve made regarding this field.

I urge you to write your own book to explain what really happened. A family member, on the record, explaining this… it’d be a tremendous help for those of us who want to understand the truth behind the stories.

Sincerely,
Fiona Broome, founder of HollowHill.com
http://FionaBroome.com/

By what of authority I am a Great, Great, Great Grandson of John Bell, Sr. through the marriage of his daughter Esther to Alexander Bennett Porter.
I was born and raised in Yalobusha, County, Mississippi (Where Jesse and Esther moved) and have “lived” with “Kate” as a part of my family my entire life.

I am currently embarked on several projects related to this “legend” and was “surfing the web” when I came accross yours.

My Mother was a firm believer in the phenomena as am I, though there are others in our family (Esther’s side) who do not discuss these events nor do they believe in them. On Aunt Betsy’s side, it is almost complete silence even unto the current generation.

Are you aware that, because of repeated vandalism, the family recently removed Betsy’s original headstone in Longbranch Cemetery and replaced it with a hideous “modern” one with an incorrect inscription?

If you would like to talk more, please contact me.

thank you for responding, and i plan to visit Adams, Tn. very soon. more than likely now days just a nice little spot by the Red River. thank you again, and i am sorry i was negligent in reading the information you provide more carefully before submitting my comment.

However, no matter how much of it was paranormal, the experiences were real. They profoundly impacted the Bell family and the people who knew them.

Likewise, I would never “blow off” any situation that resulted in death. That’s not a prank, and shouldn’t be treated by one, regardless of its cause. Using words like that trivializes the tragedies associated with the Bell Witch, and polarizes those of us who’ve spent years researching the case, including the Ingram reference.