Lithobolia facts for kids
Lithobolia: or, the Stone-Throwing Devil is a long story written by Richard Chamberlayne in 1698. It's about strange events and is seen as an early example of folk tales dealing with the supernatural. Many people compare it to modern poltergeist stories, where invisible forces move objects.
The book's cover says it's "an Exact and True account ... of the various actions of infernal Spirits or (Devils Incarnate) Witches or both." It describes how these spirits caused a lot of trouble for George Walton's family. This happened at a place called Great Island in New Hampshire, New England. The spirits mainly threw stones, bricks, and other things like hammers and tools. This went on for about three months!
The Stone-Throwing Devil Mystery
The "Stone-Throwing Devil" caused a big stir on Great Island, which is now called New Castle, New Hampshire, in 1682. Hundreds of stones mysteriously fell on George Walton's tavern. Stones also hit him, his son Shadrach, and others nearby throughout the summer. No one ever saw who was throwing the stones.
Many other strange things happened too. People heard scary voices, and objects flew around inside Walton's tavern. A well-known minister from Boston, Increase Mather, wrote about these odd events in his own book, Illustrious Providences.
Why Was George Walton Targeted?
George Walton was involved in disagreements with his neighbors over land. He was also a Quaker. At that time, Puritans, who were the main religious group, looked at Quakers with great suspicion. Just being a Quaker was considered a crime.
Walton was a successful innkeeper, merchant, and lumberman. He became the biggest landowner on the island. Some of his less successful neighbors might have been jealous of him. He also had two Native American employees. This might have worried people, especially after a war with Native Americans (King Philip's War) and during a time of uneasy peace. His tavern also served many different people, including "godless" fishermen, who some islanders didn't like.
A Start to Witchcraft Fears
No matter what caused the stones to rain down on Walton and his inn for months, it was one of the first major outbreaks of what seemed like witchcraft in America. News of these events spread across America and England. Within a few years, similar accusations of witchcraft began in other New England towns. This eventually led to the very famous witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts.
