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| Adams, Tennessee, United States |
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| Information |
Bellwood Cemetery
This cemetery is the final resting place for various descendants of the Bell Family, who were allegedly haunted by a local spirit popularly known as The Bell Witch. While the members of the family that were directly involved in the incident are not buried here, there is a monument dedicated to the contributions that John Bell and his family made to the city of Adams, Tennessee. The entire cemetery was designed and built in 1957 by a direct descendant of John Bell by the name of Leslie Covington as a lasting tribute to his family's roots. As such, several of Bell's direct descendants were exhumed and re-interred on the cemetery grounds. The Bellwood Cemetery is said to lie on the outer edge of the John Bell's former 1000-acre farm.
Other Cemeteries
The obelisk in the middle of the Bell plot at the back of the cemetery does offer some vague pointers in finding the graves of John Bell and John Bell Jr., as well as their family. However, their graves are currently on private property and are not open to the general public. John Bell's tombstone had to be replaced in 1957 after being stolen in 1951. Elizabeth "Betsy" Bell is buried in the Long Branch Cemetery in rural Water Valley, Mississippi.
Charles Bailey Bell, M.D.
One family member that is buried in the cemetery with a connection to the story of the Bell Witch is Charles Bailey Bell, the great-grandson of John Bell and son of John Bell Jr.. In 1934, Charles Bailey Bell published The Bell Witch: A Mysterious Spirit. The book has been criticized a great deal as simply a rehash of the 1894 novel, Authenticated History of the Bell Witch by M.V. Ingram, but does offer some interesting morsels. In the book, Bell alleges that when the Bell Witch returned to torment John Bell Jr. in 1828, the spirit passed along a series of predictions. There are reports that some of these predictions came true, notably the Civil War, but other predictions reportedly made by the entity have been less on the mark. Another interesting note is that, as stated already, Charles Bailey Bell published this book in 1934. The Bell Witch had claimed that it would return once again in 1935, but there are no reports of the spirit re-appearing at that time.
Welcome to the City of Adams
One of the more photographed attractions in Adams, Tennessee is the "Welcome" sign that sits just outside the gates of Bellwood Cemetery. The sign features the image of a witch riding a broom - a nice little homage to their local legend.
Hauntings
As with anything related to the Bell Witch, visitors to the Bellwood Cemetery have reported paranormal activity. The activity appears to be generally centered on strange photographic anomalies and the feeling that they are being watched. |
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| User Trips |
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| Related Sites |
The Bell Witch Web Site
The Bell Witch Web Site is dedicated to preserving and popularizing the legend of Tennessee's infamous Bell Witch. |
Wikipedia: Bell Witch
Wikipedia entry for The Bell Witch. |
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| Similar Destinations |
| Crystal Valley Cemetery, Manitou Springs, CO |
| Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, TN |
| Sierra Madre Pioneer Cemetery, Sierra Madre, CA |
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| See Also on TheCabinet.com |
| Track of the Day - 8/10/2007 |
| Blog: The Bell Witch and the Death of John Bell (12/20/08) |
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| Available from Amazon.com |
The Bell Witch: An American Haunting |
The Bell Witch : The Full Account |
Infamous Bell Witch of Tennessee |
Season of the Witch |
A Mysterious Spirit: The Bell Witch of Tennessee w/The Bell Witch of Middle Tennessee |
An Authenticated History of the Famous Bell Witch. The Wonder of the 19th Century, and Unexplained Phenomenon of the Christian Era. |
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