In the land of Jamaica, a story haunts the locals about a place called Rosehall. It is said to be inhabited by a witch who is adorned in white. This witch, known as Annie Palmer, is reputed to have been a plantation owner who possessed dark and demonic powers. Annie Palmer is said to have been born in Haiti and was raised by voodoo priests. She eventually married John Palmer and moved to Rosehall, where she inherited the plantation. However, it is believed that she used her powers to kill her husband, not once, but three times, as well as multiple other men.
About 50 miles farther east, past the bustling tourist center of Ocho Rios, is the popular Prospect Plantation, owned from 1936 to 1981 by Sir Harold Mitchell, who enjoyed a powerful political career in England and befriended a great many notable people. Winston Churchill, Pierre Trudeau, Henry Kissinger, Noel Coward and Ian Fleming are just a few of the celebrities who have stayed at the home, located amid rolling hills five miles east of Ocho Rios.
Formerly the magnificent gateway led to an avenue of trees, selected for the beauty and fragrance from the endless variety which luxuriates in a southern clime the coconut with its fringy leaves, always graceful and always beautiful; the giant cotton, the king of the forest, from whose huge limbs countless streamers of parasitical plants hung pendent are exposed to the breeze; the palm with its slender speckle of most delicate green; the spreadid mahogany with its small leaves of the deepest dye; and there also the ever-bearing orange with its golden fruit and its flowers of rich perfume. Like the raven s wing is her hair, falling in thick clustering ringlets, unconflned by comb, down upon her alabaster neck and shoulders of purest white, her brow high and commanding, her eyes dark and expressive; a smile plays sweetly round her rosy lips, and the expression of her countenance is pleasant, but at the same time her eyes and brow show great determination of character.
However, it is believed that she used her powers to kill her husband, not once, but three times, as well as multiple other men. The legend of Annie Palmer takes a terrifying turn as it is said that she would seduce men and then murder them in cold blood, all while wearing her signature white dress. Locals claim to have seen her ghostly figure roaming around the plantation, especially at night, wearing her flowing white gown.
The legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall
Annie Mae Patterson was born to an English mother and Irish father who moved to Haiti when they she was just 10 years old. Whilst in Haiti, Annie became interested in Voodoo and learned about it from her Haitian nanny. Her parents died of yellow fever whilst in Haiti and she was raised to adulthood by her nanny, becoming an expert at Voodoo as she grew. At the age of 18 her nanny died and she moved to Jamaica in search of a rich husband as a means to acquiring her fortune. She was said to be very beautiful and very petite (around 4 ' 11 " tall). She met and married John Palmer, the owner of the Rose Hall estate which included the great house and a 7,000 acre sugar plantation with 2,000 slaves.
Only a matter of months in to their wedding Annie began to grow tired of her husband and started taking slave lovers to bed. One day John caught her with a lover and beat her with a crop. Annie took great exception to this and murdered him by poising his coffee, she then inherited Rose Hall for herself.
Annie inherited Rose Hall herself and began her reign of terror on the estate. She would regularly shout orders to her slaves from her balcony and would often torture or kill any slaves who displeased her and sometimes just to make an example of them. Annie took a string of slaves as lovers, however, none of these lasted for long as she murdered them as soon as she grew tired of them. She married twice more but both of these husbands died, presumed murdered by Annie who went on to inherit their wealth. The husbands were buried by slaves whom she had killed before they returned to the estate. Her cruel behaviour coupled with rumours of her Voodoo rituals earned her the name "The White Witch of Rose Hall".
Annie's fatal mistake was to put a curse on the granddaughter of Takoo, the local obeah man. Annie was trying to win the love of an English book keeper named Robert Rutherford. However, Rutherford was in love with the Obeah man's granddaughter, Millicent. Annie cursed Millicient with an "Old Hige" - a visit from a ghost whose presence causes the victim to slowly wither and die. Outraged by his granddaughters death, Takoo, accompanied by an army of angry slaves strangled and killed Annie.
She was immediately buried in a very deep hole on Rose Hall estate. The slaves on the estate also burned her possessions for fear that they were tainted by her spirit. A voodoo ritual was carried out when she was buried but it is said that this was not carried out correctly and her spirit still haunts Rose Hall to this day.
It is said that the subsequent owners of the Rose Hall estate suffered early and tragic deaths, leading to the estate being unoccupied for over 130 years. Locals have reported seeing a shadowy figure in a green velvet habit riding a black horse across the estate. There are also tales of screams and hurried footprints being heard in the empty great house.
The tales of Rosehall and its witch have been passed down through generations, instilling fear in the hearts of those who hear them. Many have claimed to witness paranormal activities and experience strange occurrences while visiting the plantation. Whether the Witch of Rosehall truly existed or if she is merely a product of folklore and superstition, her story continues to captivate the imaginations of those who hear it. The mystery and fear surrounding the witch in white have made Rosehall a popular destination for those seeking a thrill and a glimpse into the supernatural. The witch of Rosehall is not just a local tale but has also captured the interest of authors and filmmakers, who have sought to bring her story to a wider audience. Books and movies detailing the legend of the witch have been created, further solidifying her place in Jamaican folklore. Ultimately, the tale of the witch of Rosehall will continue to be shared and retold, ensuring that the legend lives on. Whether true or not, the notion of a witch adorned in white, haunting a plantation in Jamaica, is enough to send shivers down anyone's spine and keep the curious returning to Rosehall in search of answers..
Reviews for "The Witch of Rosehall: Jamaica's Dark Fairy Tale"
1. John - 2 stars
This book started off promising with its dark and mysterious atmosphere, but it quickly became a convoluted mess. The protagonist's actions and decisions made absolutely no sense and felt forced. The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth. The writing style was also quite mediocre, with excessive and unnecessary descriptions that only served to slow down the pacing. Overall, "The Witch of Rosehall Adorned in White" was a disappointment and failed to deliver on its premise.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I found "The Witch of Rosehall Adorned in White" to be incredibly boring and poorly executed. The characters were flat and lacked any sort of development. The story dragged on with no clear direction, and the numerous flashbacks only added confusion to the already muddled plot. The writing itself was choppy, filled with grammatical errors and awkward sentence structures. It pains me to say this, but I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Michael - 2 stars
"The Witch of Rosehall Adorned in White" had potential, but it ultimately fell flat. The pacing was sluggish, and the story lacked any real excitement or suspense. The dialogue was cliché and uninteresting, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Additionally, the constant use of exposition and info-dumping made the reading experience tedious. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a thrilling read.
4. Emily - 3 stars
While "The Witch of Rosehall Adorned in White" had an intriguing premise, it failed to live up to its potential. The story had a slow start and took a long time to build any suspense. The characters were underdeveloped, and their actions often felt forced. The writing style was decent, but it lacked finesse and failed to evoke any strong emotions. Although it had its moments, this book ultimately left me unsatisfied and wanting more.