About a year ago, I moved to a new neighborhood. It seemed like a nice, quiet area - until people started whispering about a witch who lived nearby. I was intrigued, and I couldn't help but let my curiosity get the best of me. Rumors traveled fast in our small community, and soon I heard various stories about the witch. Some claimed she had magical powers, able to cast spells and make potions. Others said she possessed a mysterious aura, often seen wandering through the woods or performing rituals in her backyard.
Daughter Hannah Parker Tyer saw her mother Mary hanged while Hannah’s daughter Bethiah was still at Hannah’s breast. Mary, Hannah, and Bethiah are all my direct mothers. I can’t begin to imagine how their hearts must have broken. How much trauma was stuffed away and never spoken of after that? As far as I know, the story was not told to descendants in my line, at least not within living memory. When did they stop speaking of it?
Witch Hollow Farm, as it is now called, was the oldest American home of my 9th great-grandparents, originally settled by the colorful Job and Mary Tyler. Curiously, it s a line that I only became aware of recently because my lineage back to the Tylers consists of an unbroken chain of mothers and daughters.
Others said she possessed a mysterious aura, often seen wandering through the woods or performing rituals in her backyard. Despite the warnings and fear surrounding her, I decided to investigate further. Late one night, armed with a flashlight and my courage, I set out to find her.
Visiting an ancestral home at Witch Hollow near Salem
The Tyler family from which I descend had more involvement in the Salem witch trials than any other in New England in the number of accusers and accused. [Source: In the Shadow of Salem, Richard Hite] My 9th great-grandmother Mary Ayer Parker was hanged. On a recent vacation, my family made a pilgramage to visit our past at a property dubbed Witch Hollow because of all that happened there.
Have you ever taken a vacation as a pilgrimage to an ancestral place? Today, I request your indulgence as I get a bit personal, philosophical, and then I’ll follow these musings with some writing takeaways. Last week my family flew to beautiful Portland, Maine and we used that as a jumping-off point to beaches, lighthouses, and Acacia National Park. We ended up at an ancestral place that was in the family for 250 years and originally settled in the mid-1600s.
Portland Head Light from the last day of our tripI cautiously approached her house, which stood alone at the edge of the woods. The property looked unkempt, with overgrown plants and a rusty gate. I knocked on the door, expecting the worst. To my surprise, a friendly, elderly woman greeted me. She seemed harmless, far from the wicked witch I had imagined. Her name was Eliza, and she explained that she was merely a herbalist with a passion for nature and traditional healing methods. As we sat in her cozy living room, sipping tea, Eliza shared her knowledge and showed me her collection of herbs and plants. She spoke of how she used them to create remedies for ailments and promote wellness. In that moment, my perception of witches shifted dramatically. The rumors had created a distorted picture of Eliza, painting her as a villain when, in fact, she was a kind and knowledgeable woman. I felt a pang of guilt for not giving her a chance before believing the gossip. From that day forward, I made it a point to challenge the stories I heard and form my own opinions based on firsthand experience. The encounter with Eliza taught me a valuable lesson about the danger of assuming things without getting to know the truth. It also made me realize that sometimes, the most interesting and unique people are the ones we least expect. Eliza, the so-called witch near my place, turned out to be a wise and insightful friend, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have met her..
Reviews for "The Witch Near My Place: A Catalyst for Strange Happenings"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Witch near my place". The storyline was not captivating at all and I found the characters to be one-dimensional. The writing style was also quite dull, lacking any excitement or creativity. Overall, I think this book didn't live up to its hype and I wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Witch near my place" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, leaving me feeling lost and uninterested throughout the entire read. The dialogue was awkward and unrealistic, making it hard to connect with the characters. I found it difficult to stay engaged and I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.
3. Robert - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch near my place" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The story lacked depth and the pacing was extremely slow. I found myself bored and dragging through the pages, hoping for something to grab my attention. Sadly, that never happened and I was left feeling unsatisfied with this book.
4. Emma - 2.5 stars - While "Witch near my place" had an interesting concept, I felt that the execution was poorly done. The writing felt amateur and lacked polish, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The characters were underdeveloped and their actions often seemed unrealistic. Overall, this book had potential but didn't quite deliver what I was hoping for.
5. Michael - 2 stars - "Witch near my place" was a letdown for me. The plot was predictable and full of clichés, leaving little room for surprises or originality. The pacing was sluggish, making it hard to stay engaged. I was hoping for a thrilling and captivating story, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver. I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more satisfying read.