The Hydesville Rappings

On March 31, 1848, in a small house in Hydesville, New York, two young girls—Kate and Margaret Fox—reportedly communicated with a spirit through knocking sounds. This event is considered the birth of the Spiritualist movement, which would sweep America and Europe in the following decades.

The Fox Family

The Fox family occupied a rented house that included John and Margaret Fox (parents), Kate Fox (age 11), Margaret Fox (age 14), and already had a reputation for strange sounds.

The Strange Sounds

The family had heard noises for months including mysterious rapping and knocking, sounds of furniture moving, unexplained footsteps, and sounds with no apparent source.

March 31, 1848

On the evening of March 31, the knocking was particularly intense when young Kate challenged the spirit by snapping her fingers and saying “Here, Mr. Splitfoot, do as I do,” and the spirit responded with matching knocks.

Communication Established

Margaret Fox then tested the spirit by asking it to count to ten (which it did), asked yes/no questions, established a code (one knock = yes, two = no), and began extracting information.

The Spirit’s Story

Through the code, the spirit claimed it was a murdered peddler named Charles B. Rosna (or Rosma), killed for money by a former tenant, and buried in the cellar.

Excavation Attempts

Neighbors dug in the cellar and found some human-like material initially, though the water table prevented complete excavation, but years later a skeleton was reportedly found and the story gained credibility.

The Witnesses

The events were witnessed by the Fox family, neighbors who were called in, local community members, and the phenomena repeated for visitors.

The Spiritualist Movement

The rappings sparked a revolution as within years millions claimed spirit contact, séances became widespread, mediums emerged across America and Europe, and new religious movements formed.

The Fox Sisters’ Career

Kate and Margaret became famous as they conducted public demonstrations, traveled performing séances, became celebrities of the movement, and made their living as mediums.

The Confession

In 1888, Margaret confessed and claimed the sounds were made by cracking toe joints, demonstrated the technique, with Kate initially supporting the confession, though Margaret later recanted.

Controversy

The confession is disputed because she was paid for it, she was suffering from alcoholism, she recanted within a year, and believers argued it was coerced.

The 1904 Discovery

In 1904, the house’s cellar wall collapsed and a human skeleton was reportedly found with a peddler’s tin box, which seemed to confirm the original story, though the timing was suspicious to skeptics.

Significance

The Hydesville rappings are significant for birthing the Spiritualist movement, influencing millions worldwide, establishing spirit communication practices, creating controversy that continues today, and changing Western attitudes toward death.

Legacy

Whether genuine communication, fraud, or something else, the Hydesville rappings changed history. The Spiritualist movement they inspired influenced religion, psychology, and popular culture for generations and continues in various forms today.