The Andover Poltergeist

During the Salem witch trials of 1692, the town of Andover experienced an outbreak of poltergeist phenomena that resulted in more witchcraft accusations than Salem Village itself. Objects moved without cause, people were physically attacked by invisible forces, and the community descended into terror.

The Context

The Salem witch crisis began in early 1692 and spread through Essex County. By summer, Andover was experiencing its own outbreak. Afflicted individuals reported being pinched, bitten, and thrown by unseen hands.

The Phenomena

In Andover homes, objects moved without visible cause. Pins appeared in bedding. Children saw specters no one else could see. Physical attacks left marks on the afflicted. The phenomena spread from house to house.

The Touch Test

Andover residents brought the afflicted to touch suspected witches. If the afflicted person’s fits stopped upon touching a suspect, that person was identified as their tormenter. Using this method, over forty Andover residents were accused.

The Confessions

Under intense pressure, accused witches confessed in large numbers. These confessions described attending witch meetings, signing the Devil’s book, and sending their specters to torment the afflicted. The confessions reinforced belief in the outbreak’s supernatural nature.

The Aftermath

When the trials ended, many confessions were recanted. Andover had the highest number of accusations of any town, and also the most recanters. The community had to reconcile with neighbors they had accused.

Assessment

The Andover outbreak demonstrates how poltergeist-like phenomena, combined with social pressure and religious interpretation, can escalate into community-wide crisis. Whether the phenomena were genuine, psychological, or deliberately faked, their effects were devastating.