The Lithobolia of New Castle

In 1682, the tavern of George Walton in New Castle (now Portsmouth), New Hampshire, was bombarded by stones thrown by an invisible force. The case was documented in a contemporary pamphlet titled “Lithobolia” and remains one of colonial America’s most mysterious events.

The Stone Showers

Beginning in June 1682, stones of various sizes fell on the Walton property. They came from all directions, breaking windows and striking people. The stones were sometimes hot, as if from a fire. The bombardment continued for months.

The Investigation

The Governor of Massachusetts sent investigators. Prominent citizens witnessed the phenomena. Cotton Mather, the famous Puritan minister, collected testimony. Despite extensive observation, no human agency could be identified.

The Phenomena

Beyond the stones, other poltergeist activity occurred. Objects moved on their own. The cattle gate was found unlocked repeatedly. A cheese was found covered in hot stones. The phenomena seemed directed at George Walton specifically.

The Accusations

Walton blamed a neighbor, Hannah Jones, with whom he had a land dispute. She was never convicted, but suspicion of witchcraft hung over the case. In that era, supernatural harassment was attributed to malevolent magic.

Assessment

The Lithobolia case was extensively documented by credible witnesses including government officials. The stone-throwing phenomenon has been reported in poltergeist cases across centuries and cultures. Whatever attacked the Walton tavern was never identified.