The Roberson Family Possession

In 1920, the Roberson family of Jackson, Tennessee, experienced what they believed was demonic possession affecting multiple family members. The case drew comparisons to the Bell Witch haunting of the previous century.

The Manifestation

The disturbances began with strange noises and objects moving. Then family members began speaking in voices not their own, revealing secrets and making accusations. The entity seemed to know things no one should have known.

The Pattern

The possession jumped between family members. When one recovered, another would begin exhibiting symptoms. The entity seemed to delight in causing conflict and exposing hidden shames.

The Revelations

The possessing entity revealed adultery, theft, and other sins committed by family members and neighbors. These revelations caused social damage that outlasted the possession itself.

The Resolution

After several months, a local minister led extended prayer sessions. The activity gradually decreased. The family moved away, unable to continue living in a community where their secrets had been exposed.

Assessment

The Roberson case demonstrates how possession claims can serve social functions, exposing tensions and secrets that might otherwise remain hidden. Whether genuinely supernatural or psychologically driven, the effects on the family were devastating.