Went to see the Chesterville "Witches" Grave

[Milliscent]

There is a legend in Chesterville, Illinois about an Amish woman who was banned from the church a hundred or so years ago for speaking out against the way Amish women were treated. They branded her a witch and banished her. She disappeared, only to be found dead in a cornfield. After letting everyone view the 'witches' body, they buried her in the Chesterville Cemetery, planted a tree on top of her grave (to keep her spirit from wandering) and put a wrought iron fence around her grave to warn people a witch was buried there. Supposedly, people have seen her spirit around her grave. When I read this legend online, I got very angry...not sure why. I don't think her spirit is at rest.
This weekend, my daughter, her friend and I went to see her grave. It took us awhile once we found Chesterville to find the cemetery, but we finally found it. It is a very tiny cemetery out in the country, and sure enough, her grave was there. When we pulled into the cemetery (one tiny gravel lane), and stopped, it was very quiet. As soon as we got out of the van, millions (it seemed) of birds went nuts, screeching. We found her grave, it had a large square tombstone, very old and mossy, impossible to read...history, according to the websites about her, has forgotten her name. The tree was HUGH, it looked like two trees had grown into one massive one, like the old spooky trees you see in scary movies. The ground around the entire grave is at least six inches higher than the rest of the cemetery, as if something is slowly pushing the tree up and out of the soil. I really felt the anger and lonliness there, as if a great injustice has been done. I feel a real connection with this person, but also felt as if we were being pushed away from the cemetery. As soon as we got back into the van, before we even drove away, the birds stopped screeching. All of them at once. I can't get this person, the Chesterville Witch, (my daughter and one of my friends think her name was Sarah, I say Julie or Julia, but those are just...guesses?) out of my mind. Does anyone have any thoughts or insights on this?


Milliscent

[HolographicJoe]

Go back an do a rubbing of the stone, you might find out her name and/or some other interesting info. Also check out the local Amish newsletters (If they print such things) from the time or copies of the local paper. They should have some info. Go to the local bar in the afternoon and question the old townsfolk. The Amish will most likely be no help, but you might try to speak to them too. If they'll talk to you they'll probably know a great deal more and remember it better than the other villagers. Also, what kind of tree is it? If its a hard wood and it's that huge it's most likley been there longer than a century. As for the birds, it's migration time. They'll be all around in strange noisy flocks for several weeks. If it hapopens agin on your next trip it'll start to get odd, but not once this time of the year.

Maybe bring her something so she knows she's not alone. It's chilly out, I can't imagine a bit of brandy would go ill. Or research the Amish hex signs and bring one you feel is appropriate. Even just a sprig of rosemary would get your point across. But if you are this drawn to her maybe try to clear her name, or at least give her a name and make her innocence clear in the eyes of the world. Your could do a lot of good here both for her, other Amish women, and for the witchy folk.

Salaam.

_wiz_

[Ghosthunter]

There is a legend in Chesterville, Illinois about an Amish woman who was banned from the church a hundred or so years ago for speaking out against the way Amish women were treated. They branded her a witch and banished her. She disappeared, only to be found dead in a cornfield. After letting everyone view the 'witches' body, they buried her in the Chesterville Cemetery, planted a tree on top of her grave (to keep her spirit from wandering) and put a wrought iron fence around her grave to warn people a witch was buried there. Supposedly, people have seen her spirit around her grave. When I read this legend online, I got very angry...not sure why. I don't think her spirit is at rest.
This weekend, my daughter, her friend and I went to see her grave. It took us awhile once we found Chesterville to find the cemetery, but we finally found it. It is a very tiny cemetery out in the country, and sure enough, her grave was there. When we pulled into the cemetery (one tiny gravel lane), and stopped, it was very quiet. As soon as we got out of the van, millions (it seemed) of birds went nuts, screeching. We found her grave, it had a large square tombstone, very old and mossy, impossible to read...history, according to the websites about her, has forgotten her name. The tree was HUGH, it looked like two trees had grown into one massive one, like the old spooky trees you see in scary movies. The ground around the entire grave is at least six inches higher than the rest of the cemetery, as if something is slowly pushing the tree up and out of the soil. I really felt the anger and lonliness there, as if a great injustice has been done. I feel a real connection with this person, but also felt as if we were being pushed away from the cemetery. As soon as we got back into the van, before we even drove away, the birds stopped screeching. All of them at once. I can't get this person, the Chesterville Witch, (my daughter and one of my friends think her name was Sarah, I say Julie or Julia, but those are just...guesses?) out of my mind. Does anyone have any thoughts or insights on this?


Milliscent

First, all you have to do is talk to a few of the residents of Chesterville to find out that this spirit is not at rest. It has been my experience, that the "Witch" is very hostile. My father-in-law was once a resident of the tiny town of Chesterville, living across the river from the cemetary. The first time I was first introduced to the "Witch" story, was the first time I visited him with my now wife. Let me tell you, the energy of this spirit is one not to mess with. During my time in Chesterville I witnessed countless "wierd" things. Including cat's acting in mysterious ways, the sightings of several different spirits, and several Amish spirits. Yes, the "witch" is an interesting topic to discuss. However, the truth of the matter is, this community (area) as many more dark secrets.
I guess the point I am trying to make is be careful what you look for. You may find it, you may feel or see the Chesterville Witch or her energy. But sometimes, you may not like what you find. This is a very dangerous spirit. And she's just the one people talk about. Alot of tragedy as seen this town. Alot of pain and anger fills the spirits that still walk this towns streets. And sometimes, what you see is not what's there.
I have a photo of what I believe to be the Chesterville Witch, if anyone is interested in viewing it.

[Evendusk]

The birds were probably going nuts because you were in trespassing on their territory. I've had birds fly at me, which is disconcerting, but once out of their area they settled down.

When the Amish ostracize a member of their society it is complete, even their family won't speak to them again. It's as if they no longer exist so this poor woman really suffered the loss of her entire world and must still be absorbed in that anguish as well as anger at her treatment.

[TarotCanada]

http://tarotcanada.tripod.com/WitchPlumHollow.html (http://tarotcanada.tripod.com/WitchPlumHollow.html)

This one is my area - pretty cool.

Cheryl

[Lunacie]

I have a photo of what I believe to be the Chesterville Witch, if anyone is interested in viewing it.

Can you post it here? I'd love to see it.

[LadySnake]

Can you give the link to the website that you found about this woman? I want to see it.

[Lunacie]

I did a web search for “Chesterville Witch”.

This site has a photo of the grave, the fence, and the tree:

http://www.prairieghosts.com/chestcem.html (http://www.prairieghosts.com/chestcem.html)



This site wonders if she was killed by “visual antes”. :lol:

It has a different photo of the tree and fence.

http://www.internationalsocietyofparanormalinvestigators.com/Chestvillewitch.html (http://www.internationalsocietyofparanormalinvestigators.com/Chestvillewitch.html)



By the way, these sites say the Amish woman was “banished”.

The usual practice is “shunning.”

[Milliscent]

First, all you have to do is talk to a few of the residents of Chesterville to find out that this spirit is not at rest. It has been my experience, that the "Witch" is very hostile. My father-in-law was once a resident of the tiny town of Chesterville, living across the river from the cemetary. The first time I was first introduced to the "Witch" story, was the first time I visited him with my now wife. Let me tell you, the energy of this spirit is one not to mess with. During my time in Chesterville I witnessed countless "wierd" things. Including cat's acting in mysterious ways, the sightings of several different spirits, and several Amish spirits. Yes, the "witch" is an interesting topic to discuss. However, the truth of the matter is, this community (area) as many more dark secrets.
I guess the point I am trying to make is be careful what you look for. You may find it, you may feel or see the Chesterville Witch or her energy. But sometimes, you may not like what you find. This is a very dangerous spirit. And she's just the one people talk about. Alot of tragedy as seen this town. Alot of pain and anger fills the spirits that still walk this towns streets. And sometimes, what you see is not what's there.
I have a photo of what I believe to be the Chesterville Witch, if anyone is interested in viewing it.


Wow, new life for this thread!
Oh, cool, a picture...I would love to see what she looks like, because I have this "minds-eye" view of what I think she looked like. And yes, unfortunately, the whole area around Chesterville (Arthur, Arcola, etc...) has a darkness to it that is hard to explain, something you have to feel for yourself. I think a lot of it has to do with the oppression against women in that area, and no, in traditional Amish communities, it has still not changed over the years. Women and girls are still raped and brutalized at the hands of male family members, and very little is done about it, except in the isolated, and I mean VERY isolated, cases that make it out of the community. As for the Chesterville Witch, I didn't feel threatened by her at all after I went back. I have been there several times since my first post, and can sense a strong presence there, but I never feel any anger directed at me. It is as if having her plight told to the world has appeased her somewhat. I have had some really strong visions concerning her, one so vivid, at the moment of her death. It was like I was actually looking through her eyes out across a barren cornfield. It seemed like very early fall or nearing spring. There was a breeze blowing a few blades of grass. and a bloodstain growing on her white apron. Hard to explain, but it was like I was in two places..seeing through her eyes, and seeing her on the ground, from above. I guess what I am trying to say is that I don't feel threatened at all by this spirit.
She is almost like a friend.
As for articals on her, the most "comprehensive" one I have read is in the book "Haunted Decatur Revisited" by Troy Taylor. It doesn't have a lot of info in it, but more than anywhere else. As for asking the residents in and around Chesterville, the Amish won't talk about her, and the rest only tell what is already known.
Also, the pictures of her grave don't do it justice. You can see the upraised ground around her grave in them, but what it doesn't show is that the rest of the cemetery is flat. The tree, so massive it's limbs almost cover the entire cemetery, has grown THROUGH the wrought iron fence and one side of the fence seems to have been..?stolen? because it's not there anymore. Odd, because I could have swore it was there last year, but one side of the grave is competely open now.

Warm Regards,
Milliscent

[Sowelu]

I am looking forward to seeing that pic!:chatty:

[Ghosthunter]

I went through my research pictures, concerning the missing fence. I have a pic that was taken 2 years ago. Facing the grave, with your back to the road, on the left hand side there is a small section of the iron fence missing.

If you here people talking in and around this community about this "person", you will hear all kinds of stories. But, the one word that everyone uses is "witch". Teenagers in this area think it makes for a good time to go out and try and disturb the grave. This women can't be left alone.

Don't get me wrong here, there are people with good intentions who go and visit this gravesite. However, there are countless others who do appreciate the story, the mystery here who do not show appreciation and show disrespect. Do you like that this spirit honestly enjoys all this negative attention?

The first time I visited the grave was with my wife. Her father lived across the river, next to the old bridge. Let me tell you a little story on the "evil" around this women. On the drive to our home, in Kansas City Missouri, we could both feel a horrible presence in our car. So much so, that we threw out almost everything in our vehicle that we had broughten back from Chesterville.

When we arrived home, we could both still tell that something was wrong. That night, at about 2 am, I awoke to what I truely believe was a possessed women, my wife. I helped my wife to our car and took her to my mothers home, who is also into the supernatural. My mother and I, spent the next several hours on the phone to Catholic priests, saying prayers, and doing everything in our power to rid this evil. We succeded, but what happened that night was real.

The picture I am posting on here is one of the few I have in which I believe the "Witch" is in. The women in the picture is my wife. This picture was taken the night before we left Chesterville. I hope you can see what I, and others have seen in this picture. It was taken on a clear night, no clouds in the sky. It appears that the women is wrapping her arms around my wife.


I do not want to see this picture posted on any other people's websites. This picture is part of my research and is copyrighted. I will be glad to share it, and by that I mean I will allow you to look at it. But, remember, it belongs to me. I am sorry I have to say this, but there are alot of people out there that like to take credit for other peoples work. For example, have you noticed that almost every website about the Chesterville Witch have the exact same pictures? If you look at the pic, form your opionion, and leave it at that, more power to you. If you look at the pic, copy it, and post it on your website or book, I hope you have a very good lawyer because I will sue.

[Ghosthunter]

I would like to add that I am moving near Chesterville in the next couple of weeks to continue my research. I would like to invite anyone who will be in the area to join me in conversation and on trips to the cemetary.

[Sowelu]

The picture I am posting on here is one of the few I have in which I believe the "Witch" is in. The women in the picture is my wife. This picture was taken the night before we left Chesterville. I hope you can see what I, and others have seen in this picture. It was taken on a clear night, no clouds in the sky. It appears that the women is wrapping her arms around my wife.




I couldn't see anything:sadeyes:
I thought I may have seen something off to the right side, above her left shoulder...but then nothing.
Could you outline the area where you see her arms?

[Sowelu]

I would like to add that I am moving near Chesterville in the next couple of weeks to continue my research. I would like to invite anyone who will be in the area to join me in conversation and on trips to the cemetary.


I wish I could be there!

[Ghosthunter]

It looks sorta like a cloud. You need to view the image larger to get a good look. As you are looking at the picture, look to the right side of the woman. The arm appears to go behind the womans head.

[Milliscent]

I went through my research pictures, concerning the missing fence. I have a pic that was taken 2 years ago. Facing the grave, with your back to the road, on the left hand side there is a small section of the iron fence missing.

If you here people talking in and around this community about this "person", you will hear all kinds of stories. But, the one word that everyone uses is "witch". Teenagers in this area think it makes for a good time to go out and try and disturb the grave. This women can't be left alone.

Don't get me wrong here, there are people with good intentions who go and visit this gravesite. However, there are countless others who do appreciate the story, the mystery here who do not show appreciation and show disrespect. Do you like that this spirit honestly enjoys all this negative attention?

The first time I visited the grave was with my wife. Her father lived across the river, next to the old bridge. Let me tell you a little story on the "evil" around this women. On the drive to our home, in Kansas City Missouri, we could both feel a horrible presence in our car. So much so, that we threw out almost everything in our vehicle that we had broughten back from Chesterville.

When we arrived home, we could both still tell that something was wrong. That night, at about 2 am, I awoke to what I truely believe was a possessed women, my wife. I helped my wife to our car and took her to my mothers home, who is also into the supernatural. My mother and I, spent the next several hours on the phone to Catholic priests, saying prayers, and doing everything in our power to rid this evil. We succeded, but what happened that night was real.

The picture I am posting on here is one of the few I have in which I believe the "Witch" is in. The women in the picture is my wife. This picture was taken the night before we left Chesterville. I hope you can see what I, and others have seen in this picture. It was taken on a clear night, no clouds in the sky. It appears that the women is wrapping her arms around my wife.


I do not want to see this picture posted on any other people's websites. This picture is part of my research and is copyrighted. I will be glad to share it, and by that I mean I will allow you to look at it. But, remember, it belongs to me. I am sorry I have to say this, but there are alot of people out there that like to take credit for other peoples work. For example, have you noticed that almost every website about the Chesterville Witch have the exact same pictures? If you look at the pic, form your opionion, and leave it at that, more power to you. If you look at the pic, copy it, and post it on your website or book, I hope you have a very good lawyer because I will sue.


Hmm, interesting. I have several pictures of my own, if you would like to see them, I will post them here. I don't have a web-site, nor have I copyrighted them, so feel free to use or abuse as you see fit. Interestingly enough, if you take a picture of the tree in the daytime, standing in front of it with your back to the road, the moss growing on the front of it looks just like a woman with long hair. I have a picture of that too, if you would like it. It is cool that you are moving to the Chesterville area. I live about 50 miles northeast, and go there practically every weekend. Maybe we will run into each other. I visit her grave in the daytime, before the cemetery closes, and usually go with my daughter and a friend, or just my daughter. We don't disrupt her grave, nor or we loud. However, I have seen signs of abuse and disrespect there, and have had to pick refuse off the grave from time to time. And yes, it is the left side of the fence I noticed missing. Odd, because it seemed like it was there last year, but I must have been mistaken.

[Sowelu]

Hmm, interesting. I have several pictures of my own, if you would like to see them, I will post them here. I don't have a web-site, nor have I copyrighted them, so feel free to use or abuse as you see fit. Interestingly enough, if you take a picture of the tree in the daytime, standing in front of it with your back to the road, the moss growing on the front of it looks just like a woman with long hair. I have a picture of that too, if you would like it. It is cool that you are moving to the Chesterville area. I live about 50 miles northeast, and go there practically every weekend. Maybe we will run into each other. I visit her grave in the daytime, before the cemetery closes, and usually go with my daughter and a friend, or just my daughter. We don't disrupt her grave, nor or we loud. However, I have seen signs of abuse and disrespect there, and have had to pick refuse off the grave from time to time. And yes, it is the left side of the fence I noticed missing. Odd, because it seemed like it was there last year, but I must have been mistaken.

I would love to see them!!!

[Rudas Starblaze]

Hmm, interesting. I have several pictures of my own, if you would like to see them, I will post them here. I don't have a web-site, nor have I copyrighted them, so feel free to use or abuse as you see fit. Interestingly enough, if you take a picture of the tree in the daytime, standing in front of it with your back to the road, the moss growing on the front of it looks just like a woman with long hair. I have a picture of that too, if you would like it. It is cool that you are moving to the Chesterville area. I live about 50 miles northeast, and go there practically every weekend. Maybe we will run into each other. I visit her grave in the daytime, before the cemetery closes, and usually go with my daughter and a friend, or just my daughter. We don't disrupt her grave, nor or we loud. However, I have seen signs of abuse and disrespect there, and have had to pick refuse off the grave from time to time. And yes, it is the left side of the fence I noticed missing. Odd, because it seemed like it was there last year, but I must have been mistaken.

i would love to see them too,,, but then again, i may just have to make a short trip there here in a few weeks!

[Aslana~Aravis]

Hmm, interesting. I have several pictures of my own, if you would like to see them, I will post them here. I don't have a web-site, nor have I copyrighted them, so feel free to use or abuse as you see fit. Interestingly enough, if you take a picture of the tree in the daytime, standing in front of it with your back to the road, the moss growing on the front of it looks just like a woman with long hair. I have a picture of that too, if you would like it. It is cool that you are moving to the Chesterville area. I live about 50 miles northeast, and go there practically every weekend. Maybe we will run into each other. I visit her grave in the daytime, before the cemetery closes, and usually go with my daughter and a friend, or just my daughter. We don't disrupt her grave, nor or we loud. However, I have seen signs of abuse and disrespect there, and have had to pick refuse off the grave from time to time. And yes, it is the left side of the fence I noticed missing. Odd, because it seemed like it was there last year, but I must have been mistaken.


OOOHHH PLEEEASSSE Post the pics! I'm dying to see them!!

[Ghosthunter]

I would love to see the pic's as well. I would love to come out sometime to the cemetary when you are there.

[Milliscent]

I hope to have the pic's posted today, am waiting to get them uploaded...soon!

[HeavensHope]

Well, if I went through what she went through I'd be pissed too.

[Milliscent]

okay, sorry it took me so long to get the pic's here...the original ones are missing...yes, missing. Waiting for Ella to send me the original ones , but we went to Chesterville this weekend and took a lot more. The tree is so hard to see because my camera phone takes crappy pictures, and I don't have the others developed yet, but here is what I got...a few of them are pretty cool. You can almost see...well, I'll leave that to your imagination.
oops, it'll only let me send five...i'll have to make another post.

[Milliscent]

And five more...
The first picture is a full view of the tree she is buried under; the second is a better one of the image to the right of the trunk...looks like a woman in a long dress, with hair pulled back. Directly in the middle of the trunk in that same picture, you can almost see the image in the moss on the tree that looks like a woman in a long dress with long hair. The third picture shows a stone that has been knocked down or blown over. The image on the top of the stone is a pointing hand, but at first glance, it seems to be a woman with full, short hair.

[Milliscent]

And still more...
If you look to the right of the trunk on the fourth picture, there seems to be a small figure there...and something dark in the middle bottom of the trunk; there seems to be a figure in the third picture, near the bottom of the trunk, at the top of the fence where it meets the tree. This picture is a good one showing where the tree grew through the fence, as is the first picture. The second picture of the tombstone looks like a woman in the middle of the stone, but there is actually nothing on the stone, just age marks.

[Milliscent]

Last one, for now. We went to the cemetery Saturday, during the day, then back again late Saturday night, since it was a full moon. Something pretty startling happened. My daughter and my nephews wife were with me, and we were trying to take pictures (none came out on my camera phone except the full moon becasue it was to dark), and my nephews wife started freaking out. She kept saying something was moving behind the tree. I turned around, and saw a long dark shadow moving through the trees, but she was seeing something on the ground. I looked again, and saw a flicker of movement, not sure what it was. My daughter and I wanted to stay, but there was no convincing my nephews wife. The atmosphere was really heavy, almost forbidding, and I was like, no, that's not the Chesterville Witch. The air itself was like super charged, like the cemetery itself was coming to life. And then I thought, if she were actually murdered, most likely the person that murdered her is buried in that cemetery, not to mention all the people she lived around, the same ones that branded her a witch. It's sad, and makes sense that her spirit may not be at rest. Do they ignore her in death like they did in life?

[Ghosthunter]

great pics. what time of the day did you take them? I am going out there tonight to see if i can catch anything on camera

[Milliscent]

great pics. what time of the day did you take them? I am going out there tonight to see if i can catch anything on camera

It was mid to late afternoon, about 3 p.m., then went back much later that night...good luck with your trip, I hope you see something! Let me know!

[Ghosthunter]

Milliscent, I am very interested in the last pic you posted. I was wondering if you knew what the brownish object is in the middle of the pic? Did you see something there? I am asking becuase I went out to the cemetary tonight and took a pic of something very similiar. Any info would be helpful. Thank you!

[kaosxmage]

I'm in Mattoon, but sadly it took this thread to bring this lil bit of lore to my attention. I was overly obsessed with the Mad Gasser I must have overlooked Chesterville. I suppose this is a trip worth making if any of these posts really indicate something present.

Send a PM and let me know when you all might be going again, if you don't mind.

--Kaos

[Milliscent]

Ghosthunter, in regards to your question about the last pic I posted yes, i saw it too, not sure what it is...the picture is of the tree line in the back of the cemetery. It looks like a face in the middle, but I'm not sure what it could be...i actually saw it when i was taking the picture on my camera phone, but couldn't find it in the tree line after i took the picture, then forgot until i read your post.