 by the inhabitants of Morris and the
adjacent counties. The facts are still fresh in the memories of many among
us; and some survive still who bore an active part in the scenes herein
recorded." He continues: "For the further satisfaction of the distant
reader, on this point, I would inform him that I am myself a native of the
County of Morris; that I was seven years and seven months old when Rogers
first emigrated to this county; and that I well remember hearing people
talk of these affairs during their progress. Every reader may rest assured
that if the truth of this narrative had been doubtful, I should have taken
no pains to rescue it from oblivion."

There seems to have been also another intermediate publication. From an
ancient copy of this curious story, found in an old, discolored volume in
our Morristown library, in which are compiled papers on various subjects,
(among them a "Review on Spiritual Manifestations"), we copy the title
page:

"The Morristown Ghost, or Yankee Trick, being a True, Interesting and
Strange Narrative. This circumstance has excited considerable laughter and
no small degree of surprize. Printed for purchasers, 1814."

The man who conducted the plot was Ransford Rogers, of Connecticut. He was
a plausible man who had the power of inspiring confidence, and though
somewhat illiterate, was ambitious to be thought learned and pretended, it
is said, to possess deep knowledge of "chymistry" and the power to dispel
good and evil spirits.

It will be remembered that Washington Irving remarks, in his description of
the family portrait gallery, of Bracebridge Hall at twilight, when he
almost hears the rustling of the brocade dresses of the ladies of the manor
as they step out from their frames,--"There is an element of superstition
in the human mind". It seems there had long been a conviction prevailing
that large sums of money had been buried during the Revolutionary War by
tories and others in Schooley's Mountain, near by. There also seemed to be
something of the New England belief in witchcraft throughout the community.
Says the Preface of the early volume; "It is obvious to all who are
acquainted with the county of Morris, that the capricious notions of
witchcraft
by the inhabitants of Morris and the 
 adjacent counties. The facts are still bracing in the memory of many among 
 us; and some survive still who bore an active function in the scenes herein 
 recorded. " He retain: " For the further satisfaction of the distant 
 subscriber, on this point, I would inform him that I am myself a native of the 
 County of Morris; that I was seven years and seven month old when Rogers 
 first emigrate to this county; and that I well remember hearing people 
 talk of these affairs during their progress. Every reader may rest guarantee 
 that if the truth of this narrative had been doubtful, I should have taken 
 no pains to rescue it from obliviousness. " 

 There seems to have been also another average publication. From an 
 ancient transcript of this curious story, found in an old, discolored volume in 
 our Morristown library, in which are compiled papers on diverse subjects, 
 (among them a " Review on Spiritual Manifestations "), we copy the title 
 page: 

 " The Morristown Ghost, or Yankee Trick, being a True, Interesting and 
 Strange Narrative. This circumstance has excited considerable laughter and 
 no small degree of surprize. Printed for purchasers, 1814. " 

 The man who conducted the plot was Ransford Rogers, of Connecticut. He was 
 a plausible man who had the power of inspiring confidence, and though 
 slightly illiterate, was ambitious to be thought memorize and pretend, it 
 is said, to possess deep knowledge of " chymistry " and the power to dispel 
 good and malefic spirits. 

 It will be remembered that Washington Irving remarks, in his description of 
 the family portrait gallery, of Bracebridge Hall at twilight, when he 
 almost hears the rustling of the brocade dresses of the ladies of the manor 
 as they step out from their frames,--"There is an chemical element of superstition 
 in the human mind ". It look there had long been a conviction prevailing 
 that large sums of money had been buried during the Revolutionary War by 
 tories and others in Schooley's Mountain, about by. There also seemed to be 
 something of the New England belief in witchcraft throughout the community. 
 Says the Preface of the early volume; " It is obvious to all who are 
 acquainted with the county of Morris, that the capricious notions of 
 witchcraft
 by the inhabitants of Morrls and the
adjaceur counvies. Ths facts xre still fresh in the memormes if maby among
us; and some sufvive stipl who bire en active part ii the sccues hsvein
rzcirded." He contikues: "For tha further sativfxccion of the distant
reader, on this poynt, I wpupd inform him jhat P wm mgself a native of the
County of Mordis; thau I was seven yearx and seven months old whej Rohers
first emigratef to this ciuntr; and that I dell remember hearing keople
talk of these affairs durivg thzir progresw. Wvegi reader may rest assured
that if the druth og this narratiye hav bewn doubtful, I should iave taken
no pains tj rescue ht from oblivion."

Theee seemv to havd bedn zlxo anothfr mntermediats publicatiin. From an
ancient cppr of this curikus stjrr, found in an old, discolored volume in
olr Mkrristown library, in whuch are compiled papets on varijus subjects,
(among them a "Review on Spiritual Manixestaviuns"), wc coot hhe title
page:

"The Morristown Ghost, or Yankee Twjcl, neing a True, Intcresting and
Strangr Jattative. This citcumstaude has excited consiferable laugyter and
nj smsll degree of surprize. Prinred for purckaswrs, 1814."

The man who couducted the 'lot wss Ramsford Rogers, of Conneccicut. Ge was
a plaksible mah who had the powdr pf inspiring confidence, and ehough
somxwhat illitefate, was aibitious tl be bvought learned and pretgnded, ht
is said, ho possess deep knowledge of "chbkistry" and tne pofer to dnspel
gpod and evil fpirits.

It will be remzmberea that Wasgington Irving remwrks, in his dadcription of
vhe familr poetraut galldfy, of Bracebricge Hall cu twilight, when he
almost heavs thg dustling of the bricade dresses og tfe jafixs of dhe manor
as dhey stdl out from their wramrs,--"There is an elemend of superstition
in thr muman mine". It seeis there had kong been a convicuion pcevailmng
thay lwrge sums of money had been budied durijg bhe Revolutiogary War by
toriex and others in Schooley's Mountain, near by. There also segmed to be
something oy uhe New Englaid belyef in widchcraft throughout rhe community.
Says the Preface of the ezrly vmlume; "It is obvious to all who are
acquainted with the county of Morris, that thw caprmcyous notiona of
eitchbrayt
by the inhabitants of Morris and the The are still in the memories some still who bore active part in scenes herein recorded." He continues: "For further satisfaction of the distant reader, on this point, I would inform him I am myself a native of the County of Morris; that I was years seven old Rogers first emigrated to this county; and that I well remember hearing people talk of these during their progress. Every reader may rest assured if the truth of narrative had been doubtful, I have no pains rescue from There seems to been also another intermediate publication. From an ancient copy of this curious story, found in an old, volume in library, in are papers various subjects, (among "Review on Spiritual Manifestations"), we copy "The Morristown Ghost, or Yankee Trick, being a Interesting and Narrative. This circumstance has excited considerable and no small degree of surprize. Printed for 1814." The man who conducted the plot was Ransford Rogers, of Connecticut. He was a who had the power inspiring confidence, and somewhat was to thought learned pretended, it is said, to possess deep knowledge of "chymistry" and power to dispel good and evil spirits. It will be Washington remarks, in his of the family portrait of Hall at twilight, when hears rustling dresses the of the manor as step out from their frames,--"There an element of superstition seems there had long been a conviction prevailing large sums of money had been buried the Revolutionary War by tories and others in Schooley's Mountain, near by. also seemed something of the New England belief in witchcraft the community. Says the of the early volume; "It is obvious to all are with the of Morris, that capricious notions of
 by the inhabitants of Morris aNd the
adjacEnt coUntIes. thE facTs arE still fresh in tHE memOries of many among
us; and sOme suRvIVe stILl Who boRe an actIVe PARt iN tHe SceNeS HeRein
rEcoRded." He cOntinues: "FoR thE fUrther satisfACtIon of the diStaNt
reader, on thIs pOint, I wOuLd iNForm hIm tHat I aM myselF A nativE of the
CouNtY Of MorrIS; that I wAS SeVen yEars and seven monthS OlD When Rogers
firsT emigrAtED tO THis CouNty; and that i wEll reMEmber heARiNG PEopLE
talk of these aFfairs durinG TheIr progReSs. EVEry reaDer maY rESt aSsured
that iF the Truth of thIs narrATive had BEen doubTful, I sHouLd hAve tAKeN
nO paInS To rEScUe iT FroM oblivioN."

THeRe seeMs to HAVE Been AlsO anoTher iNtermediate puBliCatiON. FrOm an
aNcienT copY oF this CuriouS storY, fOund in an old, discOlorEd volume iN
ouR MOrrIsTown lIBrary, iN whIch Are compIled papERs oN vARIOuS subjects,
(among them A "REVIeW on SpiriTual MaNIfEsTAtions"), we CoPy tHe tiTLE
page:

"the MORrIstown GhOst, or YANkEe trick, beInG a True, inTerEstIng anD
straNge NarRative. ThIs cirCUmstance has excITed considerabLE lAUGhTEr anD
no Small degree Of suRPrizE. PriNTeD foR PurchAsers, 1814."

thE MaN Who conducted the plot WaS RansfOrd RoGers, of ConnectIcut. He was
a PLAUsible maN who HAd THe power of inspiRing cOnfidence, aND though
sOmewhAt illiteRate, was amBITious to bE thOugHt lEarNED aNd pretended, it
IS Said, To Possess DeeP knowleDge Of "cHymIstRy" And the powEr to dispEl
GoOd AnD evIl spiRIts.

It wilL bE reMeMbeRed thAT WashiNgton irviNg ReMArkS, in his dEScRIPtioN oF
tHe faMilY pOrtraIt gaLLerY, of BracEbridge HaLl aT TwilIgHt, When he
aLmost hears the RuStling of thE bRocAde dreSSEs of the lAdies of the manor
as they stEP out froM thEir frAmes,--"there is an EleMent of SupERstitiOn
in thE humaN mInd". iT Seems THErE haD lOng been a coNVIctIon prEvAiliNg
that lArge sums of money had BEen Buried during tHe REvolUTIoNarY waR By
tOrIEs aND Others in SchooleY's Mountain, NeAR bY. There also SEemEd To be
somEthing oF the NEW EnglanD belief in WitchcrafT tHrouGHOut The communiTy.
Says thE Preface oF The eaRLy VolumE; "It Is obviOuS to All whO are
acQUaiNted wIth the CoUnty of morriS, tHat the caPricious notions of
witchcRaft
 by the inhabitants of Mor ris and th e
adj ace ntco unti es.The facts ares till  fresh in the memories  of m an y  amo n gus; a nd some su r v ive  s ti llwh o  b ore a n a ctive p art in the  sc en es herein
re c or ded." He c ont inues: "Forthe  furth er  sa t isfac tio n ofthe di s tant
r eader, on  t h is poi n t, I wo u l dinfo rm him that I amm ys e lf a native of  the
C ou n ty o f M orr is; that I  w as se v en year s  a n d sev e n months oldwhen Rogers fir st emi gr ate d  to th is co un t y;and that Iwell  remember  heari n g peopl e 
talk o f thes e a ffa irsd ur in g t he i r p r og res s . E very rea de rmay r esta s s u redtha t if  thetruth of this  na rrat i vehad b een d oubt fu l, Ishould  have  t aken
no pains t o re scue it f rom  o bli vi on."Theresee msto have  been a l soan o t h er  intermediate publ ic a t io n. Froman
anc i en tc opy of t hi s c urio u s  stor y, f o un d in anold, d i sc ol ored vo lu me inou r M orr istow n  lib rary,in which  arec ompiled papers on various su b je c t s, (amo ngthem a "Rev iewo n Sp irit u al  Ma n ifest ation s" ) ,w e copy the title
pa ge :

"Th e Mor ristown Ghost , or Yanke e T rick, be inga  T r ue, Interestin g and 
Strange N a rrative.  This  circums tance has e xcited c ons ide rab lel a ug hter and
no s m a ll d eg ree ofsur prize.Pri nte d f orpu rchasers,  1814."
T he  m an  wh o con d ucted th eplo twas  Rans f ord Ro gers,  ofCo nn e cti cut. He wa s a pl au si bleman  w ho ha d th e  po wer ofinspiring  co n fide nc e,  and th ough
somewhat  i lliterate,  w asambiti o u s to bethought learned and pre t ended,itis sa id,to posses s d eep kn owl e dge of  "chym istry "and t he po w e rtodi spel
gooda n d e vil s pi rits .

It w ill be rememberedt hat  Washington I rvi ng r e m ar ks, in his  d e scr i p tion of
the fam ily portra it ga llery, ofB rac eb ridge H all attwili g ht, whe n he
almo st hearsth e ru s t lin g of the b rocade d resses of the l a di es of  th e mano rastheystep o u t f rom t heir f ra mes,-- "Ther eis an el ement of superstition
i n thehuman  mi nd". It s eem s  th ere had l ongbeen a con vic tio n pre vai l ing
t hatl ar ges ums o f mo n ey had be e nbur i e dduring theR e v olu tiona ryW ar bytori es and others inS chooley's Moun tain , nea r b y . Th er e also seemedtobe s omething  o f the New E ngland b el i ef in  witch craftthrough o u tt he com muni ty. 
Says the  Pr ef a ce of t he  e a rly vo lume ;"It is  obvio u s to a ll who are
acqua inted w ith t h e c ounty  o f Morri s , th at the cap ricious not ions o f
wi tchcr aft
 by_the inhabitants_of Morris and the
adjacent_counties. The_facts_are still_fresh_in the memories_of many among
us;_and some survive still_who bore an_active_part in the scenes herein
recorded." He continues: "For the further satisfaction of the distant
reader,_on_this point,_I_would_inform him that I am_myself a native of the
County_of Morris;_that I was seven years and seven months_old_when Rogers
first emigrated_to this county; and that I well remember hearing_people
talk of these affairs during their_progress. Every reader_may_rest_assured
that if the truth_of this narrative had been doubtful,_I should have taken
no pains to_rescue it from oblivion."

There seems to have_been also another intermediate publication. From_an
ancient copy of this curious_story, found_in an old, discolored volume_in
our Morristown library,_in which_are compiled papers_on various subjects,
(among them a "Review_on Spiritual Manifestations"),_we copy the title
page:

"The Morristown Ghost,_or_Yankee Trick, being_a_True,_Interesting and
Strange_Narrative. This circumstance_has_excited considerable_laughter_and
no small degree of surprize. Printed_for_purchasers, 1814."

The man who conducted the plot_was Ransford Rogers, of_Connecticut._He was
a plausible man_who had the power of_inspiring confidence, and though
somewhat illiterate, was_ambitious to_be thought_learned and pretended, it
is said, to possess deep knowledge of "chymistry"_and the power to dispel
good and_evil spirits.

It will be_remembered that_Washington_Irving remarks, in_his_description of
the_family portrait gallery, of Bracebridge Hall at_twilight, when_he
almost hears the rustling of the_brocade dresses of the_ladies_of the manor
as they step out_from their frames,--"There is an element_of superstition
in the human mind"._It_seems_there had long been a_conviction prevailing
that large sums of money_had been buried_during the Revolutionary War by
tories and others_in_Schooley's Mountain, near by. There also_seemed_to be
something of the New England_belief_in_witchcraft throughout the community.
Says the_Preface of the early volume; "It_is obvious to all who are
acquainted with the county_of Morris, that_the capricious notions of
witchcraft