The Great Amherst Mystery
Canada’s Poltergeist Case and the Unexplained Hauntings of Esther Cox
The Great Amherst Mystery stands as one of Canada’s most documented and debated cases of alleged poltergeist activity. In Amherst, Nova Scotia, between 1878 and 1879, a young woman named Esther Cox became the center of attention when strange events reportedly unfolded inside her sister's house.
Witnesses described unexplained noises, objects moving on their own, and physical attacks, drawing curiosity and skepticism from locals and investigators alike. The mystery gained notoriety through newspaper reports and firsthand accounts, such as those published by Walter Hubbell.
Interest in the Great Amherst Mystery persists due to the range of people involved and the extensive documentation of events. The story continues to raise questions about the nature of unexplained phenomena and the lasting impact of one of Nova Scotia’s most famous hauntings.
Background of the Great Amherst Mystery
The Great Amherst Mystery is recognized as one of the most well-documented poltergeist cases in Canadian history. Centered in the late 19th century in Amherst, Nova Scotia, this case involved mysterious disturbances that attracted national and international interest.
Origins of the Case
The events began in the autumn of 1878 in a modest cottage on Princess Street in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Disturbances reportedly started after Esther Cox, a young woman living there, experienced a traumatic event involving violence. Soon after, unexplained noises, moving objects, and physical phenomena began to plague the household.
Poltergeist activity escalated, with witnesses describing loud bangs, furniture shifting, and objects being hurled across rooms. Flint matches appeared ignited on their own, and written messages sometimes emerged on walls and objects. These events persisted for months, drawing local curiosity and press attention.
The manifestations were unpredictable. Some reports noted that disturbances intensified when Esther was nearby, which led many to link her presence to the supernatural activity. The persistent nature of the phenomena kept the Amherst community on edge.
The People Involved
Esther Cox was at the center of the events. She lived in the house with her married sister Olive Teed, Olive’s husband Daniel, and their children. The household also included Esther’s siblings, Jane and William, who also experienced the disturbances.
Walter Hubbell, an actor and amateur investigator, played a significant role by documenting the events. He lived with the family for several weeks to observe the phenomena firsthand and later published a widely read account of the case.
Apart from the family and Hubbell, neighbors, local authorities, and medical professionals also observed and reported various incidents. Their testimonies provided further documentation, lending a level of credibility to many reports at the time.
Historical Context
The late 1800s in Nova Scotia was marked by a fascination with spiritualism and the supernatural. Amherst was a small, tight-knit community, and rumors quickly spread about the occurrences in the Teed home.
During this period, Canadian society was experiencing shifts in its social and scientific views. Newspapers frequently reported on spiritualist activities, seances, and paranormal claims, reflecting a wider cultural curiosity about the unknown.
Cases like the Great Amherst Mystery were widely publicized, often sparking debates between skeptics and believers. The incident remains a notable episode not only in Amherst’s local history but also in the broader narrative of unexplained phenomena in Canada.
Esther Cox and Her Experiences
Esther Cox became the central figure in the Great Amherst Mystery after a series of disturbing and unexplained events took place in her home. Her story is marked by reports of poltergeist activity, public curiosity, and lasting personal consequences.
Biography of Esther Cox
Esther Cox was born in the mid-19th century and lived in Amherst, Nova Scotia. At the time of the incidents, she was nineteen years old and lived with her extended family in a modest wooden house.
She worked as a seamstress and was known in the community as quiet and respectful. Close to her family, Esther relied on her siblings and relatives for support, especially during stressful periods.
Friends and acquaintances described her as sensible and honest. There were no widespread reports of trouble or unusual behavior in her past before the events began.
Initial Strange Events
In August 1878, shortly after a traumatic personal incident, Esther began experiencing unusual phenomena at home. These started with unexplained noises such as knocks, bangs, and scratching; sometimes furniture would move seemingly on its own.
Witnesses reported that objects were thrown or displaced without a visible cause. Family members described bedsheets being pulled from the bed and household items broken in plain sight.
On several occasions, Esther herself suffered sudden swelling or marks on her body. Esther claimed she felt targeted by something unseen. Visits from neighbors and local clergy failed to explain or stop the disturbances, and the events received public attention throughout Amherst.
Impact on Esther's Life
The haunting had a profound effect on Esther's daily life. She became a focus of local and national curiosity, with many people visiting her home to witness the poltergeist activity for themselves.
Esther’s health declined due to stress, physical symptoms, and sleep loss. She was eventually moved between various friends’ and relatives' homes in hopes of escaping the disturbances.
Rumors and skeptical theories about the authenticity of her experiences spread, but some investigators and witnesses continued to support her claims. The events left Esther with a reputation that followed her throughout her life, shaping public views on paranormal activity in Canada.
Manifestations of Poltergeist Activity
Throughout the Great Amherst Mystery, a series of strange activities occurred in the household centered around Esther Cox. The reported disturbances included physical movement of objects, persistent noises, personal attacks, and accounts from several eyewitnesses.
Physical Phenomena
Poltergeist activity at Amherst was most notably marked by unexplained movement of objects. Items such as beds, chairs, and even heavy furniture sometimes shifted across the room without any visible cause. Small objects like utensils and dishes frequently flew through the air, occasionally shattering or landing far from their original location.
Witnesses described doors opening and slamming shut seemingly on their own. Personal belongings would vanish and later reappear in unusual places. There were also claims of household items being ripped or torn apart, including Esther’s clothing. Physical marks, like scratches and welts, appeared mysteriously on Esther’s body, which many believed were caused by the haunting.
Unexplained Noises
Loud, inexplicable noises were a constant presence during the haunting. Residents and visitors often reported sharp knocks, rapping sounds on walls, and banging that seemed to resonate through the house at any hour.
The noises sometimes resembled footsteps or heavy objects being dropped, though careful checks failed to reveal a natural source. These sounds seemed to follow Esther particularly, intensifying when she was present. Some knocks were described as rhythmic, as if intentionally communicating in response to people’s questions, suggesting a conscious or intelligent paranormal force.
Witness Testimonies
Multiple witnesses, both family members and visitors, provided personal accounts of the poltergeist activity. Among the most notable was Walter Hubbell, an actor and investigator who stayed in the house to document the events firsthand. His written records included detailed descriptions of what he and others reportedly experienced.
Neighbors, local townspeople, and even members of the clergy visited the Cox home and witnessed various disturbances, such as moving objects and unexplained noises. The consistency of these independent testimonies added credibility to the reports, though skepticism remained regarding the cause of the incidents.
Escalation of Incidents
The intensity and frequency of the disturbances increased over time. Initially, phenomena were mild and sporadic, but later events became more violent. Esther Cox was frequently attacked, suffering pinches, scratches, and even being pricked by unknown forces.
Episodes became particularly severe after Esther’s emotional stress or perceived threats. Household items would not only move but also break or combust. At one point, fires reportedly ignited spontaneously inside the home, leading to greater fear and attempts to intervene or seek outside help.
These escalating incidents compelled Esther to leave the house on several occasions, only for the poltergeist activity to follow her to different locations. The relentless nature of the haunting made it one of the most well-documented paranormal cases in Canadian history.
Key Individuals Surrounding the Mystery
Several people in Amherst, Nova Scotia played crucial roles in the events and documentation of the Great Amherst Mystery. Their actions, testimonies, and daily lives shaped public understanding and fueled ongoing debate about the reality behind the reported phenomena.
Daniel Teed’s Household
Daniel Teed’s home was at the heart of the reported events. Esther Cox, Daniel’s sister-in-law, lived with him, his wife Olive, and their children at 6 Princess Street. The household provided shelter and was often present during episodes of poltergeist activity.
Daily life became difficult. Family members witnessed unexplained noises, moving objects, and physical attacks on Esther. They tried various remedies, including prayer and inviting local clergymen, but the disturbances continued.
The reactions of those in the house were critical. Their reports directly informed investigators like Walter Hubbell and local authorities. The emotional strain on the Teed family was significant, and their testimonies are still central to accounts of the mystery.
Role of Bob MacNeal
Bob MacNeal, a close friend of Daniel Teed and Esther Cox, was present for many of the reported incidents. He was frequently cited as a direct witness to the strange happenings in the house, including rapping sounds, sudden temperature drops, and objects being thrown.
MacNeal documented several events in written statements. His willingness to support Esther even under social pressure gave credibility to her experiences for many observers. He stayed overnight at the Teed home to help provide protection and verification of the encounters.
He did not claim any personal paranormal ability. Instead, he tried to remain rational and provide honest, unemotional accounts. His role as an outside observer helped investigators gauge the extent and frequency of the activity.
Community Reaction
Residents of Amherst became quickly aware of the strange activities at the Teed household. News of the events spread, drawing crowds of onlookers, journalists, and skeptics to the scene. Local clergy, medical professionals, and police visited the home to offer both support and critical scrutiny.
Public opinion was divided. Some felt sympathy for Esther and believed her accounts, while others accused her of trickery or attention-seeking. Reports of activity at the Teed home affected the reputation of the family and led to increased anxiety and social strain.
The broader community’s reaction influenced the investigation. It also played a part in sustaining media interest, documented in period newspapers and later by researchers and writers interested in unexplained phenomena.
Investigations and Explanations
The events that surrounded the Great Amherst Mystery sparked immediate interest from locals, experts, and skeptics alike. Reactions ranged from formal investigations to psychological theories and outright denial of anything supernatural taking place.
Contemporary Inquiries
During 1878 and 1879, officials, family members, and local townspeople in Amherst, Nova Scotia, closely monitored the disturbances at Esther Cox’s residence. Several witnesses, including neighbors and law enforcement, claimed to have observed objects moving on their own, unexplained sounds, and bizarre physical injuries.
Walter Hubbell, an actor and investigator fascinated by the paranormal, documented his time living with the Cox family. His detailed account recorded daily occurrences, listing names of witnesses and describing the sequence of supernatural events. This documentation brought widespread public attention to the case in Canadian history.
Despite many onlookers supporting the idea of a poltergeist, some suggested fraud or mass hysteria. No clear consensus was reached in these early investigations, leaving the case open to various interpretations within the community.
Medical and Scientific Perspectives
Medical professionals were called in to examine Esther Cox, seeking natural explanations for her symptoms and for the alleged paranormal occurrences. Some physicians diagnosed Esther with a nervous condition or trauma, noting her physical and psychological state after a frightening personal incident prior to the events.
Scientific thinkers considered phenomena such as electrical discharges, muscle spasms, or unconscious trickery—common themes in late 19th-century attempts to explain alleged supernatural incidents. These assessments reflected broader trends in Canadian medical and scientific communities during the era, aiming to ground strange happenings in known science.
However, evidence for natural sources behind the activity remained inconclusive. The limitations of medical knowledge at the time meant that definitive answers proved elusive.
Skeptical Views
Skeptics both within Amherst and beyond argued that the so-called poltergeist case was most likely a hoax or the result of psychological suggestion. They pointed to inconsistencies in eyewitness testimony and suggested that some of the physical events could have been staged.
Other critics proposed that social and economic pressures may have played a role. For example, attention from outsiders could benefit the family, especially amid hardship.
Though skeptics did not conclusively debunk the claims, they raised serious doubts that continue to shape debates over the Great Amherst Mystery in the context of paranormal research and Canadian folklore.
Broader Impact and Legacy
The Great Amherst Mystery remains one of the best-known tales of reported supernatural events in Canadian history. Its details have shaped local beliefs and continue to draw interest from historians, skeptics, and paranormal enthusiasts.
Influence on Canadian Folklore
The events in Amherst, Nova Scotia from 1878 to 1879 left a lasting imprint on local and national folklore. Stories of Esther Cox’s reported ordeals circulated widely, entering oral traditions and influencing how communities in Atlantic Canada viewed unexplained events.
Details from the mystery—such as moving objects and unexplained noises—became common motifs in Canadian ghost stories. The case served as a reference point for other alleged supernatural experiences, helping to legitimize poltergeist folklore in the region. Over time, the Great Amherst Mystery became a foundational narrative for Canadian supernatural lore.
Today, the story is sometimes recounted in books on Canadian legends and used in educational settings about regional history. Its influence extends into tourism, with visitors drawn to sites in Amherst because of the enduring reputation of the case.
Media Coverage Over the Years
Newspapers in the late 19th century reported extensively on the purported events, with articles appearing across Canada and even internationally. Walter Hubbell’s 1888 book, The Great Amherst Mystery, provided one of the most detailed accounts and shaped public perception.
Since then, the case has been featured in radio programs, documentaries, magazines, and online articles. Coverage has shifted from sensational headlines to a focus on historical and scientific explanations.
Interest in the case resurfaces periodically, often sparked by anniversaries or new books. The presence of the Great Amherst Mystery in various media formats has ensured its continued role in discussions of Canadian history and poltergeist phenomena.
Controversies and Theories
The Great Amherst Mystery became a focal point of public debate and skepticism soon after the events were reported. Questions about fraud, psychological causes, and alternative explanations contributed to ongoing interest and scrutiny.
Hoax Allegations
Skeptics at the time argued that much of the reported haunting could be traced to deliberate deception. Esther Cox, the central figure, was accused by locals and some investigators of staging the poltergeist activity. Witnesses sometimes reported inconsistencies in testimony or found objects that might have been used to produce eerie effects.
Key observations included:
Reports that phenomena often happened when Esther was alone or unobserved
Instances where trickery could not be ruled out by contemporary observers
No conclusive physical evidence was ever produced to prove the events were supernatural
Critics pointed to media sensationalism and public fascination with the paranormal as factors that fueled the story’s longevity. Despite these claims, others maintained faith in the authenticity of the haunting.
Psychological Explanations
Other investigators proposed that psychological factors may have played a major role in the phenomenon. Some suggested that trauma or stress experienced by Esther Cox could have triggered dissociative episodes or unconscious actions mistaken for poltergeist activity.
The concept of vital magnetism, as promoted by Walter Hubbell, suggested that human energy could produce physical effects without any haunting. Modern analysts point to:
Signs of emotional distress or trauma in Esther’s personal history
The tendency for poltergeist cases to cluster around young individuals during periods of upheaval
The lack of corroboration when impartial observers were present
Psychologists often view such cases as evidence of suggestibility and the power of belief rather than genuine paranormal forces.
The Aftermath in Amherst
The end of the events at Amherst left the town changed, with lingering effects on its people and reputation. The case became embedded in local culture, and specific incidents, such as a house fire, added further intrigue.
Continuing Local Folklore
Stories about the Great Amherst Mystery endured in the community long after 1879. Residents often discussed the strange happenings involving Esther Cox and her family. The reports of poltergeist activity spread quickly, making the case a frequent topic in town gatherings.
Local tales emphasized unexplained noises, objects moving on their own, and mysterious writings. These elements shaped Amherst’s reputation, attracting both skeptics and believers to the town.
Historians and paranormal enthusiasts visit Amherst, seeking traces of the original sites. The story is sometimes referenced in books and media, and it remains a key part of Nova Scotia’s folklore. Amherst’s association with alleged supernatural events continues to be a point of local identity.
Arson Incident
During the height of the disturbances, a significant incident occurred: a fire broke out at the Teed household, where Esther Cox lived. Witnesses reported that the fire appeared to start without an obvious cause, raising suspicions among neighbors and authorities.
Local law enforcement investigated the blaze. Esther Cox was accused of arson and brought to trial, although the evidence largely relied on circumstantial factors and rumors of the supernatural. She was convicted and served a short jail sentence, further fueling public discussion.
After her release, Esther left Amherst. The incident contributed to lasting debates about the authenticity of the events, and it cemented the arson as a notable episode linked to the mystery. Residents recalled the fire as proof of either paranormal forces or personal distress within the household.
