Many Said They Saw Nelly Butler's Apparition

 My "Spookiest Years" series of 18 posts (here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,  here, here, here, here, here and here and here)  is a series documenting spooky events between 1848 and the early 20th century. I started with the year 1848 because that was the year of the famous rap noises reported by members of the Fox family in Hydesville, New York (USA), a phenomenon later reported in many other places such as Rochester, New York. When I started the series, I had not heard of events in Sullivan, Maine (USA) in the year 1800. But the spooky events reported in that town in that year were so dramatic that I should perhaps have started my "Spookiest Years" series in the year 1800. 

One of the witnesses was Paul Blaisdel, who reported (as discussed later in this post) seeing something like what is depicted below:

This case occurring in Sullivan, Maine was only very briefly mentioned in one of my previous posts on this topic. I have found a much more detailed reference, on page 4 of the October 1, 1857 edition of the British Spiritual Telegraph, which you can read here:

"One of the most interesting eases of modem spiritual manifestations  was by the spirit of Mrs. Nelly Butler in the town of Sullivan in this State [Maine]. What made it exceedingly interesting was the extensive manner in which she made herself manifest by the exhibition of her own form and voice. She first became manifest by raps and by conversation with her own natural voice in the year 1799 ; and by the exhibition of her own form in the year 1800. Originally the principal medium was Lydia Blaisdell, who afterwards became Mrs. Lydia Butler.  On the 18th of August, 1800, this spirit went in company with Mrs. Butler and forty-seven other persons about a half a mile. Rev. Abraham Cummings, who was uncle to the late Dr. Asa Cummings, wrote a history of the appearances of this spirit, and published it in 1826. He took and printed the testimony of thirty-one witnesses, who had seen or conversed with the spirit in the year 1800. Mr. Cummings in his narrative says: 'With all these witnesses 1 am intimately acquainted. I took these testimonies from their lips, for the most part, separately.'  After giving the testimony, Mr. Cummings says: 'The above witnesses are exhibited not for the want of more, (for more than a hundred have seen the spectre, or have heard her words,) but because repetition is tedious.' The testimony, part or all of it, was taken in the year 1800. One witness, Dorcas Johnson, speaking of the manifestation on the 18th of August, says . 'There I heard and saw the spectre. Her voice was distinct from any other, and her music the most delightful that I ever heard. When she walked with us, she moved without stepping. And when we arrived at the house, by direction of the spectre, given to my brother, James Springer, and by him to the company in our hearing, we opened to the right and left, so that the spectre and Mrs. Butler passed together between our ranks. Then she vanished from my new, and I saw her no more.'  The testimony of others is equally explicit, 

The principal medium soon died, I think in 1801. But the spirit continued to be seen afterwards. Mr. Cummings himself had the pleasure of seeing her form in July 1800. It appears that the character of each witness was good ; that the spirit was manifested on one occasion in the presence of twenty persons ; and on another occasion in the presence of forty-eight persons. Not all of these, however, saw her at those times. But most of those, who did not see her on one occasion, were permitted to have their vision opened and see her on other occasions. After waiting twenty-six years, Mr. Cummings felt it his duty to publish the history."

 In any case like this it is always best to try and track down the publication that first reported such things; and I was able to find that document. The original report of the events seems to have first published in 1826 by Abraham Cummings in his book "Immortality Proved by the Testimony of Sense: In Which Is Contemplated the Doctrine of Spectres, and the Existence of a Particular Spectre," which you can read here. In that document Cummings says he is publishing 26 years after the described events, which mainly occurred in 1800.  The document is dated 1859, but it says on its third page that it is a verbatim reprint of an earlier publication, apparently the document Cummings published in 1826. 

The first half of the document is rather confusing, as it quotes a series of letters from an anonymous writer describing the apparition sightings, who mostly does not do a very clear job of narrating what happened. But the writer of these anonymous letters does speak rather clearly when he says this about the sighting of the female apparition:

"The times, places and modes of her appearing were various. Sometimes she appeared to be alone, as the events which followed bore witness: for the testimony of events is sometime more valid than that of persons. Sometimes she appeared to two or three ; then to five or six; then to ten or twelve; again to twenty, and once to more than forty witnesses. She appeared in several apartments of Mr. Blaisdel’s house, and several times in the cellar. She also appeared at other houses, and several times in the open field, as already observed. There, white as the light, she moved like a cloud above the ground in personal form and magnitude, in the presence of more than forty people. She tarried with them till after day-light, and vanished: not because she was afraid of the sun: for she had then several times appeared when the sun was shining. Once in particular, when she appeared in the room where the family were, about eleven o’clock in the day, they all left the house; but convinced of the impropriety of their conduct they returned."

Cummings on page 41 begins quoting testimony he took from particular witnesses, mostly named witnesses. I will skip over several testimonies that describe something that might easily have been faked, and also testimonies by anonymous witnesses, and try to quote only the testimonies of named witnesses that describe something hard to explain by fakery. You can click on the links to go the corresponding part of the book containing that testimony.

In the account below Captain George Butler mentions his first wife, who then according to witnesses appears as an apparition seen by many. On page 73 this first wife is named as being Nelly Butler. In the text of the book we also have mentions of "Mrs. Butler" or Lydia, who seems to be Captain Butler's second wife. 

Below is some of the testimony recorded in the book.

Deposition of Capt. George Butler

"When I was called to talk with this voice, I asked, 'who are you!' It answered, ‘I was once your wife.’ The voice asked me, ‘Do you not remember what I told you when I was alive.' I answered, 'I do not really know what you mean.' The voice said, ' Do you not remember I told you 1 did not think I should live long with you. I told you that if you was to leave me I should never wish to change my condition; but that if I was to leave you, I could not blame you, if you did.' 

This passed between me and my first wife, while she was alive, and there was no living person within hearing, but she and myself, and I am sure that this was never revealed to any person, and no living person could have told it to me before the voice did. As Lydia (Mrs. Butler) and I stood side and side alone, she had her left arm round me and her right hand hold of the forward part of my waistcoat, her head leaning against my breast. There was something appeared to my view right before me, like a person in a winding sheet and her arms folded under the winding sheet, and on her arm there appeared to be a very small child. By this appearance I did not know possibly but I might. be deceived. I reached out my left hand to take hold of it. I saw my hand in the middle of it, but could feel nothing. The same evening it appeared and disappeared to me three times."

 -- GEORGE BUTLER

Testimony of Mr. Paul Simson

"August 9, 1800. I was at Mr. A. Blaisdel’s, with many more, and heard the sound of knocking. It was addressed, and a voice answered, but I could not understand it. Several persons spoke, but received no satisfactory answer. The people generally concluded that the whole affair was some deception. Therefore they went off and I among them. But my reflections on that singular knocking, induced me to say to two young men, 'If you will go back, I will, and find out something more, if possible ; for I am no more satisfied now, than I was before I went to that house.' We went back. Mr. Blaisdel asked us why we returned. I told him that we had all gone off with the opinion that the whole affair was a scheme contrived by his daughters, and nothing more, and I meant if possible, to find them out. ‘ You must think as you please,' said he, 'I am clear, and I believe my family is.’ I told him I wished to see all his family sitting in oné part of the room. They complied. Then I took a candle and stood in the midst of the room. After several minutes, something rapped near where two of us stood, and from thence removed to several parts of the house. 'What do you think of it,' said Mr. Blaisdel? 'It appears, said I, to be strange.' ‘We will go into the cellar,' said  Mr. Blaisdel, 'and, if you think any body is there, search the cellar through with a candle ;’ we did so. I came out last and was careful and watched, so that I was sure that no person went down. Also the outer door was fast. Then again we heard the sound of knocking. It was addressed, and conversation followed, in the midst of which Mr. Blaisdel said to me, 'If you think any living person talks, go forward and grasp that person.' I went forward a few steps, but was so convinced that no body was there, that I ’considered all further attempts as useless.

After much discourse, which I cannot remember, the Spirit told us that-we must go up and come down again in order, two and two, and she would appear to us. We did so, and I saw the apparition at first about two feet in height; but, as it drew nearer to me, it appeared as tall as a person. I saw this appearance passing close by me and from me five or six times. At last it diminished to about a foot in height and then vanished." -- PAUL SIMSON, Jun.

Testimony of Miss Sally Martin

"August 13, 1800, I was at Mr. Blaisdel’s house, with more than forty people, besides their own family, and heard knockings. We all wondered, when we heard a sound on one side or corner of the house; the next sound on the opposite side or corner, and a third sound equally distant from the second, and so on for a number of sounds, while the succession was as rapid as one sound could be clearly distinguished from another. We were sure that no person, nor even several persons, could make sounds so distant from each other in such quick succession, even were it possible for them to be in or near the places of these sounds, without discovery. By the desire of the Spirit and Mr. Blaisdel, we went into the cellar. Mr. Blaisdel told the people to stand back and give the Spirit room, and not crowd so near her, ' dont crowd her,'  said he, 'she cannot talk if you crowd her.'

When we were placed, Mr. Blaisdel ordered the candle to be blown out, and stood before the company next to the Spirit. When these things were done, the affair was become as dark to me, as the cellar was. I heard much conversation with several people by a voice which I never heard before. This voice at last told us to go up and go to a certain house and she would go with us. We did as the voice told us: and, as we went, I saw a personal form, as white as any thing could possibly appear, walking by Mrs. Butler’s side, with locked arms. When we came to the only outer door of the house, I saw this form at a distance from me, abroad, though near the house, I went in and heard a knocking immediately under the floor. In two or three minutes I heard the same voice that I had heard before, talking with Capt. Millar. 

By the desire of the voice, we stood before the house that she might appear to us. There I saw the personal form as plainly as ever I saw a living person: and I saw the same form vanish before me in a moment.  -- SALLY MARTIN. 

On the same page in a footnote the author (Alexander Cummings) tells us this about the apparition:

"Four nights before this, she appeared to fourteen persons in this very place, and six persons saw the hand pass through the apparition. Two nights before this, she appeared to about twenty people, forming an elipsis, within which she slowly passed round so near the circumference several times, that every one of them might have handled her with deliberation, and she had also expressed her desire to give satisfaction by this experiment."

Testimony of James Millar

"By the desire of certain persons, I went into the cellar with Capt. P B——. After some discourse of the voice with him, which I understood not, I heard sounds of knocking near me. I asked, what do you want of me. It answered, “I have come to let you know that I can speak in this cellar as well as in the other. Are you convinced?' I answered, 'I am.' 'Now,' said the voice, ‘the company must be solemn and stand in order before your door, I am going to appear. Now do you remember that I was once N. H.'  We went up and complied with her direction, and I saw a personal shape coming toward us, white as the light. By the Spectre’s order, as I was informed, Mrs. Butler went toward her. ‘Lydia,’ said the Spectre, ' you are scared. You must sing.' Then she sung an hymn. The Spirit came almost to us; then turned, and Mrs. Butler with her, and went several rods towards Capt. Simson’s and appeared to take her by the hand to urge her on further; and disappeared in our sight." -- JAMES MILLAR

Testimony of Sally Wentworth

On pages 51 to 53 we have testimony from Sally Wentworth, who reports hearing a voice from the cellar which she thought was from her deceased sister. But she later wonders whether the voice may have been some "evil spirit" imitating her sister.  On page 52 she mentions something that seems supportive of the hypothesis that the voice is from her deceased sister (although she mentions a far-fetched alternate explanation):

"Sometime after this, Mr. Butler brought to me from the Spectre, the private conversation which I know I had with my sister in her lifetime, at a certain hour, when we were alone together, and which he declares he never knew before; as a token that I was her sister. It is true I had never revealed it to any person, and I do not believe that my sister ever did; but could not some evil spirit hear that conversation, and afterwards personate my sister, and reveal it to Capt. Butler?"

Testimony of Mr. Jeremiah Bunker

"On August 9, 1800, I went to Mr. Blaisdel’s, where there were about twelve people.

After hearing the discourse of the Spectre, she appeared before us and disappeared several times. She come close by me and three or four others several times, so that each of us could have handled her. The personal shape, when it disappeared, first changed to a substance, without form, and then vanished in a moment where it was: and after a short space, the full personal form appeared again in a moment. These changes I observed several times. 1 thought then and ever since that the whole was a deception. For I cannot see how there could be such a clear personal shape, where no living person was. She was in the shape of a person as much as any person could be." -- JEREMIAH BUNKER

The remark by Bunker he thought it was a deception does nothing to discredit his testimony, because the reason he gives is not a good one, and his testimony of what he saw seems to suggest something very paranormal was going. 

Testimony of Abner Blaisdel

"May 29, 1800. The Spectre conversed with three of my family....August 6. I had for some time heard that my father was sick, but had since received no news from him. I ventured to ask how my father did; ‘He is in heaven,” said she, 'praising God with the angels.'  I afterwards found by other means, that my father died seven days before this. He lived two hundred miles from me....August 8. About thirty people came to my house. That night the Spectre had much solemn conversation with them on religious subjects. Mr. N. H  expressed his desire to handle her, and she gave him liberty. Some times the inimitable voice would sound ten or twelve feet from us, then close to our face, then again at a distance: and these changes were instantaneous....August 9, 1800. We placed ourselves in order, according to the direction of the Spectre; and a white appearance, at first very small, rose before me and grew to a personal stature and form. It stood directly before Capt. Butler, while he and his wife stood beside each other. I saw him put his hand on the apparition, and I saw his hand pass through it. Then it vanished. There were now about twelve persons here. On August 11, she discoursed with about twenty persons, of whom I was one....She appeared and disappeared before us several times, and talked while she appeared.....Then she directed him to go up and tell the people to stand in order before the door and she would appear before them in the field. They did so, and she appeared to them and disappeared, as some of them informed me. By her direction we walked back to my house in the same order, and then I saw her plainly about thirty feet from me, in the form and stature of a person; white as the light and moving after us like a cloud, without ambulatory motion." -- ABNER BLAISDEL

Testimony of James Springer

"August 13, 1800. After much conversation with the Spectre, she told us that she must talk and appear at the house of Capt. M. because he had reported that she could not be any where but at Mr. Blaisdel’s house. And L. must walk with me, said she, that you may all see that she is one person and I another.

We walked in order to that house, and I saw the Spirit as plainly as ever I saw any person. I saw the Spirit appear and disappear several time that night."  -- JAMES SPRINGER

Testimony of John Simson

"August 8, 1800. I heard the discourse of the Spectre in company with about thirty other persons. The sound of her voice was sometimes hoarse and faint, but for the most part it was clear and free from any impediment, and then it was inimitable, and the most delightful that ever I heard in my life....The voice and this experiment were about four feet from me, so that I am sure that no living person could be concealed from me." -- JOHN SIMSON

Testimony of Richard Downing

"After this, the voice talked with me. To know what answer would be made, I asked, to whom are you speaking? It answered, ' Richard Downing.' I asked again, was you  ever at my house? It answered,  'Yes, I was there once with my mother, Mrs. M. and others, when your wife was sick.'  I had not then told any person what the Spectre now told me, and which I and my family know to be true....Capt. M. with others, went down and talked with a voice, which I heard and understood not; but was informed by them that she told them she had come there to give evidence that she could be and talk at other houses, as well as that of Mr. Blaisdel; and that if the company would properly stand in the open field, she would pass before them, so that they might see her, The company did so. The Spirit then appeared and walked back and forth, two or three times, in view of the company and by the side of Mrs. Butler. This my eyes saw. The apparition, with Mrs. Butler, having advanced a few rods, disappeared. Mrs. Butler then came and told us that if we would return to Mr. Blaisdel’s house, she would walk behind us. The company complied. Having a desire so be as near the apparition as possible, I walked with Capt. P. S. behind the whole company. Mrs. Butler walked behind When we had walked about twenty rods Baier said, 'there it is now.'  Where, said I. There, said she, pointing to the left side of the company forward. I looked there and saw the dark appearance of a person, and kept my eye upon it till we passed by it, and till I saw it come in next after me, and by the side of Mrs. Butler. Thus it followed us. But now this object was become as white as the light. As we walked, I kept my eye upon this object almost without intermission, that I might see it disappear. It followed us by one direct motion, like a cloud. The motion was not ambulatory in the least degree. In this manner the apparition followed us about twenty rods, and then disappeared in my view. It opened into two parts and vanished."  -- RICHARD DOWNING.

Testimony of Samuel Simson

"August 5, 1800. In the evening after I had prayed, I looked toward the opposite side of the room, and saw a white personal form, having on a woman’s cap, and the same countenance and features which Mrs. N. Butler had when she was alive and in health, so that I knew her immediately. In the name of the Lord, said I, for what purpose are you here ?—But there was no answer. I spoke again—‘“‘ In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are you, and what do you want here?’ My wife greatly surprised, and seeing nothing, asked what was the matter. I told her I saw an apparition. No, she replied, you are deranged. It is the moon you see. At that moment the apparition disappeared." -- SAMUEL SIMSON

Testimony of Mrs. Abigail Abbot 

"August 0, 1800.  I was at Mr. Blaisdel’s house, with many more....The spectre knocked several times very loud, and we went into the cellar. After saying many things to us, she appeared in the shape of a person and moved before us, without stepping, passing and repassing several times. She gave so much light that we could see other persons and other things in the cellar, which we could not see before her appearance, nor afterwards. I saw her appear and disappear several times. At last the apparition came to Capt. G. Butler, and then he appeared to be immersed in her radiance so that he appeared white and shining like the apparition. And I did particularly see his hand in the midst of the apparent body of the apparition. He cried in surprise, “* Lord Jesus Christ.”....

August 13-14, I was there again, and heard much conversation of the ghost, with several other persons in the cellar, concerning several events known only to her and them in her life time. To all their questions she gave satisfactory answers.

Once while she was speaking, I saw a bright shining appearance in that part of the space from whence the voice proceeded,

Her conversation and exhortation continued four hours.... " --ABIGAIL ABBOT.

Testimony of Captain Paul Blaisdel

"I have seen and discoursed with the apparition several times. In the latter part of January, 1800, I saw her in the field; first at a considerable distance from me: then she came to me, and I particularly observed that she never touched the ground. Her raiment appeared as white as possible. The next evening she reproved me in the hearing of several persons, because I had not spoken to her, and because I had spoken against her. She told me she had come on God’s errand, and that if I opposed her, I opposed him who sent her. The Spirit asked me if I lived in such a manner as I would wish to die.

I have from time to time heard the voice speak in open space, where I am sure no living person existed, as others can testify who were with me. And upon August 9-10, I was present and saw the Spectre when she appeared, and I plainly saw Capt. Butler’s hand pass through the apparition.

August 11, 1 saw her again, and heard her pious discourse, with nearly twenty other persons. To those who were present, I said, ‘She has her child now in her arms.' ' Yes, I have,' she answered, ' yes I have.'  She came so near to me and others, that either of us could have handled her without changing our places.

August 13. Being informed that the ghost had promised to come this night, I left my father’s house, and went to Capt. M’s that I might not see nor hear her. Just before daylight, she came to this house with more than forty people, and reproved me again for speaking against her in the presence of six or seven persons. This is the second time, said the voice, that you have been warned.—Beware of the third time. She asked me several times to handle her, to see whether she had material substance or not. I confessed to her that I believed her to be the spirit of N. H. Then I went back with the company to my father’s house. Before she vanished she came and stood within three feet from me. The personal shape was all light, the particles of which had constant motion. But I was afraid to put my hand upon her."

Testimony of David Hooper

"January 2, 1800. By the request of the spectre, sent by two messengers, I went to Mr. Blaisdel’s house, and by conversing with her, obtained such clear and irresistable tokens of her being the spirit of my own daughter, as gave me no less satisfaction than admiration and delight.

She gave a reason satisfactory to me why she put me to the trouble of coming there instead of her coming to my house. By her request I went in a few days after to Mr. Butler’s family and expressed my conviction to them.

August 8, I was there again, with my wife and many others. I again asked the ghost who she was. The voice answered, “I was once N. B., your dear child.' ... -- DAVID HOOPER

Testimony of Mrs. Joanna Hooper

"Her next words were spoken to me in particular. ‘Do you not remember what I said on my death bed?' I answered, yes, I do remember that you then said you desired peace while you lived. Yes, I did, said she, yes I did.— Sometime before this the spectre had sent this token to me, which, though not certain, had yet been attended with such circumstances, as rendered the use of it for deception utterly improbable.

August 13, we went again. The spirit then asked if we wanted to see her, and we both said no. Did I ask you in your last sickness, said I, whether you was willing your child should live? The voice answered, ' yes, yes, and I told you I should be a vile creature to desire the life of the child.' .... I asked this question for further satisfaction, knowing that this very question and answer had passed between us....Then we two looked round and saw a white shining appearance by the side of Mrs. Butler, and about as tall as she." -- JOANNA HOOPER

Testimony of Eunice Scammons

"August 11, 1800. I was at the house which the ghost had so often visited, and was one of seventeen people or more, who were present when she appeared and conversed with us....Being asked who she was, she said, 'I was once N. H. and when I died I was N. B.' and mentioned several circumstances which attended her death to confirm her declaration.

After much other conversation, she appeared in the midst of us and talked while she appeared. She came so near me that I could have laid my hand upon her. She had before solemnly entreated us to stand round separate and in such order that all might see her while she moved in the midst of us. Within our two ranks she slowly passed and repassed from end to end three times, and passed by me six times. There were several persons in the company dressed in white; but I could not see them at all, while the Spectre was as white as any thing could possibly be. She moved in such nearness to every one of us, that every one might have handled her. I saw her vanish instantly in the midst of us." -- EUNICE SCAMMONS

Testimony of Mrs. Mary Bragdon

"Sometime in January, 1800, I was at the house of Mr. Blaisdel, and heard such a voice as I never heard before among the living; and they told me it was that of the Spirit, talking with Mr. and Mrs. Butler.

August 7. At the same house we heard a knocking on the partition next to the chimney, where no person could be. Then several persons with me went into the cellar, and the Spirit told us she was once Nelly Butler. She told me that I must not be scared.

August 13. I was again at the house with forty-eight others, besides children. The Spirit, after her conversation with several persons, exhorted the youth: 'I was once young and vain as you, said the voice, and, if the Lord had taken me away in that condition, how miserable I should have been! Now is the time, while you are young, to seek the Lord. Delay not till it is too late.'  Then it was that I saw a white personal form shining in the space from whence the voice proceeded ; and I afterwards saw the same appearance in the field." -- MARY BRAGDON.

Testimony of Dorcas Johnson

"I was present at the house, and at the time dated, August 13, by other testimonies. There I heard and saw the Spectre. Her voice was distinct from any other, and her music the most delightful that I ever heard. When she walked with us, she moved without stepping. And when we arrived at the house, by direction of the Spectre given to my brother, James Springer, and by him to the company in our hearing, we opened to the right and left, so that the Spectre aud Mrs. Butler passed together between our two ranks. Then she vanished from my view and I saw her no more." -- DORCAS JOHNSON

Now let us consider the consistency of these narratives:

• None of the witnesses gave testimony conflicting with the claim that the apparition matched Nelly Butler, the deceased first wife of George Butler, that wife being the daughter of David Hooper. George Butler says the apparition was preceded by a voice identifying  itself as his first wife. James Millar says the apparition was preceded by a voice saying "I was once N. H." -- possibly a reference to a maiden name of Nelly Hooper. Samuel Simson said he saw " a white personal form, having on a woman’s cap, and the same countenance and features which Mrs. N. Butler had when she was alive and in health, so that I knew her immediately." Captain Paul Blaisdal said, " I confessed to her that I believed her to be the spirit of N. H," a possible reference to Nelly Hooper. David Hooper says he asked the ghost who it was, and got the answer, "I was once N. B., your dear child." Eunice Scammons asked the apparition who it was, and said the answer was, "I was once N. H. and when I died I was N. B," presumably standing for Nelly Hooper and Nelly Butler. Mary Bragdon says, "The Spirit told us she was once Nelly Butler." I can find no conflict here between these accounts. All of the statements relevant to the apparition's identity are consistent with the claim that the apparition was that of a woman born as Nelly Hooper (the daughter of David Hooper), who became Nelly Butler after marrying George Butler. 
• About six of the witnesses reported a mysterious knocking. The report of the mysterious knocking is consistent with innumerable reports of mysterious knockings occurring after 1848, typically occurring during seances. 
• Several of the witnesses reported that the apparition was seen at the house of a Mr. Blaisdel. This is reported by Paul Simson, Sally Martin, Jeremiah Bunker, Richard Downing, Abigail Abbot, David Hooper and Mary Bragdon. 
• The claim that the apparition suddenly disappeared is made by eight witnesses, including George Butler (who says it appeared and disappeared three times), James Millar, Jeremiah Bunker ("she appeared before us and disappeared several times"), James Springar (" I saw the Spirit appear and disappear several time that night"), Richard Downing ("The apparition, with Mrs. Butler, having advanced a few rods, disappeared"), Samuel Simson ("At that moment the apparition disappeared"), Eunice Scammons ("I saw her vanish instantly in the middle of us"), and Dorcas Johnson ("she vanished from my view").
• The apparition is consistently described as being white and shining. Sally Martin says she saw "a personal form, as white as any thing could possibly appear." James Millar says it was "as white as the light." Abner Blaisdel describes as a "white appearance." Mary Bragdon says she saw a "white personal form shining in the space from whence the voice proceeded." Richard Downing says it was "as white as the light." Abigail Abbot says that when Captain Butler saw it "he appeared to be immersed in her radiance so that he appeared white and shining like the apparition."
• Captain George Butler said, "I reached out my left hand to take hold of it. I saw my hand in the middle of it, but could feel nothing." On the page here Cummings says that "six people saw the hand pass through the apparition." Abigail Abbot said, "And I did particularly see his hand in the midst of the apparent body of the apparition." Abner Blaisdel says, " I saw him put his hand on the apparition, and I saw his hand pass through it. Then it vanished." On page 68 we have testimony by three other different witnesses swearing to the truth of the testimony given above. Dorcas Abbot says, "I plainly saw Capt. Butler’s hand go through the apparition."  Frederic Housoff says, "I was an eye and ear witness of all the facts declared in the last testimony, and can attest particularly that I plainly saw Capt. Butler put his hand on the apparition, and saw his hand pass through it, glowing with the light of it." Joseph Blaisdel says, "I was present when the important transaction took place on the night of August 9, 1800, and saw Mr. Butler’s hand pass through the body of the apparition, while he uttered the words, ‘ Lord Jesus.' ”

In the later account here, from 1893, a case having no relation to the one above, Julie Tyler describes something similar to what is described above. She describes seeing an apparition, and she says, "I pushed right through the figure, and fell against the wall." The account says two daughters (19 and 20) "agree closely in their several descriptions" of an apparition.

If the topic of this post interested you, check out my free 435-page book "Spookiest Years," now available on www.archive.org using the link here. The book discusses phenomena such as spiritual manifestations, seance phenomena, near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, apparition sightings, deathbed visions and precognitive visions.  Using the native www.archive.org file viewer in single-page mode,  you can conveniently read the whole book by finger swiping. Scholars who are interested in following the links may prefer to download the book as a PDF file, which will allow opening links by right-clicking on a link.