Ghost in Dumfries

The household of Gilbert Campbell, a weaver in Glenluce, was disrupted in or about 1655 by poltergeist activity. The spirit appeared to be closely connected to the children in the family, in particular to Campbell's son, a young student at Glasgow University. The first indication of trouble to come was given when Campbell's daughter, Jennet, began to complain of strange noises in her ears. The noises were shrill, like whistling. Then Jennet was heard to utter the words of some unseen spirit: Til cast thee, Jennet, into the well.'

After that, the house was subjected to continual bombardment with stones. Clothing was hurled from drawers, clothes were ripped to shreds, and sleepers were woken as the bedclothes were dragged off them by an invisible force. Much alarmed, Campbell moved his children out of the house for their own safety. The disturbances ceased as soon as the children had gone. The children moved back into the house with the exception of the eldest son, who was studying in Glasgow. For a while things were quiet, but then Campbell's son returned to the house and the trouble started again with renewed vigour. Stones were hurled around, belongings were damaged, and at one point the house caught fire. The affair caught the attention of the church, and various attempts were made by ministers to exorcise the spirit. The spirit was apparently quite communicative and claimed to have Campbell's son in its power. It claimed to have been sent by Satan from hell to torment the occupants of the house.

While the spirit was willing to communicate with the religious men, it was nevertheless resistant to all their attempts to banish it from the house. It continued to torment the family, beating the children as they lay in their beds, starting fires around the house, hiding the family's belongings or hurling them through the air. The family showed remarkable courage, remaining in the house throughout all this. Then, without warning, the activities of the malevolent force stopped, and the family was left in peace.

Although no one could be certain as to the cause of the fearful disturbances, one theory connects them to a beggar who had turned up at Campbell's house some time previously. Campbell had sent him away without giving him a penny, and the beggar had angrily threatened to avenge this cold-hearted treatment. It was said that the man was a certain Alexander Agnew, who was eventually accused of crimes against the church and was hanged some miles away in Dumfries. His death apparently coincided with the sudden return to harmony at Campbell's house in Glenluce.

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