The Elizabeth Knapp Case

By Crusader1307

One of the best ''documented'' early pre-Colonial American Cases of ''Demonic Possession'' – The Elizabeth Knapp Case took place in The Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1671. The primary Investigator was the acclaimed Cotton Mather, Puritan Minister and Statesman. According to documents, the 16-years old Daughter of an indentured Servant (Farmer), Knapp claimed that She ''felt as if She was being touched at night, in Her Sleep''. At times, Knapp described as being ''strangled by unseen hands''. Knapp began to ''cry and moan'' in Church, drawing the attention of The Town and Clergy. Soon, others began to report that they ''saw'' Knapp ''floating'' and speaking in ''foul languages''. On more than one instance, Knapp was ''seen trying to throw Herself into a Fire, screaming in gleefully Demonic voice''. Soon, Knapp was ''speaking in a Male voice'' claiming to be ''The Devil''. Knapp claimed that The Clergy was nothing more than false. This, coupled with many incidents of Knapp ''attacking innocents physically'', drew the investigations of Minister Mather. Knapp was said to have been ''examined'' by Mathers and others who performed ''in-depth'' investigations to determine if She was in fact, possessed by The Devil. The truly odd thing, is that after 1672 – all trace of Knapp ''vanished'' from official records. In fact, it would not be until the infamous ''Salem Witch Trials'' of 1672, that She would be mentioned again. What happened to Her (later life and death), is UNKNOWN.