The tale of the Stone-Throwing Devil in New Castle, New Hampshire, is a fascinating and eerie one. Let’s conjure up an image of this supernatural event that plagued George Walton’s tavern in 1682.

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In the quaint coastal town of New Castle, during the summer of 1682, a poltergeist—dubbed the Stone-Throwing Devil—descended upon George Walton’s tavern. George is the grandfather-in-Law of Sampson Babb (1-4) through his granddaughter Grace Taprill. Here’s how I envision the scene:

1. The Tavern at Dusk:
   • The tavern stands weathered and timeworn, its wooden beams creaking under the weight of history. A sign swings gently in the evening breeze, bearing the name “Walton’s Inn.”
   • The air is thick with anticipation as townsfolk gather outside, whispering about the strange occurrences within.
2. The Unseen Hand:
   • As twilight settles, the first stone hurtles through the air. It materializes seemingly out of nowhere, striking the tavern’s sturdy oak door.
   • George Walton, a stout Quaker innkeeper, peers out in bewilderment. His eyes widen as he witnesses more stones—some small, others massive—darting through the air, propelled by an invisible force.
3. Chaos Unleashed:
   • The stones dance erratically, defying gravity. They shatter windows, leaving jagged shards scattered across the tavern floor.
   • A 30-pound rock crashes through the glass, leaving a clean hole—a feat no human hand could achieve.
   • The stone-throwing devil’s malevolent laughter echoes through the night.
4. Otherworldly Phenomena:
   • Hammers pirouette mid-air, pewter pots twirl like dervishes, and andirons perform an eerie ballet.
   • Sun dials spin wildly, their shadows tracing cryptic patterns on the walls.
   • A black cat—its eyes aflame—observes from the shadows, its presence both ominous and mesmerizing.
5. Desperate Measures:
   • George Walton, sleep-deprived and desperate, consults with Cotton Mather, the renowned Puritan minister. Mather attributes the chaos to infernal spirits.
   • Walton’s neighbors gather, some praying fervently, others scoffing. The town buzzes with speculation.
6. Accusations and Envy:
   • Walton blames a neighbor—a woman with whom he feuded over a property line. She, in turn, calls him a wizard.
   • Jealousy simmers among less-prosperous neighbors. Walton’s wealth—his brewery, livestock, and vast land holdings—stirs envy.
   • Native American employees at the tavern raise suspicion, their presence still unsettling after King Philip’s War.
7. The Royal Officials:
   • Walton’s establishment attracts fishermen and rowdy patrons, much to the disapproval of his Puritan neighbors.
   • Yet, it’s not just common folk who frequent Walton’s inn. The New Hampshire colony’s royal officials dine and stay there, adding intrigue to the tale.

And so, the Stone-Throwing Devil continues its malevolent dance, leaving the townspeople both terrified and fascinated. To this day, the mystery remains unsolved—a spectral enigma etched into New Castle’s history.

🔗 For more details, you can explore the fascinating accounts of the Stone-Throwing Devil in the New England Historical Society and Cow Hampshire Blog as well as through my original post on this subject in 2014.

George Walton & “The Stone Throwing Devil”

Image: An artist’s depiction of the Stone-Throwing Devil tormenting George Walton’s tavern.¹²

Feel free to step into this eerie moment, where the veil between our world and the supernatural grows thin.