Chasing the Devil

A story from the book New Hampshire Folk Tales compiled by Mrs. Moody P. Gore and Mrs. Guy E. Speare, New Hampshire  Federation of Women’s Club, 1949,   concerns the Reverend Jonathan Searle and what may be called an exorcism.  page 162

Related by: Asa Reddington of Waterville Maine, Revolutionary veteran employed to work a corn field adjacent to “Devils”Rock”. According to the skeptical Mr. Reddington “I did not attend the scene of folly, but the meeting took place in sight of the field where I was howing corn”. It would seem Mr. Reddington was not a follower of Reverend Searle.

Date: Late 1700’s

A certain Mrs. Bailey who was fond of her “toddy” came in after a thunderstorm and made an odd proclamation to those in her home that she had met the Devil. “During the shower the Prince of Darkness appeared to her. In consideration of some valuable promises made her, she entered into a contract with him agreeing to give herself up body and soul to his Infernal Majesty on a certain hour about six days after this interview”. 

When the news was given to Reverend Searle he announced a gathering at that appointed time to perform an “exorcism” and  chase off the devil. Twelve ministers from surrounding towns and parishioners surrounded Mrs. Bailey in a circle singing and praying and supplicating the tempter.  The women was delivered from her tempter and the danger was over at 5 in the afternoon.

Location: Below Searle’s Hill

The location for this event is Split Rock called Devil Rock at the time. This is a deposited glacial rock, very large in size that now exists on private, posted land in a densely wooded area next to a residence but was at one time a “tourist” stop for those coming up along Stirrup Iron Brook by coach via the Gerrish Train stop in Boscawen.