Lurancy Vennum & The Watseka Wonder

This week, we have a story of a 19th Century spiritual possession, when 14 year old Lurancy Vennum began suffering from fits that eventually led her to visiting heaven, speaking with angels and finally, taking in the spirit of deceased 19 year old Mary Roff, the daughter of local spiritualists.

Sources:

The demonism of the ages, spirit obsessions so common in spiritism, … Peebles, J. M. (James Martin), 1822-1922.

The Watseka wonder; a startling and instructive psychological …Stevens, E. Winchester, 1822-1885.

Iroquois County Genealogical Society – http://sites.rootsweb.com/~ilicgs/bio/bio.htm

Morning Post, Friday 2nd October, 1908.

New York Tribune, Sunday July 19th, H. Addington Bruce, 1908.

Iroquois County Times, October 17th, 2014

Reminiscences of my sister Mary Roff, Mrs H. H. Alter, September 1908

 

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Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017

Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.