This location is an homage to human superstition. The presentation of Western belief in history often overlooks the social tendency in the late eighteenth century leading into the second decade of the nineteenth century to continue to find divine providence in preternatural (extraordinary) events. The Great Awakening had awakened a religious fervor, much to the consternation of the British Church. Religious unrest accompanied the American Revolution as many colonists were looking for closer connections with their almighty than the pomp and circumstance of the Anglican Church offered. Black people too, participated in and influenced the development of dissenting churches.
During this period, many still saw extreme weather events and natural phenomena as a sign of God’s displeasure with those who had « lost their way. » Today, we are led to believe this tendency died out centuries ago with the dawning of the enlightenment. But here in August of 1816, according to Benjamin Crawford, « Poll Kimble is said to be Bewichd she lives [with] Willaim Kimble at the point. » He later stated that « Old Baly at B[ill] Kimbles to kill the wiches. »
Historian Stephen Davidson writes that in 1818, another witch trial took place up Long Reach at Tennants Cove. In this instance, Mary Tennant was accused of being the source of odd goings on around the reach. Davidson reports that neighbours gathered and held hands while heating a horseshoe in the fireplace to drive the witch away.
Source:
https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/Acadiensis/article/view/10649/11303
http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Trails/2009/Loyalist-Trails-2009.php?issue=200916
Image:
https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/irish-witch-trials-eight-women
