Spooky Legends of Norton [VIDEO]

With over 300 years of history, it should come of no surprise that Norton also has a few spooky legends; the most notable having to do with the devil and witchcraft. The following is an excerpt from “A History of the Town of Norton,” by George Faber Clark, which spans the years of 1669-1859.

The Devil’s Footprint

Norton has not been exempt from believers in witches, wizards, ghosts, and goblins; and there are some yet living who hug these ideas to their bosoms. Tradition has handed down to us the important intelligence (we do not, however, vouch for its truth), that Major George Leonard — the first of the name in town — made a league with the Devil in order to acquire great wealth; and, as a return for the services rendered, Leonard promised to give his body to the Devil when he called for it. Accordingly, in 1716, while Mr. Leonard was sick with a fever, of which he died, the old imp came, claimed his body, and actually carried it off! As he left the premises with it, he made a tremendous jump, and landed on some rocks situated thirty or forty rods back of the house, where he came down with so much force as to make his foot-prints in the rock, which are to be seen at the present day! At the funeral, the corpse was not to be seen, of course; and the family gave out word that it was not proper to be seen: but, in reality, there was nothing in the coffin but a log of wood, put in to lull all suspicion that the body was not there.

 George Yelle, co-chairperson of , is a skeptic of the spookier legends of Norton, but had to admit that he had an interesting experience when it came to the “Devil’s Footprint” story.

 He went to the alleged site with members of Norton Cable TV to tape a segment on the tale. But when the crew went back to the studio to edit the video, they found that the tape was blank.

Theodora Leonard

Theodora, or Dora Leonard, as she was generally called, was reputed a witch, and, if we can believe the stories of some now living, "cut some curious capers." People would sometimes go to the barn, and "tie up" the cattle; and, before they could get away therefrom, the cattle would be all unloosed by some mysterious agency. She lived some two miles from the centre; and once, when up in town, it was needful that she should get some cloth that was left at home, and she went after it, but soon returned with it, not having had time to have gone a fourth part of the distance. One day, some boys were out hunting squirrels, near her residence; and they found a large one in the top of a "tree, and fired almost numberless times at it, but could not kill it. But, as they were going home, they encountered a strange cat, which was believed to have been Dora in disguise, who had prevented the charges fired at the squirrel from taking effect. She was supported by the town in her last days; and, when she died (about 1785), there was such a terrible racket all about the house, that no one dared to remain to witness her death.

Naomi Burt

Naomi Burt was also accounted a member of the mysterious sisterhood of witches, and, by her wonderful powers, gave some trouble to those who fell under the ban of her displeasure. Oxen sometimes turned their yokes, and people lost wheels off their wagons, when they passed her house; and the boys always held their breath, and ran with all speed, when they went by in the night. She hung herself, July 4, 1808.

Witch’s Bridge

Ann Cobb had the reputation of dealing in the “black art” and of being in league with the "Old Scratch;" but I have not been informed of any specific modes in which she manifested her power. She was supported by the town some time previous to her death, which took place in 1798. The bridge near her home was named “Witch’s Bridge” shortly thereafter.

 Though few stories back up the claims of those who thought her a witch, one remains.

 According to Yelle, one day, Ann Cobb had errands in the Town Center to attend to. She left her home in Barrowsville for the two-mile trip, something which should have taken a few hours time. However, people say she made her trip so fast, she must have flown.

 Yelle also notes that Cobb very well could have forgotten something and turned around before she reached her destination, making suspicious people think she completed the trip in an unattainable time.

 But where’s the fun in believing that?