The history of “witches” is plagued with terrible tales of torture and unjust death sentences. These cases are tragic indeed. However, I came across a historical ‘witch’ whose life happily does not end with a gruesome execution.
My day of folding laundry, cleaning, and attempting to tweak a cookie recipe to be healthier, took an exciting detour when I stumbled across a rather interesting bit of local history— The Witch of Plum Hollow.
Having a lifelong fascination with Washington Irving’s story of the headless horseman, I recently travelled to New York State to visit the legendary town of Sleepy Hollow. One of my favourite childhood novels is also The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, so you might imagine how the discovery of a ‘Witch of Plum Hollow’ piqued my interest. I needed to learn more!
Who was ‘The Witch of Plum Hollow’?
Elizabeth Barnes (nee Martin), also known fondly as Mother Barnes, was born in Cork, Ireland c.1794 and is often said to be the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. She became well known in what is now Ontario, Canada, for her clairvoyant skills.
Elizabeth married Robert Joseph Harrison for love, against her parents wishes and was disowned for this act of passion. The couple left Ireland behind, arriving in New York. They were blessed with the birth of a son, but sadly, Elizabeth was soon made a widow when Robert passed away.
A few years later, Elizabeth remarried a shoemaker named David Barnes and the couple moved to Canada. Elizabeth was kept quite busy having more children — 6 boys and 3 girls. Life took another turn for Elizabeth though, when her second husband took their youngest son and went to live in Smith Falls with an older son (who had 10 children of his own!), leaving her behind in Sheldon’s Corners (near Plum Hollow) (1).
Life as a seer
To earn money to care for her family, Elizabeth began using her skills as a seer. Charging 25 cents per reading, Elizabeth developed a solid reputation for the accuracy of her sixth sense. She was often asked to help locate missing items and animals, tell the future, solve crimes, and find missing persons.
The Winnipeg Tribute wrote in 1891:
“We have heard people describing interviews with her in a way which showed that she really possessed a knowledge of their past lives which was, to say the least, startling, and which gave them confidence in her ability to foretell the future. We have heard of many remarkable fulfillments of her predictions which would contradict the theory that they were mere chance verifications of random utterances.” The Winnipeg Tribune, 17 Feb 1891, Page 1. (2)
It is reported that a lawyer visited Elizabeth and learned he would become a political leader and live in Bytown. Bytown would become Canada’s capital city of Ottawa and the lawyer was Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald. (3)
Well-known in her time
At the time of Elizabeth’s death she was so well-known and respected for her abilities that many newspapers reported on her death. She lived to be about 90 (sources vary), and while she was buried in an unmarked grave, she was later given an honorary grave stone. (4) It’s interesting to note she had 68 direct descendants at the time of her death including 47 grandchildren and 14 grandchildren! (5)
Her cabin still stands in Leeds County, Ontario, but is privately owned and therefore visitors are not permitted. Having studied history for most of my life and being born, raised and still living in Ontario, I am a bit mystified as to how I have not heard the story of this fascinating and successful woman before now.
“Canada has never had as one of its citizens a lady of stronger character or keener intellect than Mother Barnes…” — Harry D. Blanchard, “Interesting Career of Mother Barnes – ‘The Witch of Plum Hollow’”, The Athens Reporter, Feb. 1936. (6)
The Windsor Newspaper wrote in 1891: “There was no more interesting character in Eastern Canada, and if her life is not written up the people of Canada will miss an interesting page of history.” (7)
Perhaps it is time, more people learn of this “witch” who was a successful seer and lived a peaceful life with her incredible abilities. Mother Barnes’ story is such an interesting one and I hope you enjoyed learning along with me!
Footnotes
- Melanie King, “Elizabeth Barnes: The Witch of Plum Hollow”, accessed February 13-14, 2023.
- Linda Seccaspina. “My Grandmother was Mother Barnes-The Witch of Plum Hollow”, accessed February 13-14, 2023.
- James Morgan, “Meet Mother Barnes, the “Witch” of Plum Hollow, Ontario”, accessed February 13, 2023.
- Melanie King, “Elizabeth Barnes: The Witch of Plum Hollow”, accessed February 13-14, 2023.
- Ibid.
- Arlene Stafford-Wilson, “The Witch of Plum Hollow”, accessed Feb 13-14, 2023.
- Linda Seccaspina. “My Grandmother was Mother Barnes-The Witch of Plum Hollow”, accessed February 13-14, 2023.
Sources and further learning (and photos)
King, Melanie. “Elizabeth Barnes: The Witch of Plum Hollow.” The Country Connection Magazine, Issue 41, Winter 2003. Accessed online at Pinecone.on.ca on February 13-14, 2023. http://www.pinecone.on.ca/MAGAZINE/stories/ElizabethBarnes.html
Lake, Rosanne. “Behind the Crimes in South Eastern Ontario.” South Eastern Ontario website. Accessed February 13, 2023.https://southeasternontario.ca/listicles/behind-the-crimes-in-south-eastern-ontario/
Morgan, James. “Meet Mother Barnes, the “Witch” of Plum Hollow.” NCPR Public Radio website, September 9, 2017. Accessed February 13-14, 2023. https://blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org/allin/2017/09/09/meet-mother-barnes-the-witch-of-plum-hollow-ontario/
(Includes a photo of the property)
“Mrs. Barnes of Plum Hollow.” ParaResearchers of Ontario website. Accessed February 13, 2023. http://www.pararesearchers.org/index.php/psychic-phenomenon/533–mrs-barnes-of-plum-hollow
(Includes family photos)
Seccaspina, Linda. “My Grandmother was Mother Barnes-The Witch of Plum Hollow.” Linda Seccaspina’s website. Accessed February 13-14, 2023. https://lindaseccaspina.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/my-grandmother-was-mother-barnes-the-witch-of-plum-hollow/
(Includes newspaper clippings and photos)
Stafford-Wilson, Arlene. “The Witch of Plum Hollow.” Arlene Stafford-Wilson’s website. Accessed February 13-14, 2023. https://arlenestaffordwilson.wordpress.com/tag/plum-hollow-leeds-county/
(Includes many family photos)
Published March 8, 2023.