Between 1817 and 1821, the family of John Bell — a prosperous farmer near the Red River in Robertson County, Tennessee — was tormented by an invisible entity. It began with knocking and scratching sounds. It escalated to physical attacks: bedsheets pulled off sleeping children, family members slapped and struck by unseen hands, a daughter's hair pulled so violently it left bruises.

The entity could speak. It identified itself variously as an old woman named Kate Batts, as a witch, and as a spirit from various sources. It held conversations with visitors. It sang hymns. It quoted scripture. It had favorites — it was gentle with John Bell's wife, Lucy, and viciously hostile toward John Bell himself.

In December 1820, John Bell died. The entity claimed credit, saying it had poisoned him. A vial of dark liquid was found in the house; when tested on the family cat, the cat died immediately. The entity celebrated with singing.

Andrew Jackson, then a general and later president, allegedly visited the Bell farm around 1819. According to multiple accounts, Jackson's wagon froze at the property line and would not move until the entity spoke and gave permission. Jackson and his companions reportedly fled the farm that night. Jackson is said to have remarked: 'I'd rather fight the entire British Army than deal with the Bell Witch.'