The Gloucester Leagers of Massachusetts
In the annals of early American folklore, few tales are as unsettling and enigmatic as the legend of the Gloucester Leagers. This peculiar episode, rooted in the anxieties and uncertainties of 17th-century colonial life, speaks of phantom armies, spectral skirmishes, and a community gripped by fear. The events, which unfolded in Gloucester, Massachusetts, during the summer of 1692, left an indelible mark on the region’s history, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural. The story, recounted by Charles M. Skinner in 1896, offers a chilling glimpse into a world where the threat of war and the fear of the unknown intertwined to create a terrifying and enduring legend.
The year 1692 was a time of considerable unease in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Although King Philip’s War, a brutal conflict between English colonists and Native American tribes, had ended two decades prior, the memory of the war was still fresh in the minds of the settlers. The constant threat of Indian attacks, coupled with growing tensions with the French to the north, created an atmosphere of paranoia and suspicion. It was against this backdrop of fear and uncertainty that the strange events in Gloucester began to unfold.
Reports of eerie phenomena began to surface, unsettling the residents of Gloucester. Some claimed to hear the sounds of marching men in the streets, a ghostly echo of past conflicts. Others reported seeing an Indian bow and scalp superimposed on the face of the moon, an ominous symbol of the ever-present threat from the wilderness. In neighboring towns like Malden, the boom of phantom cannons and the roll of spectral drums reverberated through the air, while in Plymouth, the windows rattled as if shaken by the passage of unseen horsemen.
However, the most alarming event was the reported appearance of a mysterious force of French and Indians on Cape Ann. Unlike any tangible enemy, this group seemed impervious to harm. Despite repeated attempts by local militias and even two full regiments to engage them, they remained elusive, impossible to capture, kill, or even wound. The failure to subdue these enigmatic invaders led to a disturbing conclusion: these were not ordinary men but malevolent spirits, devils seeking to corrupt the moral fabric of the colony.
From their initial appearance in 1692 until the fever of the Salem Witch Trials subsided, Cape Ann was placed under constant military and spiritual guard, a desperate attempt to protect the community from what became known as "the spectre leaguers." The fear of the Gloucester Leagers permeated every aspect of life, casting a long shadow over the town.
Another account of the events, based on sworn testimony, provides a more personal and immediate perspective on the Gloucester Leagers phenomenon. It tells the story of Ebenezer Babson, a local resident who encountered the mysterious figures one summer night. Upon returning home late, Babson witnessed two men fleeing from his doorstep and disappearing into a nearby field. His family denied having any visitors, leading Babson to suspect the men had malicious intentions. He pursued them, only to have them spring from behind a log, uttering the chilling words, "The master of the house is now come, else we might have taken the house." They then vanished into a swamp.
Babson alerted the local guard, and upon entering the garrison quarters, the sound of numerous footsteps was heard outside. However, when the doors were flung open, only the two men were visible, retreating into the darkness. The following evening, Babson was again pursued by these elusive figures, who were believed to be scouts for the enemy, identifiable by their white breeches and waistcoats and the bright guns they carried.
For several nights, the Gloucester Leagers continued to appear, their presence causing widespread alarm. On the 4th of July, a group of about six of them were seen so clearly that the soldiers launched an attack. Babson, with a single shot, managed to bring down three of these "unaccountable troublers." However, the victory was short-lived. A bullet whizzed past his ear and lodged in a tree, a stark reminder of the danger. When the soldiers approached the fallen figures, they miraculously rose and fled, seemingly unharmed. One of the trio was cornered and shot again, but as the soldiers attempted to apprehend him, he dissolved into thin air.
The swamp echoed with fierce jabbering in an unknown language, and by the time the garrison returned to their post, the figures were once again lurking in the shrubbery. A man named Richard Dolliver later stumbled upon eleven of them engaged in what appeared to be incantations. He fired a gunshot, scattering the group, but they refused to stay down. Instead, they continued to haunt the cape, sowing terror among the populace for the better part of a month. The general consensus was that "Satan had set ambushments against the good people of Gloucester, with demons in the shape of armed Indians and Frenchmen."
The disturbances continued, escalating the sense of dread that permeated the community. Stones were thrown at houses, barns were beaten with clubs, and the marching of unseen hosts echoed through the night. The mockers, as they were sometimes called, grew bolder, venturing close to Ebenezer Babson, who, undeterred, aimed his gun at them. However, even after laying a charm on his weapon, it repeatedly failed to fire, a frustrating sign of the supernatural forces at play.
Neighboring garrisons were summoned to assist, but all attempts to battle these spectral figures proved futile. One night, a large and menacing throng emerged from the woods, advancing towards the blockhouse where twenty musketeers stood guard. The captain, determined to confront the threat, cried out, "If you be ghosts or devils I will foil you!" He tore a silver button from his doublet, loaded it into his gun, and fired at the advancing host. As the smoke cleared, the besieging army vanished, the silver bullet proving their non-human nature.
As the night wore on, another cry went out: the devils were coming again. This time, however, the soldiers laid aside their arms and knelt in prayer. As soon as the name of God was uttered, the marching ceased, and the air filled with the howls of the angry fiends. After that night, the Gloucester Leagers were never seen again in Gloucester.
The tale of the Gloucester Leagers remains a fascinating and unsettling chapter in the history of Massachusetts. It reflects the anxieties and fears of a community grappling with the aftermath of war, the threat of foreign invasion, and the ever-present belief in the supernatural. While the true nature of the events remains a mystery, the legend of the Gloucester Leagers continues to capture the imagination, serving as a reminder of the power of fear and the enduring appeal of the unknown. The historical context, coupled with the vivid imagery of phantom soldiers and supernatural encounters, makes this story a compelling example of early American folklore. The Gloucester Leagers‘ legacy lives on, whispered in hushed tones, a testament to a time when the line between the real and the unreal seemed to blur, leaving an enduring mark on the collective memory of Gloucester and beyond.