All who have written about the Wesleys have dwelt at much length on the extroadinary noises which were heard
there during the years 1716 and 1717. These have been largely considered by the various members of the Wesley
family, by Dr. Whitehead, Henry Moore, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Presley, Dr. Southey, Mr. Kirk and Mr. Tyerman.
In the violent forms they commenced on December 1, 1716 and continued almost daily to the end of January 1717.
The noises did not cease then. No less than 34 years afterward, in 1750, Emilia Harper wrote to her brother
John Wesley saying that old Jeffrey visited her on evey extraordinary new trial or affliction. More than 100 years
after the Wesley family had left the rectory house the then resident rector heard extraordinary noises there which
induced him to take his family away for a time to the Continent.
The testimony of all Mr. Wesley's family agrees as to the time and the character of the noises.They all heard them
separately and collectively. Whether the rectory house clock was right to time or not, the noise began at a quarter
before ten at night.
They were sure to be heard at the family devotion when the words were repeated in the prayer for the king and
royal family, "our most gracious sovereign lord, King George".
When by design the rector omitted the prayer for the royal family, knocking was not heard.
The noises were so varied, bold and persistent, that all notion of their being natural is placed beyond possibility.
These are some of the varieties of disturbances which were heard: Commencing with a noise like the winding
of a jack, knocking on the floor, on ceiling, walls and doors was daily heard. The turning of a windmill, a carpenter
planing wood, emptying a bag of money, the crashing of a hundred bottles, the overturning of all the pewter on the
kitchen floor, rattling the door latch, knocking at the warming pan, shuffling amongst boots and shoes, turning the
corn mill, opening of doors, running about like a badger or a rabbit, walking up and down stairs as though trailing
a long silk gown behind, imitating the groans of the dying,.....
How shall all these things be accounted for by the laws of nature? They cannot. The only conclusion which can
be arrived at after a thoughtful consideration of the whole matter is that these disturbing causes were permitted
for some wise purpose which served the end designed.