Wonderful History of the Morristown Ghost ...

1826. YOUNG, DAVID. The Wonderful History of the Morristown Ghost .... Newark: Benjamin Olds, for the Author, J.C. Totten, printer, 1826. 76 p. Contemporary blue paper-covered boards, linen spine. A bit worn and shaken, some neat repairs to spine covering, the usual foxing. The delightful account of the "Morristown ghost." One Ransford Rogers, supposedly a Connecticut schoolmaster but in reality a fraudulent diviner, was brought to Morris County in 1788 because of his professed ability to communicate with spirits. It was the belief of many local residents (truncated) that, at the outbreak of the Revolution, the Tories in the vicinity of Schooley's Mountain had buried money and other valuables in the hills. After the defeat of Great Britain, many of these Loyalists fled, leaving behind their buried possessions. These treasures were guarded by hobgoblins and apparitions. If the spirits could be dispelled, great riches would be available. Rogers, seeing a perfect opportunity in the gullible local residents, concocted a series of noctural events to reinforce the faith the locals had in his ability to communicate with the spirits. Once he had gained their confidence, he began to extract money from them. Eventually his scheme was discovered, and he was jailed. Released on bail, he fled the area. Young's edition is rewritten from the extremely rare Newark, 1792 original edition, of which only two copies are known, one of which is imperfect. For the real story behind Ransford Rogers and his confidence schemes, see the lengthy account in Felcone, Printing in New Jersey, 1754-1800, 608. Shoemaker 27724. (Inventory #: 3323)