The Haunted Cottage of Esther Cox: A True Ghost Story from Amherst, Nova Scotia

Welcome to the chilling tale of Esther Cox and the eerie events that unfolded in a quaint cottage in Amherst, Nova Scotia, during the late 1870s. Nestled in the picturesque village by the Bay of Fundy, this story of supernatural phenomena, mysterious occurrences, and a young woman’s torment will leave you questioning the boundaries between the living and the dead. Let’s step into the world of the Great Amherst Mystery.

A Charming Village and a Cozy Cottage

Amherst, Nova Scotia, is a charming village of about 3,000 residents, boasting four churches, an academy, a music hall, and thriving businesses like an iron foundry and a shoe factory. The town’s well-to-do homes are adorned with manicured lawns, ornamental trees, and vibrant flowerbeds. Among these stands a modest, yellow-painted, two-story cottage on Princes Street, home to Daniel Teed, a respected shoemaker, his wife Olive, their two young sons, Willie and George, and Olive’s sisters, Jane and Esther Cox.

The cottage exudes warmth and simplicity. The ground floor features a parlor with a bay window blooming with geraniums, a dining room with an old-fashioned clock and homemade rugs, a cozy kitchen, and a small sewing room. Upstairs, four modest bedrooms open to a central hall, each furnished with rustic charm. This humble abode, maintained by the industrious Olive, feels like a sanctuary—until strange events begin to unravel.

The Cox Family and Esther’s Peculiar Nature

Daniel Teed, a hardworking man of 35, is known for his honesty and dedication to his family. Olive, his tireless wife, runs the household with efficiency, her small stature belying her boundless energy. Their sons, five-year-old Willie and one-year-old George, bring liveliness to the home, with Willie’s mischievous antics and George’s charming giggles.

Living with them are Olive’s sisters: Jane, a graceful and beautiful 22-year-old, and Esther Cox, an 18-year-old with a complex personality. Born on March 28, 1860, in Upper Stewiacke, Esther was a frail child raised by her grandmother after her mother’s death. Small and prone to plumpness, Esther has dark, curly hair, large brown eyes with a hint of blue, and a serious demeanor that hints at her uniqueness. Known for her hearty appetite—especially for pickles and vinegar—Esther is both kind-hearted and stubborn, often clashing with Olive’s requests but beloved by the village children who call her “Ester.”

A Fateful Night and the Onset of the Haunting

The story takes a dark turn on August 28, 1878. Esther, smitten with a young shoemaker named Bob McNeal, joins him for a carriage ride through the countryside. In a secluded wooded area, Bob’s demeanor shifts. Overcome by a sudden rage, he pulls a revolver, demanding Esther get out of the carriage or face death. Terrified, Esther refuses, and the distant sound of approaching wheels forces Bob to flee, driving her back to the cottage in a storm. Soaked and shaken, Esther returns home, keeping the traumatic incident a secret.

For days, Esther is visibly distressed, crying herself to sleep and wandering the village aimlessly. On September 4, the first supernatural signs emerge. As Esther and Jane sleep, Esther screams about a mouse under the bed. They find nothing, but the next night, a green cardboard box under their bed inexplicably jumps a foot into the air, startling them. The sisters scream for Daniel, who dismisses it as a dream, but the events escalate.

The Haunting Intensifies

By September 5, Esther suffers a terrifying episode. She wakes in agony, her body swollen, her face flushed, and her eyes bulging. As her family watches in horror, loud, thunder-like noises shake the room. The swelling subsides, and Esther falls into a deep sleep. These disturbances—moving objects, unexplained noises, and violent outbursts—become nightly occurrences. Bedding flies across the room, pillows are hurled, and cryptic messages appear on the walls, including the chilling words: “Esther Cox, you will murder me.”

Dr. Carritte, a local physician, is summoned but is baffled by the phenomena. He witnesses pillows moving on their own and hears deafening knocks, yet finds no medical explanation beyond Esther’s nervous shock. The disturbances grow bolder: objects vanish, reappear from ceilings, and even ignite spontaneously. One night, a barrel of wood shavings in the cellar catches fire, nearly destroying the cottage. A mysterious stranger extinguishes it and vanishes, adding to the enigma.

The Spirits Speak

As the haunting intensifies, Esther reveals the source of her trauma: Bob McNeal’s violent threat. The family suspects his actions triggered the supernatural activity. The disturbances take on a communicative nature, with knocks answering questions—three for “yes,” one for “no,” and two for uncertainty. The spirits identify themselves: Bob Nickell, a malevolent entity claiming to be a deceased shoemaker; Maggie Fisher, equally destructive; Peter Cox, a benign relative; and others. They admit to living in “hell” and seeing the devil, chilling the family with their responses.

Reverend Edwin Clay, a Baptist preacher, visits and theorizes that Esther’s shock has turned her into a “human battery,” producing electrical phenomena akin to miniature thunderclaps. Reverend R.A. Temple witnesses a bucket of water boil inexplicably. The village buzzes with curiosity, drawing crowds to the cottage, some believing it a hoax, others convinced of its authenticity.

Esther’s Exile and Temporary Respite

Fearing for their safety, Daniel sends Esther to stay with John White and his wife, who kindly take her in. For two weeks, the phenomena cease, and Esther’s health improves. But the spirit returns, manipulating objects and setting fires. John, unwilling to risk his home, arranges for Esther to work in a dining saloon across from GG Bird’s bookstore. There, the disturbances continue: oven doors open, knives stab, and furniture moves. Scientists and locals, including Dr. Alward and Amos Fares, investigate, communicating with the spirits through knocks and alphabet recitations.

Esther briefly finds peace staying with the Van Amburg family on their remote farm, where the phenomena stop. But upon returning to Amherst, the hauntings resume with full force. The author, a former theater troupe member, arrives in June 1879 to investigate. He experiences chairs toppling, objects flying, and even a child’s shoe hurled at his head. The spirits, led by Bob Nickell, torment him relentlessly, yet he persists, documenting their antics and communicating through knocks.

The Final Departure

By late July, the disturbances become unbearable. Fires ignite, furniture is destroyed, and voices call out names. With the cottage at risk, the family reluctantly decides Esther must leave. Heartbroken, she packs her belongings, bids farewell to her nephews and sisters, and moves permanently to the Van Amburg farm. There, the hauntings cease, and Esther finds peace, reading the Bible and crafting patchwork quilts.

The author visits her on August 1, 1879, finding her content and urging her to pray for protection. Daniel’s cottage returns to normal, with Olive and Jane resuming their routines, and the village breathes a sigh of relief.

A True Ghost Story

This account of Esther Cox and the Great Amherst Mystery is no fiction but a documented saga of inexplicable events. From flying objects to cryptic messages and spontaneous fires, the phenomena defied explanation, captivating a village and puzzling experts. Was it a spirit’s vengeance, a psychological manifestation, or something beyond our understanding? The mystery endures, a haunting reminder of the unknown forces that may linger just beyond our grasp.

What do you think—fact or fiction? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Disclaimer: This story is based on historical accounts and presented for entertainment and reflection. For more on Esther Cox, check local Amherst archives or historical records.