The ghost of Nelly Butler haunted Sullivan, Maine in 1799 — appearing to over 100 witnesses, matchmaking from beyond the grave, and predicting death.
Did you know that America’s first recorded haunting happened right here in Maine? In this episode, Kel unravels the wild, soap-opera-worthy tale of Nelly Butler — a young woman who died in childbirth in Sullivan, Maine, and then came back as a ghost to play supernatural matchmaker for her surviving husband.
Starting in the winter of 1799, Captain Abner Blaisdel began hearing mysterious knocking in his cellar and a disembodied female voice promising to reveal her identity. The voice turned out to be Nelly Butler, confirmed by her own father and sister. But Nelly wasn’t content with just making appearances — she began holding court in the Blaisdel basement, answering questions from townspeople, appearing as a glowing orb and a full-bodied apparition, and even allowing her ex-husband George to pass his hand through her ghostly form.
The real drama? Nelly’s “godly mission” was to force George Butler to marry Lydia Blaisdel — a match neither family wanted. Nelly followed Lydia on the road, threatened to haunt her forever if she fled, and ultimately wore everyone down until the wedding happened. Then, just days later, Nelly predicted Lydia would also die in childbirth — and ten months later, she did. Over 100 witnesses signed legal depositions about their encounters, and Harvard-educated preacher Abraham Cummings traveled from Bath to debunk the whole thing, only to become an instant believer after seeing Nelly’s apparition in a field. Aster brings the skeptic’s perspective, theorizing about possible hoaxes and ulterior motives, while Kel dubs Nelly the original Real Housewife of Haunted America.
Paranormal 
