Malevolent Haunts: The Demon Drummer Of Tedworth

In the English village of Tedworth, no citizen was quite as powerful as John Mompesson, basically when the powerful magistrate spoke folks listened and did not question. In 1698, a tale of revenge, witchcraft and demons brought Mompesson and his family the kind of notiriety that he did not want. Mompesson lived in a time where just seeing a ghost could get you a one way ticket to a fiery death or a date with the hangman’s noose. What exactly was the cause of the terrifying demonic outbreak that gripped the Mompesson family in it’s wicked clutch and why would the minions of the evil one choose to pick on such a devoutly christian leader? Revenge would appear to be the chief factor in this strange tale.

John Mompesson, made a daily habit at walking through the town square on his way to his offices and those who knew him greeted him with a smile or a fervent handshake. However, one person who stood in the town square was a homeless drifter who got on the very last nerve of Mompesson with the incessant beating of his drum. Mompesson, truly believed that this forgotten man loved to make a nuisance of himself and specifically targeted him with his drum. Something had to be done about this vagrant and his instrument and John Mompesson was just the man to do it.

One afternoon while the drummer was beating out a tune the local constabulary led by Mompesson arrested the drifter and seized his drum the charge, causing a public nuisance and the more serious charge of vagrancy. As the cops took the drummer away the drummer looked over his shoulder and screamed at Mompesson, “I shall have my vegence, John Mompesson. A curse shall come down not just on your head but on all who live in your house as well.” Mompesson, watched as the man was hauled away to the village gaol, and never once took the drummer’s words seriously but his tune would soon change.

For the next few days, Mompesson thought nothing of the vagrants stern threat until a mysterious drumming shook the house and all those who resided there. Mompesson’s family feared that the drummer was having his revenge, but Mompesson would have none of that nonsense he knew the drummer was locked safely away behind bars and he would have no talk of curses. Ever the practical man, Mompesson searched his home from top to bottom and angrily walked his property searching for the cause of this infernal pounding. Not finding anything, Mompesson returned to his home and he and his family bedded down for the night, but sleep did not come because the phantom percussionist played well into the night.

As the days passed the disturbances in the Mompesson home became not only unbearable but frightening. The drumming was now joined by what sounded like a heavy mallet striking the sides of the house. Other strange phenomenon joined the pounding, Mompesson’s children were dragged from their beds as they attempted to sleep. Plates and furniture were tossed about by unseen hands and holy articles such as crosses and the family bible were desecrated by the unseen assailant. At first Mompesson was convinced that some unseen prankster, perhaps a confederate of the jailed drummer was to blame for what transpired in his home. However, Mompesson’s skepticism turned to belief when he and his servants could find no logical explanation for the horrible activity that plagued his home. Mompesson was now convinced that the drummer who annoyed him so as he made his daily walks through the town square was in league with the evil one and the sounds and other such activity was obviously caused by demons. There was only one thing Mompesson could do, he would pay the vagrant a visit and demand that he end this evil.

As Mompesson, entered the town gaol, he watched as a wicked smirk crossed the lips of the drummer. “So, Mompesson how do you find my vengence?” The drummer inquired with an evil chuckle. “Does the racket keep you and yours up all night?” Mompesson, was stunned by the question of the vagrant he could not possibly have known about the strange activity in his home unless he was the cause. Mompesson, took a step back from the bars as an irrational fear gripped his heart. However he soon found his composure and questioned the drummer, “What do you desire foul witch, how can this be brought to an end?” At the magistrate’s question the drummer looked up and growled through rotten teeth, “Return my drum and all will be forgiven”

Within a few days of the meeting the drummer was brought before a judge and sentenced to a penal colony far away from Great Britain where he would serve a life sentence, without his beloved drum. After the drummer left the country the turmoil that held the Mompesson family captive came to abrupt end. The John Mompesson and his household knew peace once again, the drumming, the pounding and the wicked spirits left the home in peace.

When one considers the story of the demon drummer of Tedworth one can not help but wonder if a true demon was at work or the Magistrate and his family were the unwitting victims of a poltergeist. Poltergeist phenomenon as we in the field understand it, is not caused by unseen spirits but rather by the troubled mind of a person who unknowingly possesses latent psycho-kinetic abilities. Most researchers agree that the focus or cause of the poltergeist activity is a young person, usually a female on the verge of puberty who is repressing negative emotions. The only way for this person to release these emotions is by causing a psychic shit storm of terrifying proportions. Unfortunately we are never made aware of the sex or the age of the Mompesson children, so is it possible that John Mompesson deep down gave into superstition and inadvertantly caused the whole strange affair himself? Or was the drummer truly a witch who did indeed place a curse upon the Mompesson family and employeed the help of the minions of Satan? That is for you and history to decide.

Rick E. Hale

t_seeker@hotmail.com