Colonel Buck's Cursed Grave
Colonel Jonathan Buck was the founder of a town called Bucksport, Maine, known as Buckstown during his life. Colonel Buck founded in the town in 1763 and was a well-known war hero. For most of his life, he was an admired town leader. However, there were some dark things looming in his past that have followed him to his grave.
Colonel Jonathan Buck was the founder of a town called Bucksport, Maine, known as Buckstown during his life. Colonel Buck founded in the town in 1763 and was a well-known war hero. For most of his life, he was an admired town leader. However, there were some dark things looming in his past that have followed him to his grave.
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As the legends goes, Colonel Buck in his time as a justice of the peace condemned a woman to be burned alive because she had committed sorcery. Although there are several stories that differ, one says the woman cursed him before she burned saying, “So long shall my curse be upon thee and my sign upon they tombstone." As she said this and the flames consumed her, her leg fell off and rolled out of the fire.
Another story holds that the woman’s son was responsible and took the leg the rolled out of the flames and before running into the woods said, “Your Tomb shall bear the mark of a witch's foot for all eternity!”
In 1902, a story appeared in the New England Magazine that really popularized the story. A section of it reads, “All was ready and the hangman about to perform his grewsome [sic] duty, when the woman turned to Colonel Buck and raising one hand to heaven, as if to direct her last words on earth, pronounced this astounding prophecy: ‘Jonathan Buck, listen to these words, the last my tongue shall utter. It is the spirit of the only true and living God which bids me speak them to you. You will soon die. Over your grave, they will erect a stone, that all may know where the bones of the mighty Jonathan Buck are crumbling to dust. But listen! Listen all ye people — tell it to your children and your children’s children — upon that stone will appear the imprint of my foot, and for all time long, long after your accursed race has perished from the earth, the people will come far and near and the unborn generations will say, There lies the man who murdered a woman. Remember well, Jonathan Buck, remember well!’”
Colonel Buck died in 1795 and in 1852 his grandchildren erected a grand monument near his grave site. Shortly after the monument was installed, a strange image (or stain) appeared on the grave. It seems to depict, albeit crudely, a woman’s leg and foot.
It is important to note that many of the witch trials had already ended before Colonel Buck was even born. So, what came first? The strange legend of the woman Colonel Buck inexplicably ordered to burn or the strange stain on the monument?
Thanks to Gracia B for the suggestion!
This photo of the grave is by DrStew82 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
