Robert the Doll

Hello everyone! I hope you're having a great start to 2020. 😁

You may have watched a film or two over the years that were inspired by the particular doll I am writing about today. He was the inspiration for several films and characters, but the most famous is Chucky in Childs Play. Recently there was a series of movies made about Robert himself which started with the film called Robert in 2015. 

You may have heard some of the stories in this post before, but I am going to share what I have found with you, so I hope you enjoy. 😊

Who is Robert? Where did he come from?

Robert the Doll. Image credit: Cayobo @ Flickr

Robert stands at around 40 inches tall and is stuffed with wood wool. He wears a sailor suit that was said to have once been worn by Gene as a child and has beady black eyes. He now has his own stuffed dog toy that sits on his lap in his case at the Fort East Martello Museum.

Robert was a gift to a young boy called Robert Eugene Otto, but he went by Gene for short. Robert was an ordinary-looking doll made of out cloth, but when he arrived at their home strange things started to happen.

There are two stories about how Robert ended up the property of Gene, and the stories go as follows:

1. The spookier story of the two is that Robert was a gift to the young boy from a servant that worked for his parents. Allegedly they mistreated her pretty badly, and to get her revenge she cursed the doll using voodoo and black magic to punish them.
   
2. The realistic and less spooky version is that his grandfather got the doll as a gift for Gene when he visited Germany. It has also been proven that the doll was actually made by the Steiff Company in Germany.

So, what were the strange things that started to happen when Robert arrived?

Strange Events

"He brought it everywhere, he talked about it in the first person as if he weren't a doll, he was Robert. As in the doll is a living entity."

The strange things started happening when Gene was 10 years old. One night he woke up to find Robert sat at the end of his bed staring at him.  His mother awoke to screams from her son's bedroom and the sound of furniture being overturned.

When she managed to get inside the room she found Gene curled up on his bed absolutely petrified. His room was a mess and Robert was still sitting at the bottom of his bed.

Genes' parents also noticed that he would speak to the doll, but they would hear a different voice replying. They also reported seeing Robert's expression changing, hearing him giggle, and that they witnessed him running up the stairs.

People also said that Gene's other toys were being mutilated by Robert and that he would blame any strange behaviour on the doll. Some suspected that Gene may have been blaming his own bad behaviour on the doll.

Robert remained with Gene when his parents passed away, when he got married, and when his wife Anne moved into the house. That is when Gene decided to give Robert his own room overlooking the street.

Not long after Anne asked Gene to move Robert into the attic, but apparently, Robert was not impressed at all. Then the neighbourhood kids reported seeing Robert at the window upstairs and said that he was mocking them. Gene checked the room and discovered that he was at the window. This happened multiple times when he was meant to be in the attic.

When Gene passed away in 1974 a new family moved into the house and their daughter found Robert in the attic.

At first, she was delighted to find the doll, but that soon changed when she realised he was alive and trying to hurt her. She also recalled Robert moving around the room on his own. She started having night terrors and finding her toys mutilated, and said that on several occasions Robert tried to kill her and the family dog.  

Scared for their safety, Robert was donated to the Fort East Martello Museum in 1994, and that is where he resides to this day.

Recent Events at the Museum

Robert the Doll at Fort East Martello Museum. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Since being at the museum he has had many visitors, and allegedly Robert still scares and taunts people to this day.

He dislikes having his photo taken, and there is a notice that visitors must ask permission before they take one. Many people have reported their cameras would stop working when they tried to get a photo, and then start working as soon as they left.

In addition to cameras not working in his presence, people also believed Robert to be the cause of:

• Car accidents
• Broken bones
• Job loss
• Divorce

As a result, the museum has received thousands of letters addressed to Robert apologising for upsetting him and asking for his forgiveness. Some people have even sent in boxes of candy.

Final Thoughts

As much as I would love the first story full of magic and voodoo to be true because it would explain everything and be pretty cool, I do think the more believable of the two stories is that his grandfather bought him the doll.

However, this doesn't explain why the young girl experienced almost the exact same things as Gene did when he was a boy. Is it purely coincidence or did she hear about Robert from other people that lived in the area when she moved in? 

What are your thoughts on Robert the Doll? Do you think he is cursed or this was all created by a mischevious young boy? Please share in the comments!

The RMS Queen Mary launched in 1936 and was the largest ship in the world. It was decommissioned in 1967 and is now permanently docked at Long Beach in California.

In it's hay-day it carried its fair share of celebrities, artists and politicians, which included the likes of the Kennedy's and Elizabeth Taylor. It also ferried soldiers during World War 2, but today it is more of a tourist attraction and a hotel.

With its history comes a lot of paranormal activity and stories about ghosts aboard the RMS Queen Mary it attracts many ghost hunters, and today we are going to look at some of these stories!

Little Jackie

Jackie is the spirit of a young girl that has been seen the most. She is known for her lively exchanges and answering questions. She has also left wet footprints on the poolside.

Her full name was Jacqueline Torin and she was around 5 or 6 years old when she was believed to have drowned in the second class pool. 

She likes to play in the pool area which is now the Royal Theatre. Jackie has been wandering the ship for 60 years and can be heard singing, laughing and calling for her parents.

Sarah

Sarah is another young girl that drowned on the Queen Mary. She also drowned around 1949 and is believed to protect Jackie. She has been heard singing with Jackie and can be quite aggressive. 

It's also believed the two girls were actually murdered by another ghost on the ship by the name of Grumpy.

Grumpy

Grumpy the Growling Ghost got the name because they have the strange habit of growling at people in their presence. Their true identity is unknown and he can be found in the pool area, but he has been heard in the boiler room. The smell of cigarette smoke has been reported too.

Image credit: David Jones @ Flickr

Dana

Dana was a young woman that was on the ship with her family. Unfortunately, she was murdered along with the rest of her family in their room. 

The murder took place in room B-474 and she was found in the bathroom with a gunshot wound. Her mother and sister were found strangled in the room too. She has been heard calling for her mother and sometimes found with the children at the pool.

The Lady in White

She loves to dance to music that nobody else can hear in the Queen's Salon. She wears a white gown as her name suggests, and she has been witnessed floating in the lobby where she entered an elevator and disappeared.

There is also photographic proof of The Lady in White, and you can see it here.

John Pedder

John was an 18-year-old member of the crew that was crushed to death in the shaft alley at door 13. He was playing a game of chicken with a colleague when the accident happened. It is a very popular place for ghost hunters to visit, and they say he leaves greasy handprints in the places he roams in. 

Final Thoughts

I can believe that there may be spirits on the Queen Mary due to its long history. I researched this quite a bit and the stories can be upsetting, but there is not much information on the people they believe still haunt the ship.

I did find a brilliant website full of information, and there is one website full of EVP evidence. I have spent some time listening, but if you are interested you can find it here.

What are your thoughts on the hauntings? Do you believe the stories or are you sceptical? Let me know in the comments! 

The plantation was built in 1796 in Lousiana by General David Bradford, also known as "Whiskey David". A nickname he got due to his role in the Whiskey Rebellion. Originally the plantation was called Laurel Grove, and David lived alone for years until his family joined him after he was pardoned for his part in the Whiskey Rebellion.

Myrtles Plantation is a large house built in the traditional Creole-cottage style with 22 rooms across 2 floors, and it is surrounded by 600 acres of land. 

Throughout its history, Myrtles Plantation has survived the American Civil War, been through multiple ownership changes, became a bed and breakfast, and also then a tourist attraction as the Most Haunted House in America. It's also allegedly haunted by 12 ghosts, and today I am going to share some of the stories with you guys!

Image credit: Wikipedia/Bogdan Oporowski

The Legend of Chloe

The legend of Chloe is the most well known of the ghost stories told about Myrtles Plantation. Chloe was a servant for Sara and Clark Woodruff. The story tells the tale of Clark forcing Chloe into being his mistress. One day Chloe is caught eavesdropping on private conversations and as a punishment, one of her ears was removed and she began wearing a green turban.

Chloe decided to get revenge on the family and baked a cake laced with oleander leaves. Some believe that Chloe planned to nurse the sick back to health to regain her position in the family. However, if that was her plan it didn't work. After eating the cake Sara and two of her children passed away.

Chloe was then captured by the other slaves at the plantation and hung. They then dumped her body into the Mississippi River, possibly to avoid punishment themselves.

The story is sad but there is no actual proof that any of it happened. There is no record of the Woodruffs owning a slave called Chloe or Cloe, nor is there proof that Sara and her children died of poisoning. They all died after contracting yellow fever.

Regardless of there being no evidence to support this tale, people still believe a woman wearing a green turban wanders the plantation grounds.

The Haunted Mirror

Mirrors were usually covered in homes following a death, this was so the deceased's image didn't get trapped inside the mirror. However, there is one mirror in the plantation that appears to have been overlooked. It is said to hold the spirits of Sara and her 2 children. People have reported seeing them and their handprints in the mirror. 

Ghost Girl

A young girl has been seen at the plantation and is said to be the ghost of a young girl that died at the hands of a voodoo doctor in 1868. Legend has it that she appears in the room that she died in and practices voodoo on anybody staying there.

The Ghost of William Drew Winter

William Drew Winter is the only confirmed death to take place at the plantation. William was shot dead by a stranger on the front porch. Unfortunately, he only made it to the 17th step before he passed away. People say that his ghostly steps can still be heard and that they stop when they reach the 17th step.

Image credit: Mr Jason Hayes/Flickr

The Union Soldiers and Other Stories

The house is allegedly built on an Indian burial ground and visitors have reported seeing a young Native American Woman on the grounds. 

During the Civil War, the Plantation was looted of anything valuable, and one story is that it was robbed by Union Soldiers. As they were stealing from the plantation it's told that 3 of them were killed inside the house. 

There is also allegedly a bloodstain in the doorway of the Plantation that is roughly the size of a body. After many attempts to remove the stain, it would not budge.

Final Thoughts

Myrtles Plantation has been standing since 1796 and has been owned by many different people over the years. I honestly think a building with this much history could be haunted. I know there is proof of only one murder taking place, but I think that a lot of the stories could be true. 

What do you think? Do you believe in ghosts? Let me know down in the comments! Thank you for reading. 

Image credit: Glen Bowman

A Brief History of Chillingham Castle

Chillingham Castle is located in Chillingham, Northumberland and was originally a monastery in the 12th century. The castle was in a very good place strategically, located between Scotland and England. Because of its location, it was used by King Edward I during his war against William Wallace and the Scottish military. 

Then in 1344, the castle was fortified and it is reported that some of the walls were made 10ft thick in places. In its long history the castle has been used as a stronghold, a royal residence, and during the second world war, it was even used as an army barracks. 

It has since been restored and some areas have been opened up to the public. Since the public has been able to visit there have been many reports of paranormal activity and ghost sightings. In this post, we are going to go over the most popular ghosts that have been seen at Chillingham Castle and their stories.

The White Lady

The White lady haunts the pantry area within the castle. The most documented sighting is from a footman that was guarding the silver in the pantry. He recalled being approached by a frail woman in white asking for a drink of water. As he turned to do so he remembered that the pantry was locked and nobody could possibly get inside. When he turned around again she had disappeared. 

It has been suggested that the reason why the white lady was seeking water was that she had been poisoned.

The Blue Boy

The Blue Boy is also known by the name The Radiant Boy, and he is the ghost that haunts the pink room in the castle. People have reported hearing a young child crying in fear at the stroke of midnight. Some say that he is a little boy dressed in blue surrounded by blue light, and others describe seeing a blue orb. 

It is thought that the manifestation is connected to the remains of a child found walled up inside the castle. The body was found while renovations were taking place, and the link was made because there were pieces of blue fabric found with the bones.

After the remains were found they were given a proper burial, and it appeared to have stopped the manifestations for a while. However, there have been new reports made by visitors saying they have seen a blue orb.

John Sage AKA John Dragfoot

Image credit: Derek Voller

The next ghost I am covering has the most gruesome story and he was called John Sage. John is described as a sadistic ex-soldier that became a torturer at the castle. He was also known as Dragfoot because of an injury he got when he took a spear to the leg. Even though his story is quite horrible there are no records that show John existed at all. Nonetheless, visitors have reported hearing Sage dragging his foot around the castle.

As mentioned above John became a torturer and he loved his work. He would take great pleasure in causing pain to others, and he would always try to find ways to improve his technique. His favourite way to torture prisoners was to put them into a cage and hang them over a fire.

Image credit: Glen Bowman

When the war of the Scots ended John gathered all of the adults and older children together and burnt them in the courtyard. He then gathered all of the young children together and hacked them with an axe.

John's downfall began when he accidentally strangled his girlfriend to death while they made love. When her father found out he threatened to gather an army to attack the castle, and he demanded that John is punished for what he did.

As a result, John was put to death and hung from a tree along the Devils Mile in front of a large crowd. His death was particularly gruesome, which you could say is fitting looking at his occupation. While he hung from the tree onlookers from the crowd started to cut off his toes, fingers, and even his testicles to keep as souvenirs (while he was still alive). 

Lady Mary Berkeley

Lady Mary Berkeley is a ghost that has been reported numerous times. Mary was married to Lord Grey of Wark and Chillingham, and sadly her husband ran off with her sister. When he left she was alone at the castle with their very young child. She waited there wandering the castle, hoping that he would return.

Visitors to the castle have reported hearing the rustle of her dress followed by a cold chill. People believe that this is Mary and that she still wanders the castle waiting for her husband to return to her.

Final Thoughts

I was both intrigued and saddened by these stories, especially when I read about The Blue Boy and Lady Mary Berkeley. Knowing that a little boy was found within the walls of the castle is sad enough, but reading the reports of a child crying really breaks my heart. It was the same when I read about Mary and the possibility that she is still waiting for her husband to return to her even in death.

The story of John Sage is very interesting and violent, and even though there is no proof he actually existed it is still fascinating to think a man like that could be haunting the castle grounds.

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever experienced anything you couldn't explain? Please share your stories below! 😊I would also love to hear suggestions, so please tell me what you'd like to read about!

Image credit: Wikipedia

The History of Borley Rectory

Borley Rectory was located in a small village called Borley in Essex. The rectory stood for less than 80 years and was built in 1862 opposite Borley Church. It was built for Reverend Henry Bull, his wife, and their 14 children when he became rector of the parish. It had 23 rooms and was said to have been built on the site of a 13th-century monastery.

The new rectory was built as the previous rectory was destroyed by a fire in 1841, and locals warned them that the site was haunted.

There is a story told about a nun and a monk that fell in love with each other and planned to elope. Unfortunately, their plan was unsuccessful and they were apprehended. They were both punished, the nun was walled up in the convent and the monk was beheaded. Locals say that this is the reason why their spirits haunt the area.

What is the Occult?

The word occult is derived from the Latin word occultus. Occultus means things that are mysterious, hidden or secretive. Occult practices include fortune telling, witchcraft, astrology, and ouija boards as they all fall into the category of being mysterious. Some occult practices have made a huge difference to our modern life, for example, early astrology and alchemy would lead to the birth of modern science and medicine.

After searching online I found a blog post by gilberttheoccultist from 2014 with the following statement:

That is what the occult is. Religion operates on faith. Occultists operate on experiment and practice to garner true knowledge about the spiritual. Religious adherents “believe” in angels. Occultists talk directly with them. Religion fears demons. The Occult cages them and demands labor from them. Religion interprets the words of the gods. The Occult draws the gods down to ask for clarification.

In short, what is the difference between the occult and religion? Religion is faith. Occult is knowledge.

Is the Occult Evil?

A lot of people are under the impression that the occult and anyone that is interested in it or practicing it are evil. It is true there have been people that have used their knowledge for their own personal gain and to exploit others. However, there have been others that have used it only for good. Both will do their work in secrecy, but the malevolent hide so nobody sees their true motives, while the benevolent hide to avoid persecution.

Many occultists will also practice religion like Satanism, Hermeticism, and Gnosticism. 

What is Classed as the Occult?

There are many occult activities, and I have listed some of these below. You may have heard of some of the activities before but never realised they were part of the occult:

• Tarot cards - A deck of cards that are used to measure potential outcomes.
• Tea leaves - A method of fortune telling by interpreting patterns in tea leaves.
• Seances - A meeting of people that attempt to make contact with the dead.
• Witchcraft - The use of magical powers for healing, seeing into the future, or causing harm.
• Black magic - Magic used for selfish and evil purposes.
• White magic - Magic used for selfless purposes.
• Ouija board - A board with letters and numbers used in seances.
• Black Mass - A ceremony celebrated by satanic groups.
• Clairvoyance - The ability to gain information from an object or a person.
• Necromancy - Conjuring the dead for divination purposes.
• Alchemy - A medieval practice aiming to transmute base metals into gold and prolong life.
• Rune magic - A tool of divination that is used to tell the future.
• Talismans - An object believed to hold magical properties and protect from harm.
• Auras - Auras are coloured energy that reveals someone's feeling and thoughts.
• Numerology - Belief in the divine relationship between a number and one or more events that take place at the same time.
• Divination - Seeing the future by supernatural means.
• Astrology - The study of celestial objects and how they affect people and events on Earth.

In future posts, I will be going into more detail about the different activities listed above. Do you practice any of the above? Is there anything on the list you would like to know more about first? Comment below to tell me! 😀

Warning: I am terrible at talking about myself so bear with me while I struggle to think of things to tell you haha.

The Blogger

This is my face. Enjoy! 😂

My name is Fran and I live in sunny Yorkshire with my fiance. I’m just a normal girl that spends most of their time working, eating, sleeping and trying to keep fit. Granted I do need to be dragged to my kickboxing classes sometimes.