A Spooky Trip to Jamaica
My friend has been really eager to vacation to Jamaica, so when I saw Connie Motz unique story of her trip to Jamaica I was very intrigued. Her vacation isn’t the typical story you hear from Jamaica, it’s not all about the locals or beaches, but instead, “Annie Palmer: The White Witch of Jamaica.” With the option of several excursions after their cruise ship landed in Jamaica, Connie and her mother decided to visit Rose Hall, where they learned of a unique history.
Rose Hall was nicknamed the ‘calendar house’ because it originally had 365 windows, 52 doors and 12 bedrooms.
After choking down a cup of Witches’ Brew (a strong drink of rum with a little bit of pineapple juice), we were taken upstairs by a guide to begin our tour.
Although there are many versions of the story, it generally goes like this: Annie moved to Haiti with her parents when she was ten years old. Her parents died of yellow fever and she was adopted by her Haitian nanny, who was rumored to be a voodoo queen.
Annie was keen to learn and loved the results that her new-found magical abilities produced. Her voodoo practices grew as well did her desire for control.
But Annie Palmer was a hard woman to satisfy. Even though Rose Hall was a lucrative sugar plantation with an abundance of more than 2,000 slaves (which was considered a sign of great wealth), Annie still felt the need to turn to black magic voodoo practices as a means of manipulating those around her.
The story continues to say that Annie’s black magic powers continued to increase. Unfortunately for her, she murdered the intended son-in-law of her overseer, who was himself a practitioner of voodoo.
Through a combination of physical force and black magic, the overseeer was able to kill Annie in her bedroom, but he did not survive the battle.
Even in death her slaves were terrified the White Witch would use her powers from beyond the grave.
Visitors continue to hear voices, see bloodstains, hear footsteps, music and babies crying.
Many visitors discover unusual photographs after visiting – all reminders that the presence of Annie Palmer is still evident today.
