Most people have either seen or heard of The Conjuring movies. There’s a few of these horror gems now. What many people don’t know is that the story is based off a real family and their home.
The Perron family of Rhode Island
Roger and his wife, Carolyn, and their five daughters-Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cynthia, and April
It was the winter of 1970 when the family purchased their Rhode Island farmhouse in the small town of Harrisville. The property consisted of 200 acres at the time. There was no mention of the home’s history, only a suggestion to leave the lights on at night.
Side note: Through Andrea’s recounts of her own research, it was learned that eight generations of one extended family lived and died on that property. There were multiple cases of suicide, rape, and drownings.
Shortly after moving in, there were small things noticed, like items moved out of place or piles of dirt on recently cleaned floors.
Things only escalated from there.
- Strange odors, described as rotting flesh
- Sudden temperature changes
- Malfunction heating system
- Shattered glass
- Thrown objects
- Shaking beds
- Slammed doors
At one point, Ed and Lorraine Warren were called on to visit the Perron’s home. They investigated the home many times. Once, they performed a séance with Carolyn as their focus. At some point during this séance, Carolyn spoke in an odd language similar to tongues. Her body also levitated from the chair she was sitting in.
The family dealt with these horrible events for nearly a decade, when they were finally able to sale their home and leave it all behind.
The Rumored Spirit:
It was believed that the evil presence was Bathsheba Sherman, a woman that lived on the same property in the mid-1800s and was thought to study witchcraft and Satanic rituals. There’s even been a connection to Mary Towne Eastery, who was one of those executed during the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.
Per the legend, Bathsheba’s husband caught her attempting to sacrifice their infant to the Devil. When she was exposed, she climbed to the top of a tree, proclaimed her love for Satan, cursed all those that take her land, and hung herself.
Bathsheba stayed true to her words. Anyone that resided on her property, felt her presence. It’s even said that she would eventually possess the mother of the home, forcing her to kill her children and then herself.
It’s an interesting story of how Bathsheba became the suspected culprit. As we stated, the Perrons experienced a great deal while living in that home. One evening, Carolyn had an unusual injury appear on her calf muscle. There was no reason for it to be there, nor the pain that came with it. The wound, though, closely matched that of a large sewing needle, which was thought to be the choice of weapon for Bathsheba.
Bathsheba is buried not too far from the Conjuring farmhouse.
The Perrons Today:
Once the family was able to leave their Rhode Island home, they resided in Georgia. Of course, what they went through, never truly left them. Their experiences were life-changing. Events they would never be able to forget.
The Perron family, along with Lorraine Warren, supported and took part in the making of the movie. After all, they lived it. Who better to oversee the project?
The movie, released in 2013, was based on the Warrens’ experiences at the home and with the Perron family.
Andrea, the oldest Perron daughter, has published a three-part book series titled “House of Darkness House of Light. In her words, the movie was toned down from all the horror they actually endured.
The Current Homeowners:
The farmhouse and its now 8.5 acres of land was bought by the Heinzen’s family in 2019. Cory and Jennifer are paranormal investigators and purchased the home specifically because of its role in paranormal history. They, too, claimed there were paranormal happenings. The daughter of the family, Madison, has obtained a large following on TikTok due to her accounts of those happenings. Based on reports, their experiences are nothing compared to what the Perrons lived with, but here are a few of the things they have witnessed:
- Flickering lights
- Doors opening and closing
- Loud footsteps
- Disembodies voices
Author’s Opinion:
I remember when I first saw the previews for The Conjuring. My horror-loving soul was excited to watch it, and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve honestly enjoyed all of the movies that are based off the lives of Ed and Lorraine Warren. I’ve always been fascinated by them. Obsessed, really. I didn’t fully appreciate the realism behind this movie, though. The horror that the Perron family lived through is unimaginable. I think it adds so much more to the movie knowing that both families (the Perrons and the Warrens) played a part in the creation of the movie.
I saw where the current homeowners have considered opening the home to the public for tours and such. I would absolutely love an opportunity to visit that home. To feel the insanity within those walls.
Sources:
theconjuring.fandom.com
nypost.com
screenrant.com
historyvshollywood.com
allthatsinteresting.com
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