In early November 1888, northern Lancaster County resident Barbara Fisher passed away. Surprisingly, some inhabitants of Reinholds in West Cocalico Township felt a profound sense of relief at the elderly woman’s death, as she was known far and wide as a “Hexa Frau,” meaning witch woman in English.
People were less concerned about her eternal soul, which they believed had long been doomed, and more relieved that she could no longer harm them. Discover more about this legendary witch for hire in this strange story of 19th century superstition as reported in the November 11, 1888 edition of The Morning Call.
The nearly 90-year-old Barbara Fisher had spent over sixty years living alone, shunned by her family and neighbors in a simple hut in the mountains a few miles outside of Reinholds. At the time, the belief in witches remained surprisingly strong among the rural German farmers of Lancaster County. Fisher was a prominent figure among the “hexa wiver,” who were still prevalent in the area at the time.
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1864 Map of East and West Cocalico Townships, Lancaster County, PAPrice range: $24.99 through $25.99
A journalist had visited Fisher in her small cabin two years before her death and reported that despite her advanced age, she was active and appeared physically robust, though her posture was stooped and her face deeply wrinkled.
Her hair was pure white, and a thick growth of long white hairs on her chin almost formed a beard. Her eyes were as sharp and piercing as a hawk’s. Her appearance alone made her a striking figure, fitting the traditional image of a witch. According to local belief, she had the reputation of being a vindictive witch with the power to cast spells on people, animals, and even inanimate objects. These abilities made her both deeply feared and revered in her community.
The Wonder Book
Fisher owned a unique tome that was over 300 years old. It was written in German and known as “The Wonder Book.” It had been brought to Lancaster County by a female ancestor who immigrated with the Dunkers in 1719. This ancestor was also recognized as a “witch woman.”
“The Wonder Book” was a ponderous volume bound in boards, its heavy cover secured by brass clasps. Fisher’s hand was the only one permitted to touch the precious book from which she drew her inspiration for “wonder-working.”
Magic for Hire
Fisher was the go-to person for advice and remedies in her community, attracting clients from many miles away. Couples, families, and individuals sought her out for various issues, ranging from curing illnesses to casting spells for love, business success, and even revenge. Whenever a child suffered from any abnormal condition—whether deformity, mental impairment, speech issues, blindness, or being “liver grown”—the families would promptly seek Fisher’s help.
The term “liver grown” is a folk illness among the Pennsylvania Germans. It is believed to occur when the liver adheres to the ribs or another part of the body cavity. This condition was thought to be caused by exposure to strong winds, excessive time spent outdoors, or the jostling from travel.
Fisher was not just sought out for the misfortunes of humanity; local farmers also turned to her for help with agricultural issues. Whether a cow was causing trouble, sheep were ill, or crops were failing, they would quickly seek out Hexa Frau’s assistance.
Stolen Horse Recovery
In Reinholds, no horse was ever stolen without the community seeking the aid of the old Hexa Frau to recover it and catch the thief. Fisher undertook these tasks willingly, but she required the horse owner to first provide her with three hairs from the horse’s tail. These hairs had to be freshly fallen in the stall, not pre-collected for emergencies. Since horses don’t typically shed hairs in neat bundles, acquiring the needed hairs could be challenging. Once the hairs were secured, Fisher would proceed to retrieve the stolen horse and apprehend the thief.
She would trim the hairs to equal lengths and tie them together at the center. At sunset, the owner had to place the tied hairs on a shovel and burn them from both ends in their barnyard. The direction in which the burnt ends pointed would allegedly indicate where the thief had fled. The remnants of the hair were then buried in the barnyard, supposedly casting a spell that limited the thief’s movements and compelled him to return to the scene of the crime.
Although no thief ever returned with the stolen items solely because of the spell—usually only when accompanied by a constable—Fisher was always credited with the recovery. If the thief or horse didn’t return, Fisher claimed that the person who sought her help either lacked faith or had deceived her with the hairs, either reason being enough, she claimed, to nullify her powers.
Dark Magic
Fisher had no scruples when it came to using her wonder-working powers. You could enlist her help for the right price, even for evil purposes.
She would provide a charm to protect a building from lightning or one that would cause an enemy’s cows to produce bloody milk. She could bring couples together for a happy marriage or, conversely, cause a separation, depending on what her clients wanted.
Fisher was just as willing to heal a person as she was to afflict an entire family with illness. Whether distributing blessings or invoking curses, she promptly responded to her client’s requests, influenced by the compensation offered.
Witchcraft on Trial
A well-off farmer initiated legal action before a justice of the peace against Hexa Frau to seek compensation for the loss of his dog. He accused Fisher of bewitching the animal and demanded money to remove the spell. When he refused to pay, the dog began to run in circles in severe distress until it eventually collapsed and died from exhaustion.
The court heard from numerous witnesses, all of whom claimed to have been harmed by Fisher’s alleged witchcraft. One witness testified that Fisher had tried to persuade him not to testify on behalf of the farmer, a plea he ignored. Soon after his refusal, he experienced a series of misfortunes: his well dried up, his cows produced blood-tainted milk, and his previously healthy baby declined rapidly in health to the point where its survival was in jeopardy.
In a dramatic conclusion to the trial, Fisher admitted guilt to the charges. The justice then ruled in favor of the farmer, awarding him $3 and the costs of the lawsuit.
Conclusion
Despite the morally ambiguous nature of her services, she managed to cultivate and maintain a profound trust in her abilities among the community members. Her reputation as a powerful wonderworker over her six decades of practice remained as solid and unchallenged as ever, even up to her death. Click here to read the original Sunday, November 11, 1888 account.
Reinholds, PA
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Resources
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William Wagner’s 1821 Map of Lancaster CountyPrice range: $24.99 through $44.99