Life and spiritual experiences of Mrs. Dr. Jane B. Packer, clairvoyant physician ...

Contents

Chapter. Page.

I. Curing my Mother, when a child. 7

II. My Father's gift. Tests. Prediction of the Cholera at Boston, and cures. 12

Preface

In presenting this book to the public, I desire to state that it is published at the earnest request of raj many friends and acquaintances, and of my hundreds of patients who are aware of my wonderful life. It is published in part, for the benefit and uplifting of humanity in general, and not only showing them what a medium has to contend with in persecutions bodily, as well as persecutions by those who sometimes speak ill of mediums, but hope its readers will gain something from its pages that will assist them in showing respect to these instruments which God has given them and in helping them to seek the truth; and its contents I hope will help in proving and extending the Spiritual philosophy, hoping that those who have not looked into this great truth "Spirit Communion," will after reading this little volume, try and investigate this subject and test its claims, the truth which cannot be doubted, as has been acknowledged by the most inteligent minds in the world. Others may believe and say as they like, but I know that Spirits do return under proper conditions and converse with us.

In this work I give my spiritual experiences and incidents of my life from birth; my persecutions while a Test medium and Clairvoyant Physician for the past thirty-five years. I have not aspired to make this book great, but truthful in all its chapters, giving in its pages what actually transpired during my life. I know that many will criticise its pages with doubts as to its truthfulness, and to these I would say that it all can be easily proven when desired. My life in all probability is one of the most wonderful of any medium living, at least not surpassed if ever equaled in its peculiar incidents, and strange as it may seem to many outside of those interested in this subject, I would say that the experiences of my life as herein given, are "facts" which of themselves are the most extraordinary events ever presented in a volume in the life of a medium; and now after years of usefulness in administering to the sick and suffering, and relieving their disjses by the great gift that was bestowed upon me, I am ready when called by the Great Spirit above, to leave this world for my spirit home where my dear husband and children are waiting to greet me.

Mrs. Dr. Jane P. Packer.

Introduction

How do, brave! glad to see you! come to get scratchums about my medie ? that's good ! I Lave come from the hunting grounds in the spirit land to speak to the pale faces in earth life, — to introduce myself (to those who do not know me,) as the medie's spirit control, as her doctor and adviser, and to open the talkum sheets with a short history of myself, and introduce the medie, who has been my instrument to doctor through for the past thirty-five years. It may seem strange to those pale faces not yet interested in this science — '■ spirit return," for an Indian to return to earth through her organism, and give this introduction to her remarkable life, as a medium, but as the palefaces are thinking, watching and investigating for themselves, into one of the Great Spirit's mysteries. — life, they will soon find the light which others have, and will soon be on their trail. I will say to those who do not know me, that I was an Indian Chief of the Mohawk tribe of red men, when in earth life, and my name "Joe.Pickalo," can be found back in the early history of this country; during my earth life, while wandering through the forests alone, having strayed from my tribe

I was suddenly attacked by a large rattle snake, and was bitten on the arm, while killing it; I immediately looked around in the forest, for an herb to apply to the wound, but could not find what I was seeking after, and turned my steps towards finding my tribe, but my arm commenced to swell after a time, and I was overcome by the poison, and fell to the ground, and death released me trom the body, and I was dead to this world but alive in spirit, which is the real life principal of nature; my body was afterwards found by my brothers; after I saw that I was a spirit, I learned my mission was to return and do good to the pale faces, by curing the sick, and in my roamings in the spirit world, (which is near and connected with your world,) I came in contact with this squaw when a little papoose, (child,) and I have followed her through life, intending to use her for the good of humanity when the proper time came; she was born a medie, and had a brain which could be used when very young, and was used by us then, and cured her mother. The masses of the people do not know of the good this squaw has done in the world, — curing the pale faces without wampum, (money) to all who came to her, and these talkum sheets give but a small idea of the wonderful cures she has made; she is a christian in her works, although not a professed one of your churches, but of the Great Spirit that permeates all space; I will now help the medie place her life and experiences before you. Joe Dickalo.

My Life, and Spiritual Experiences.

CHAPTEE I.

CURING MY MOTHER, WHEN A CHILD.

In writing a history of my eventful life, it would be essential to take the reader back with me to my starting or beginning in life, as it were, in order to show that the "spiritual gift" was born with me from the first endowment of life, and to show that this gift was to be used in the future, for the benefit and good of humanity; also shown to exist to a certain degree in my parents' organism, and also through my own family in visions and predictions. Spirit gifts are born with life naturally, and not acquired afterwards as many people suppose; almost every family has some one among them, possessing mediumistic gifts in certain directions, but have not the organization adapted for the spirit world to immediately act and communicate through, to give the truths of this great phenomena, and the world the benefits that may be derived from its use, — in solving the source, and close of this life — the mistery of death ; casting aside the doubts of the mourners; and turning faith into knowledge, crowned with facts, — but by being developed, the organization by its sensitiveness, can then respond to the call of the loved ones, and their message is received like the telegraph with two operators, — one to send, the other to receive.

In my own case the gift was of unusual power, and my organism and brain when born was so sensitive, it was adapted perfectly to its almost immediate use, and at a very early age as will be seen, which is of very exceptionable occurrence. My parents were born in London, England; their names were Edward and Joanna Knight; my mother was the seventh daughter of her family, and possessed mediumistic gifts, but did not understand it at that time. In the year 1818, my parents moved to America and settled at St: Johns, N B. After living here for about a year, a son was born to them, in the year 1819, and was named John; and about two years later 1821, a daughter was born, and named Catherine; three years after, 1824, another daughter was born, and named Jane, which is myself; when I was about six months old, my parents moved to Portland, Me., where another daughter was born in the year 1827, and named Anna Maria, she being the the last and youngest child.

My sisters like myself, were thus daughters of the seventh daughter, and while my sisters showed no unusual incident at birth, or mediumistic gifts, I was born with a veil which was tied at the throat in a bow-knot. In Portland is where my spiritual gift, and mediumistic r* owers were first forced to show themselves and my brain and speech used by some invisible power, at the age of only one year, the event being the giving of a prescription, and saving my mother's life; at the time, she was taken very sick, and attacked with inflammatory rheumatism; the physicians who attended, could do nothing for her, and gave her up, stating that she must be sent to the hospital, which might save her life

One afternoon while the family were sitting in the room where I was lying in my cradle, and my mother in her sick bed, I was heard to speak in plain words— in a man's voice which said: "get pencil and paper, and I will cure her; no need of sending her to the hospital" referring to my mother. My folks were of course sur-

I prised as well as alarmed, and did not know what to make of such remarks from a child without speech, but when the sentence was repeated by the invisible agency with more firmness, the paper and pencil were brought and a prescription taken down, given by the strange voice, and then it was taken to the druggists and compounded, and was given to my mother, perhaps out of curiosity, which in a short time cured her, and saved her life, and the visit to the hospital was given up.

Neighbors and the physicians upon hearing of the strange occurrence before my mother had been given any medicine, came in, and many remarked that I had been born idiotic, and that I would always be crazy and intimated that I ought to be quietly put out of the way. I continued to act strangely and the voice gave instrctions occasionally during my mother's sickness, and after I had prescribed for her, but when a few weeks had elapsed, and my mother arose from her sick bed entirely cured, there was great curiosity among the physicians to examine me, and I was taken from my cradle and examined by them, and also by phrenologists, but I was pronounced a perfectly healthy child, but they could not account for the strange use of my speech and my knowledge whereby I cured my mother of that which baffled the physicians' skill, but pronounced it a wonderful cure, and a puzzle to them— as it is to-day with those where superstition exists, and the law of investigation is not used for the progress and development of the forces of nature and the invisible power behind it. The same invisible power or influence as I will call it, came several times afterwards, and cured cases of sickness in our family the s;une way —by prescription. I was looked upon by friends and neighbors of my parents as something they could not explain or account for, unless it was the devil, but my folks thought it was certainly a beautiful devil to do the good he had done for them and saved a life.

Chapter II

My parents lived in Portland for about three years,, when they moved to Boston, Mass., where my fatl er went into business for himself, making cork heel boots which were worn in those days. My father was the only one of our family through whom the Spiritual Gift manifested bt sides myself; my father's gift was that of v'clairordiance" or "eeeiLg," and he could see spirits, but did not know what they were at that time, and were called ghosts; he could see and describe them perfectly, and seemed to converse with them and receive communications, and especially on his way home from the shop at night, he would meet with many.

My own powers seemed to grow more prominent as my age advanced and I began to give some remarkable tests when I was about three years of age. One evening a Mr. Cumisky who lived down stairs in the same house with us, came up stairs to see my father and while conversing with him I suddenly asked him if he was going in the water? he said no, not as he knew of I told him to be careful as I saw him in the water and he was drown ding, and that he would be drowned the next night in the river n^ar the bridge; this was not a very pleasant thought for him and he passed it off joke ingly it coming from a child, and thought no more about it, and after a while went down stairs.

The next night as my father was returning home from his shop quite late, a ghost as they c.tlled them appeared and glided along with him, and he soon recognized Mr. Cumisky who had called the night before, who said, I was drowned to-night at the bridge, come with me and I will show you where my body is; when they came to the bridge which my father crossed on his way home, the ghost said I was drowned here Mr. Knight and after giving full particulars said, my body lies there, pointing to a place in the water near the bridge, your child was right, he then suddenly disolved and was gone as quick as he had come.

My father immediately came home it being then about twelve o'clock, and was met at the door by Mrs. Cumisky who said, have you seen Mr. Cumisky, Mr. Kuigb f ? My father said yes, but — he then fainted Miid fell to the floor and my folks knew that something had happened; he was carried up stairs and after coming too, he informed Mrs. Cumisky of the affair, which convinced her that her husband was dead. The next morning my father and several neighbors went down to the river and found the body which lay near the bridge in the water ^here the ghost or spirit had pointed.

Another occasion of a ghost appearing and con vers iDg with my father was while watching in the cemetary In those days it was the custom to choose three men to watch at the graves of the dead to prevent stealing of the bodies; one night my father was appointed with two others to watch at the grave of a gentleman who had just died, and on the first night while watching, the spirit of the gentleman suddenly appeared before them and thanked them for their kindness, and said his body would be of no use to the doctors after three nights as the ground sweat would reach it; the spirit appeared at intervals, and during the night the doctors came to secure the body when the spirit again appeared and frightened them from the grounds, and for a time body stealing was given up by the doctors. The above two instances shows that my father had the gift of seeing spirits, and at times receive their messages, but not knowing their time character tiny were called ghosts.

During my life as a child from three years of age, I gave many wonderful tests similar to that of Mr. Cumisky's; I would keep track of my father's business

MY LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. i5

when he was out of the city, without leaving the house I would tell my mother where he was, who he was talking to, when he had finished his business and started for home, and when he would arrive. I would look after his shop and upon his return, would tell him what his help had been doing while he was away, and he would take me on his knee and ask me to tell him all about it. On one occasion I told him of one of the men who had stolen some money from the drawer, the amount taken, and described the man ; when my father went down to the shop the next morning upon questioning the party he owned up to it, and discharged.

When I was about five years of age, I predicted the great cholera epidemic that visited Bostou about 1830 I predicted it a year in advance, and that hundreds of people would die, and told my mother that hundreds I would cure by a prescription which would be given through my organism, and for her to be prepared to visit the sick with this medicine which would cure them when the disease came, the prescription was given and my mother made the medicine and was out looking after the sick and instructing the nurses, night and day, and she did not lose a case during the time the disease lasted, but hundreds of cases were lost by the physicians. Was a child of this age capable and skillful enoudi without education, to handle such a disease as

16 Mt' LIFE AND SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES.

this ? Was there not an intelligence of greater power working through this child's brain to handle this disease so successfully, and even to foretell its coming ? There is no other reason for such knowledge but an intelligence working beyond the child;

My predictions proved so true that I gave at various times, and my mother was so successful with the sick, that I was called upon by a great many people to tell them something of interest; among my callers was an elderly gentleman then known as "Old Constable Reed" of Boston, (whom many will remember) and taking me on his knee, would ask me to tell him where he could find prisoners he was looking after; he would give me candy and pennies for the information, and would then take me in his carriage for a ride and ask me to direct him to the streets and buildings where his prisoners were hiding, he would then come with policemen and arrest them. I informed my mother about her folks who lived in England years ago, and who had died before I was born ; I would give their full names, describe them perfectly, give the place where each were born, and give the names of the parties who took care of my mother when a child, after her parents died. I would tell my mother when she would have company, several days in advance, and give the names of those who were coming.

Chapter III. My School Days

My gift progressed in this way until I was about seven years old, when I was sent to school, but I could not seem to learn anything by studying my books, I would know my lessons without study; it seemed to be repeated to me or spoken in my ears, sounding similar to the present telephone, only not so distinct. I would write compositions upon any subject given, and would write in three different languages,, viz: French, German, and Spanish, which, puzzled the teacher to account for, and the people who had heard of my peculiar ari ties. My teacher would punish me and box my ears because I repeated my lessons without seeming to study them, and for my strange conduct, which I could not help; upon gaining the head of my class, I would be sent back to the foot again, much to the surprise of the other scholars; I was far in advance of them or the teacher, and would tell some of them their lessons and to spell correctly. When writing compo sitions several times, the influence that was at work through me would call the teacher a fool for using me so; I told her I heard voices which gave me my lesson without studying, to which she would tell me to stop such talk and attend to my books.

I would fall on the floor in school at times in what they called fits, — but was simply trances which are so common at the present day, and a large majority of the cases the subjects are pronounced as dead, because no trace of life is visable, as in my own case, which will be found further on ; I would also be taken in these tiances sometimes on the str( et when going home from school, and would be taken home and would lay in them from two to three days, and sometimes even a week; after coming out of them I seemed real bright and cheerful, and would remember everything as if nolhing Lad happened to me; while in this state I left my body aparently, in spirit, and would tell my parents after coming out of the tiances, the visit I Lad made to some place, and what I had seen and heard, which invaribly proved correct, upon investigating the affair and circumstances at the time of my entrancement

At school my teacher became so severe with me, I complained to my parents and my fatlier Lad an interview with her, after which sLe treated me somewhat better; she suggested to my father that I ought to be examined by a physician and a phrenologist, and see what the trouble was with my head, and to pacify her he said she could do so if she desired to; one day a physician was called into the school, and I was taken out and obliged to go through another examination, and then again by a phrenologist, but they could find nothing the matter with my head, but they said I was a queer subject and a peculiar child; I was made to carry heavy boxes on my head, and many very amus iug methods used to help their explanation as to the cause of my peculiararities.

One day when the teacher was about to punish me for something I did which displeased her, I fell into one of my fits, (trances,) and upon coming out of it after a time I told her that her father was taken very sick giving his full name and where he lived out of the city and that he could not get well again, and would die; I giving the day and time he would pass away, and that she would receive word the next day to come home; this vexed her so, that she boxed my ears and sent me home ; the next day my words were proven to her, as she received a letter of her father's sickness, and asking her to come home at once, and looking at me in surprise, she dismissed the scholars and went home. When she returned, she called on my parents, and acknowledged it all to be true, and that her father died on the day and time I had informed her; my father said: where did she get it ? she said I don't know, but I am afraid of her and don't want her round; my father then took me from school, and I helped my mother at home.

CHAPTEB IV.

TESTS OF THE DYING. SHUT UP IN A TOMB.

As I grew older, more and startling were the manifestations through my organism ; I would tell of people who were about to pass away, — giving their names and would cry for them as I saw them dying; I would tell immediately upon their death, no matter what the distance was, it made no difference in my predictions which were found perfectly true upon inquiry.

I would sometimes run away from home and attend the funerals of many that had died, and at a distance of several miles, and would stay away sometimes for two or three days attending the funerals and staying with some of the people in the vicinity at night; my parents would have to procure the bell man to find me, which was the custom in those days when anyone was lost.

I was shut up one night in a tomb all alone with the dead ; I attended a funeral one afternoon and followed the carriages to the tomb, and during the services here, I passed inside of the tomb unnoticed, and wandered about among the coffins lifting up the lids and looking at the people as I called them; I came to a coffin containing the body of a little negro boy, who was known as Little Jimmy Cutten, who had died several weeks previous ; I raised up the lid, and put my hand on the little negro's face, but as I looked at him the whites of his eyes rather frightened me, and I dropped the lid and started for the door to run out, but I found it closed, I had been shut in; the people had all gone away, and T was alone with the dead; I then began to cry, but was told by the influences I would be let out in the morning, so I laid down on some boards and went to sleep. In the morning I heard someone coming up the wa^k towards the tomb, and I began to scream and cry, and immediately the door was unlocked and opened, and it proved to be the sexton who had charge of the burying grounds, who was surprised to find a little girl locked in there; I told him how I got shut in, and then immediately started for home as fast as I could run, and upon my arrival my parents said they had the bell man out to find me; I told them of my visit to the tomb and being shut in, and they said it would be the last time I should go away alone, and after this affair I was watched more closely so that I could not run away. My brother John left home about this time to work on a farm for Mr. John B. Chace, in Phelham, N. H., and never came home again, and never was heard from, until the influences informed me he went West, where he was killed in a railroad accident, which proved to be so, a short time afterwards

CHAPTEE V.

DEATH OF MY FATHER, MOTHER, AND SISTER.

"We lived in Boston for about eleven years. When I was about fourteen years of age, my father died of consumption, at the age of fifty-two years, leaving four of us in the family. After living here for a short time, we moved to New York City, where my mother helped support us by dress-making; my sister Catherine opened a millinery store and took my other sister Anna Maria, in to work for her, while I helped my mother with the house-work. My peculiarities, as they were called, continued with me until I reached my fifteenth year, when they suddenly left me, and I was not what I had been, as to my trances, predictions, and tests.

My mother s health gradually failed, and she predicted her own death, and on July 5th, 1 843, she passed away, of dropsy, at the age of fifty-two years. After my mother's death, I looked around for something to do to support myself, and after a while, decided to go to Rairaton, N. J., to work in a screw factory, leaving my two sisters in New York, engaged in their millinery business ; I worked in the screw factory for about a year, when I was married to Mr. James B. Packer, of that place, and went to house-keeping, taking two young lady boarders. Some little time after this I received a letter from my sister Catherine, stating that her health was breaking down, and asking me if she and sister could come and board with me; I wrote her they could come as soon as they desired to; about a week before my sisters came to live with me, we were awakened one night by hearing screams, and pounding on the floor, which came from the room of our young lady boarders up stairs, and calling for Mr. Packer to come with a light at once; my husband dressed, and taking a light ascended the stairs to their room, when they informed him that a lady had appeared in their room, wearing a shally-delane green dress with little pink flowers on it, a lambs- wool shawl with red and white border, and a bonnet of sprinkled green straw, trimed with green ribbon, and seemed to be sitting on a trunk which she had brought with her; Mr. Packer laughed, and told them that they must have been dreaming, which worked strangely upon their imagination, and told them to go to sleep as there was nothing to harm them; my husband returned down stairs, and in a short time the screams were repeated, with knocking on the floor again and calling for Mr, Packer again to come up stairs; my husband once more dressed and went up to their room, and the young ladies were so terribly frightened, they could not sleep there, and a bed was made up for them on the parlor floor where they remained several nights; these young ladies were gifted with clairvoyant sight, but it was not understood by them at that time. In a few days after this occurrence, I saw the same apparition appear in the parlor, sitting on the trunk as she had done upstairs; she appeared so natural, I at first spoke to her and asked her how she got into the house without my seeing her ? when all at once the form vanished as quickly as it had appeared,

About a week after this, I received a letter from my sister, stating they were coming and would be with us in a few days; when they arrived, I noticed that my oldest sister Catherine was in very poor health, and also that her shawl, dress, bonnet and trunk* were the