The Witch of the Nolichuckey
Next time I pass through Jonesborough I'll be sure not to pass through Jonesborough. Next time I pass through Jonesborough I'll be sure not to pass through Jonesborough. Origin
The story takes place around 1885, when a traveling merchant passed through the Nolichuckey River valley - a lush, misty stretch of East Tennessee known for deep caves and echoing hollers.
According to local legend, he stopped near a small farm and was warned not to linger by the river after dark. Ignoring the advice, he followed a flickering light into a limestone cave and met a woman whose eyes "shone like wet coal."
The next morning he was found dazed on the roadside, his wagon overturned, his hair gone white. Some said she’d lured him to his doom. Others swore he’d seen the ghost of a woman drowned long ago.
Though no record of his name survives, the story spread across the region, each retelling twisting a little deeper into Jonesborough’s folklore.
Notes
The story’s often linked to the town’s long tradition of storytelling and oral history, where history and imagination blend until the line between them all but disappears.
Legacy
The Witch of the Nolichuckey endures not as history, but as legend - a ghost story handed down through generations of mountain families.
It reflects an older fear of the wild places, where strangers, rivers, and spirits share the same paths.
Today, the tale serves as a reminder that Tennessee’s oldest town holds more than just history in its hills - it holds whispers.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
- Ever Which Way
- Folklore: The Bell Witch - Famous Southern Ghost Story and Folklore
- Folklore: The Old Greene County Courthouse Ghost - Southern Haunt and Appalachian Folklore
- Folklore: The Woman in Black - Appalachian Ghost Story and Southern Haint
- Folklore: Wampus Cat - Appalachian Monster and Southern Folklore
- Folklore: White Screamer - Tennessee Legend and Southern Folklore
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 3). The Witch of the Nolichuckey. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/witch-of-the-nolichuckey-jonesborough-tennessee
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "The Witch of the Nolichuckey." HillbillySlang.com, 3 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/witch-of-the-nolichuckey-jonesborough-tennessee.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "The Witch of the Nolichuckey." HillbillySlang.com. November 3, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/folklore/witch-of-the-nolichuckey-jonesborough-tennessee.
Dislaimer
What you're reading here is old Southern folklore and storytelling - not medical advice, and not meant to guide health, or pregnancy decisions (especially pregnancy decisions!). These tales are part of how folks once made sense of the world, passed down from grandparents and midwives.
If you have any medical questions or concerns, talk with a qualified healthcare professional.
Learn more on the Folklore hub page.