'In October, 1709, a gentleman from Maldon wrote a long letter to an acquaintance in London, describing "certain injurious pranks played by some restless, unhappy Goblins or Spirits, or else by the Prince of the Power of Air ... in the house of Master Jan Smagge, farmer, in Canvey Island." Most of the "pranks" occurred that September, but it was believed that they originated from events that had taken place in the 1670s.
At that time the house in question, which was named Oysterfleet Farm, was inhabited by a miser and his wife who over the years had managed to scrape together "a considerable lump of pelf”. Worn out by this "grovelling employ" the wife became ill in about 1675 and went to London to receive medical attention. She grew rapidly worse in the metropolis, however, and died soon after her arrival there. Just before her death she called the friends with whom she was staying and directed them to tell her husband that she wanted to be buried in Benfleet, where her dead children lay. The miser was duly informed of her wishes, but to save money he had her buried in town. He then returned to Canvey and resumed his niggardly existence, becoming ever meaner and more detested by his neighbours. He eventually died in 1779, very indignant at having to leave his hoard of gold behind.
