The hauntings of Nelly Butler are considered the first recorded ghost story in American history (LiBrizzi 5), and perhaps the most exciting hauntings to date as there are still many unsolved mysteries. The apparition appeared on more than 30 different occasions to over 100 witnesses in Sullivan, Maine, just over fifteen years after the American Revolution (5-6). Although Nelly Butler's apparition is one of the most convincing ghosts of all time, it was subject to suspicions of fraud. These claims prove to be unfounded as evidence reveals that the ghost was genuine. Although there is little information about Nelly Butler during her lifetime, evidence gathered from the time Nelly was alive suggests that she was a kind woman. An interesting piece of information about Nelly when she was alive was given to her by her spirit when she explained that she had received a spiritual salvation experience on her deathbed, perhaps the reason she returned to Sullivan (“Testimony” 101). Nelly was legally named Eleanor Hooper and was born on April 25, 1776 ("Genealogical" 115). His parents were David and Joanna Hooper and he had eight siblings (115). Sometime in 1795, Nelly married George Butler at the age of nineteen and lived at Butler's Point in Franklin, Maine (115). While giving birth to their first child, Nelly tragically died on June 13, 1797, to be followed shortly thereafter by her baby boy (115). Although there are no headstones to confirm this, Nelly's grave is said to be located at Butler's Point in Franklin, next to her son and husband (LiBrizzi 8). Three years after Nelly's death, it seemed he still had business with the world of the living. The ghost's main goal was to arrange Georg's wedding... in the middle of the card... the information was given by the spirit conversing only between her and one other person at that time in her life. The spirit looked and sounded like Nelly Butler as when she was alive and even allowed witnesses to get as close as they wanted, giving them the opportunity to find evidence of foul play. Where the idea of ​​fraud falls apart is when the apparition changes shape, there is no evidence strong enough to make a reasonable argument that it was anything other than the spirit of Nelly Butler that caused this. The evidence given by George Butler must be the strongest evidence available; he actually managed to tame the apparition and conversed on a topic that only he and Nelly discussed when she was alive. With all the evidence gathered, a strong case was built that the spirit haunting Sullivan was indeed the spirit of Nelly Butler..