Ipswich Devil’s Footprint

Ipswich is a relatively small town on Massachusetts’ North Shore, known primarily for its fried clams and salt marshes bordering the coastline. Like many towns in the state, Ipswich has a long and rich history, but one piece of local lore stands out as particularly unique. According to legend, the Devil once visited Ipswich in the 18th century.

The First Great Awakening was a major religious revival that swept through Britain and the Thirteen Colonies during the 1730s and 1740s. One notable preacher of the era was Reverend George Whitefield, a man of small stature who was notably cross-eyed but had a loud, booming voice and delivered sermons with exceptional passion and fervor. In 1740, Whitefield traveled to New England and stopped in Ipswich on his way to Maine. A crowd of thousands gathered to hear him speak, and since there was no room left inside the First Church of Ipswich, he set up a stage outside. There are many variations of the legend about what happened next, but all follow a similar story.

As Whitefield delivered his fiery sermon, a mirror inside the church shattered. Superstitions at the time held that mirrors could serve as portals through which the Devil might enter the human realm. Supposedly, the Devil had been listening to Whitefield’s sermon, and his words were too powerful to bear. The Devil leapt out of the shattered mirror and startled the crowd outside. He and Whitefield engaged in an epic confrontation that culminated with the Devil fleeing into the church, pursued by Whitefield all the way up to the belfry. There, Whitefield commanded him to leave with his booming voice, and the Devil jumped down onto the rocks below, landing on one foot before hopping—or flying—away, never to be seen again.

Today, directly outside the church, there’s an impression on the rocks outlined by a faded green circle marking where the Devil allegedly landed. It’s become an iconic piece of Ipswich history and is even depicted on a large mural along the Ipswich River walkway. Did the Devil really visit Ipswich and face off against George Whitefield, or is this just a colorful story to explain a peculiar geological formation? You decide. Either way, it’s a unique spot, and perhaps you might just catch a glimpse of the Devil watching from the mirrors nearby.