Rochester rappings and the Fox sisters’ public demonstrations

Record summary

After the Hydesville episode, the Fox sisters appeared before audiences in Rochester and other American cities, presenting rappings as evidence of spirit communication. Their public appearances generated both converts and hostile investigations, including claims that the sounds could be produced physically. This lead is distinct from the original Hydesville report because it concerns the transformation of a household mystery into a public performance and religious movement. It may help compare witness aggregation, stage conditions, skeptical testing, press amplification, and later changes in the sisters’ accounts.