The Conjuring House: Is the Haunting Real or Fake?

The True Story Behind the Conjuring House Haunting

Hollywood, Hoaxes, and a Haunting

You’ve seen the movie. A good, god-fearing family moves into a charmingly dilapidated farmhouse only to be tormented by a demonic witch. Beds shake, ghosts play hide-and-seek (and clap), and a succubus having a bad hair day possesses the mom. Enter Ed and Lorraine Warren, the ghostbusting equivalent of the A-Team. Intrepid Christian soldiers coming to save the day with some holy water and a whole lot of dramatic pronouncements. It’s a terrifying tale. It’s also about as historically accurate as a screen door on a spaceship. And speaking of spaceships, check out this video below where Andrea Perron, the eldest child of the Conjuring family, claims she’s in contact with a “galactic family” of more than 57 types of extraterrestrials.

The Real Deal? What is Truth?

The real story of the Harrisville farmhouse, the Perron family, and the infamous Bathsheba Sherman is a far more fascinating and tangled mess of folklore, family drama, questionable paranormal investigators, and today, outright chaos. So, what was “The Conjuring” based on? The short answer: a decade of unverifiable occurrences that got spun into a legend, polished by Hollywood, and is now being stripped for parts by very human drama. Let’s separate the conjuring house facts from the fiendishly profitable fiction.

Where is the Original Conjuring House?

The actual house from “The Conjuring” is a sprawling pre-Revolutionary War colonial located in Burrillville, Rhode Island (within the village of Harrisville, to be precise). Built around 1736, the house, once known as the Arnold Estate, is indeed old. And according to paranormal lore, that’s where the trouble started.

The legend, often breathlessly repeated on ghost tours and paranormal websites, claims the town’s “Black Book of Burrillville” details a gruesome history of the property. We’re talking two hanging suicides, a poison suicide, two drownings, four men who froze to death on the land, and the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl named Prudence Arnold. It’s a horror story buffet.

The only problem?  Finding independent, verifiable historical records for this bloody list is harder than getting a straight answer from a spirit. While a “Black Book” of untimely deaths for the town may have existed, the specific claims tied to the farmhouse property seem to live primarily in the echo chamber of paranormal lore, a crucial fun fact about the Conjuring House that gets conveniently omitted.

Who Lived in the Conjuring House?

In the winter of 1970, Roger and Carolyn Perron, along with their five daughters (Andrea, Nancy, Christine, Cindy, and April), moved into their dream home. Almost immediately, the dream soured. Carolyn noticed the broom would go missing or, stranger still, she’d sweep up a pile of dirt only to find it had reappeared in the middle of the clean floor. The girls reported seeing apparitions, some seemingly benign, like a little boy named Oliver Richardson, and others more sinister. The beds would shake, usually at 5:15 AM, a smell of rotting flesh would permeate the house, and objects would move on their own. Worst alarm clock ever!

Andrea Perron, the eldest daughter and the family’s primary chronicler, described the house as “a portal cleverly disguised as a farmhouse.” Her younger sister Cindy was considered a “conduit,” who once heard whispers of “seven dead soldiers buried in the wall.” For nearly a decade, the Perron family lived with what they described as a host of spirits, both good and bad. The story of the Conjuring house wasn’t an overnight event. It was a slow-burn lasting a decade concluding when they moved out in 1980.

Who Haunted the Conjuring House? The Curious Case of Bathsheba Sherman

This brings us to the main event, the supposed demonic entity of the film: Bathsheba Sherman. According to the legend popularized by the Warrens and the movie, Bathsheba was a 19th-century Satanist who sacrificed her infant to the devil, declared her love for Lucifer, and hanged herself from a tree on the property, cursing all who would live there.

So, was Bathsheba real? Yes, but the real Bathsheba Sherman story is tragically boring compared to the spicy Hollywood rendition.

Will the real Bathsheba Sherman please stand up?

Historian J'aime Rubio did extensive research on the real Bathsheba Thayer Sherman (1812-1885). Here’s Bathsheba Sherman’s real story. Spoiler alert: It's a snoozer.

Bathsheba was a local woman. She married Judson Sherman, and had a son, Herbert, who grew up to be a farmer. There is zero historical evidence she was ever accused of witchcraft or murdering a child. The tall tale of an infant dying in her care from a sewing needle to the skull is a sensational fabrication. Most importantly, historical records suggest Bathsheba Sherman never even lived at the Harrisville farmhouse.

How did Bathsheba Sherman die?

Not by hanging from a tree while screaming her undying devotion to the devil. She expired due to paralysis caused by a stroke at the ripe old age of 73.

Who Slandered Bathsheba Sherman?

The narrative of the evil witch seems to have been concocted in 1973 after Carolyn Perron did her own research and was then enthusiastically amplified by Ed and Lorraine Warren. Even Andrea Perron changed her tune, suggesting the malevolent presence was more likely a “Mrs. Arnold,” another supposed former resident who hanged herself in the barn. The story, like the spirits themselves, seems to shift and change with the telling.

You can visit Bathsheba’s Sherman actual grave using FindaGrave.com, but be kind and don't vandalize. Hasn’t Bathsheba suffered enough? The Devil doesn’t want your help anyway.

Ed and Lorraine Warren: Hoaxers or Holy Warriors?

One fateful day in 1973 the Perrons called in the New England’s notorious Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Warrens’ involvement cemented the house’s place in spook-dumb. Ed, a self-taught “demonologist,” and Lorraine, a professed clairvoyant, declared the house infested with spirits, with the evil Bathsheba as the ringleader.

Their paranormal investigation culminated in a terrifying séance where Carolyn Perron was allegedly possessed. Andrea Perron described her mother speaking in tongues in a strange voice, her chair levitating, and her body being thrown across the room. The event was so traumatic that Roger Perron, who had been skeptical of the Warrens’ theatrics, physically threw them out of the house, believing they had only made things worse.

Christian Soldiers Providing Help or Hype?

This incident highlights the central question surrounding the Warrens. Were Ed and Lorraine Warren fakers? Skeptics like Joe Nickell and Steven Novella and others have long accused the couple of being paranormal grifters, exploiting vulnerable families and exaggerating claims for fame and fortune.

Their most famous case, the Amityville Horror, has been widely debunked as a hoax. Ed and Lorraine Warren’s “investigation” at the Perron house, rather than an exorcism, appears to have been a single, chaotic night that ended with them being shown the door.

Modern Owners, Million‑Dollar Flip, and Social‑Media Specters

1987 – 2019: Owners Norma and Gerry Sutcliffe invited the original Ghost Hunters TV show to investigate back in 2005 before all “The Conjuring” hullabaloo.

2019 – 2022: Cory and Jennifer Heinzen courted TikTok fame with viral clips of doors moving in empty rooms. Skeptics blamed eighteenth‑century drafts.

May 2022: Boston developer Jacqueline Nuñez bought the house for 1.5 million dollars, stipulating that no one live there year‑round “because the energy is so powerful.”

The Conjuring House Today: All Too Human Horror

So, is the Conjuring house actually haunted? Andrea Perron has turned the supposed trauma into a cottage industry. Her money-making opportunities include book sales and paid conference appearances, capped off by an evening activity in the darkened parking lot where she invites the space brothers to show themselves by singing the Dorris Day hit of yesteryear, “Sentimental Journey.” True story. Yep, you can’t make this stuff up!

Show Me the Money!💰

But the real money is in haunted property ownership. The Heinzens, bought the house in 2019 and began offering tours. They raised interest using social media alleging footsteps, doors opening, and a “very busy” feeling. Proving even meh paranormal activity can garner wealth through the power of Hollywood, they sold the property in 2022 for $1.5 million. Cha Ching!

The most recent chapter in the house’s history features current owner, Jacqueline Nuñez. She bought the house to run it as a paranormal tourist attraction, has only been plagued by bad press. In 2024, her entire staff, including the former owners, publicly resigned, citing missed paychecks, neglect of the property, and bizarre behavior. This was followed by Nuñez losing her business license and, in early 2025, having a bench warrant issued for her arrest on unrelated charges. The business is now permanently closed and mired in accusations of being a “manufactured thrill” and a “hoax.”

Is the Conjuring House Still Haunted?

Perhaps. But it seems any lingering spirits have been overshadowed by the drama of the living. The true story of the Conjuring House isn’t just about a ghost named Bathsheba. It’s about how a family’s ghost stories were filtered through urban legend, sensationalized by paranormal investigators, immortalized by Hollywood, and ultimately, commercialized into chaos. The spirits, if they were ever there, are now just part of the marketing package.

Professional skeptic and debunker Joe Nickell once turned his cynical eye to the Conjuring House for an article in Skeptical Inquirer magazine. His verdict: drafts, family tension, teenage pranks, and the power of suggestion explain the incidents better than ghosts. Nickell also discovered that decades later Perron siblings remembered events very differently, casting more doubt on any single “true” narrative.

FAQ: Can you visit the real Conjuring House today?

Nope.  You can’t. Even Google Maps blocks it out on Google Street View. Although recent Conjuring House owners have offered tours, overnight rentals, and group investigations. Legal troubles caused the paranormal attraction to close permanently in late 2024. However, you can still view 50 pictures of the house and surrounding land as it appeared in a 2021 Zillow post.

FAQ: Is the “The Conjuring” Based on a True Story?

Short answer: No. The 2013 film borrows loosely from the decade the Perron family lived in the farmhouse (1970 – 1980) and from the case files of self‑styled demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. Yet almost every cinematic set‑piece – levitating chairs, an instantly effective yet unsanctioned DIY exorcism – has no basis in the historical fact.

FAQ: Where can I see more real photos?

People magazine famous for photo essays has covered the Conjuring House extensively complete with family photos, a paranormal investigation, and even a look inside the alleged true story behind an upcoming Conjuring movie.

FAQ: What does Andrea Perron claim?

Andrea Perron, the eldest daughter and author of the book trilogy House of Darkness, House of Light, recalls small oddities: broom handles vanishing, rapping sounds on a kettle, musty odors that drifted in and out. These mild disturbances, she says, escalated into apparitions and a “female presence” jealous of Carolyn’s role as mistress of the house.

FAQ: Where can I read Andrea Perron's books?

Although they’ve been removed from Archive.org, you can still get a searchable preview of two of the books. You can also read them on Everand.com. Or you can purchase the entire series, Volume One, Volume Two, and Volume Three on Amazon. Kindle versions are available instantly.

FAQ: Did Ed and Lorraine Warren Help or Hype?

By 1973 Carolyn had invited Ed and Lorraine Warren to investigate. The couple’s New England Society for Psychic Research was riding high after publicizing the “Annabelle” doll, a Raggedy Anne doll with a bad reputation and a terrible attitude. The Warrens agreed that a local nineteenth‑century woman – Bathsheba Sherman – was orchestrating the haunting. Critics, however, portray the Warrens as savvy self‑promoters who blurred fact and folklore for money and fame.

FAQ: Why Is the Conjuring House Haunted—Or Is It?

Psychologists cite pareidolia, inattentional blindness, sleep paralysis, and even low‑level carbon‑monoxide exposure as likely culprits. Yet television crews still tout dramatic evidence. Independent teams rarely duplicate the results, but still fuel an endless folklore feedback loop.

FAQ: Why is the Conjuring House haunted in popular opinion?

Fans blame Bathsheba’s alleged curse, indigenous burial ground myths, or 18th‑century tragedies. Skeptics cite drafty architecture and the power of suggestion as more likely causes.

FAQ: Was The Conjuring filmed in the actual house?

No. The Conjuring was shot on sound stages and a North Carolina location. The real house in Rhode Island appears only in documentaries and reality‑TV specials.

FAQ: Did the Ghost Hunters TV show investigate the Conjuring House?

Yes. Way back in 2005, Ghost Hunters investigated (Season 2, Episode 7) before “The Conjuring” hullabaloo. In the episode, it’s one of two houses investigated. The house appears in the second half of the episode and is referred to only as the Sutcliffe House. The episode features Ed and Lorraine Warren’s nephew John Zaffis. Sadly, in 2024 Jason Hawes accused current owner Jacqueline Nuñez of harassment and urged his hundreds of thousands of followers to boycott the Conjuring House.

FAQ: Did the Ghost Adventures TV show investigate the Conjuring House?

Yes. In 2019, Ghost Adventures conducted an extensive investigation of the Conjuring House in a two-hour Halloween special titled “Curse of the Harrisville Farmhouse” (Season 22, Episode 1). Paranormal drama king Zak Bagans claimed he fell ill afterwards. Poor baby!

FAQ: Were Ed and Lorraine Warren fakes or frauds?

Critics label some Warren cases “hoaxes,” but supporters argue the pair documented genuine phenomena. No court ever convicted them of fraud.

FAQ: Who haunted The Conjuring House according to the Perron family?

The Perrons blamed a jealous female presence. Carolyn Perron dubbed her Bathsheba. Andrea Perron describes several other tormented spirits as well as the ghosts of children called “Manny” and “Oliver.”

FAQ: What is the real story of The Conjuring?

Stripped of embellishment, the real story of The Conjuring involves mild poltergeist‑style events, family stress, and decades of folklore supported by sparse and dubious evidence.

Only interested in true ghost stories?

Us too! We only believe in real ghost stories. And real spooky fun! If you want the real deal, and think you can handle the truth, get in touch. Join us one of our ghost tours across the U.S. or share your true story with allison@americanghostwalks.com. Thanks for reading!