Wretched Ledge
Wretched Ledge is a steep rocky prominence that overlooks the Winniconic River on the grounds of the Coffinhurst Estate in Madbury, New Hampshire. Known in earlier times as “Indian Cliff,” it was first called “that wretched ledge” by Peter Coffin (c. 1630–1715), in a personal journal entry dated November 3, 1682. For generations since then, the Coffin family have described the place using that epithet, which has over time become its commonly accepted name.
Situated at the head of Silver Falls, atop the craggy cliff that forms the west wall of Hilton’s Gorge, the ledge juts from the eastern slope of Garrison Hill, some 175 feet above the stoney riverbed below. There is a small clearing there by the river above the falls, surrounded by the old forest that shrouds most of the Coffinhurst property. It is accessed by a well-trodden foot path from the Great House. Another ancient pathway, now mostly reclaimed by the woods and barely visible, leads to the ruins of the Old House.
The views from Wretched Ledge are spectacular. In addition to providing an excellent vantage point for experiencing the roaring waters of Silver Falls, the ledge offers a panoramic view of the Piscataqua Estuary from the coast of Maine to Little Bay, and on clear days for miles beyond. The picturesque riverside meadow has been a favorite picnic spot for members of the Coffin family since the seventeenth century.
There are times, especially during storms, when the wind from the sea rushes up the narrow gorge in fierce surges, creating a howling cacophony of low, droning groans and high-pitched shrieks that some local residents say resemble the wails of a grieving woman. This strange phenomenon, combined with the sad truth that the precipice has been the site of many gruesome fatalities, intended as well as inadvertent, has given rise to several persistent local legends.
The legends even precede the coming of the white man to these shores, for the native Pennacook also associated the high cliff with tales of calamity and woe. As a result, more than a few Madbury residents have long believed the place to be cursed, and even haunted, by the tormented souls of those who have lost their lives there.
She was the daughter of a strong and well-respected Penacook chief named Ku’ku’kwes, who was leader of his tribe, and also received tribute from neighboring tribes. When Mimikej became old enough to marry, she was courted by many suitors.
Of these, two became the primary rivals for her hand – one a good man of her people whom she had known since childhood, the other a covetous schemer of another clan, who had murdered his own brother, and who sought her out only to abuse her and become chief after her father.
It was determined that the choice would be decided by a footrace to the top of the great falls of the Winniconic River, a place which the European colonists later called “Indian Cliff.” Mimikej set out first, and shortly after, her two suitors followed in pursuit. Whichever of the two could catch her would take her as his bride.
Through treachery, the evil suitor blocked the path of the one whom Mimikej preferred, and made gains on the young maiden. Seeing which of them was in the lead, she ran swifter than ever, hoping to evade him. But when she reached the falls, Mimikej turned to face her pursuer, unable to go any further. Loath to submit to a brutal husband, she threw herself into the gorge, falling to her death.
In an alternative version of the legend, the princess is not killed, but rather is saved by a strong gust of wind which pushes her back to the top of the ledge, and into the arms of the good suitor.
In yet another version of the legend, it is the evil suitor who goes over the cliff.
1682 – Suicide of Menimba Maalah (age 24), servant/consort of Peter Coffin, who also murdered their two daughters, Amani (age 7) and Ekeni (age 4), by hurling herself off of Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge with the girls in her arms.
1682 – Suicide of Sylvia (Mathewson) Coffin (age 36), second wife of Peter Coffin, who leapt from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1763 – Suicide of Phebe (Tupper) Coffin (age 62), widow of Barnabas Coffin, who leapt from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1820 – Accidental death of Nathaniel W. Coffin (age 5), son of Samuel and Caroline (Orcutt) Coffin, who fell from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1891 – Suicide of Mary (Gore) Coffin (age 36), wife of Charles Orcutt Coffin, Jr., who leapt from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1952 – Death of Brenda Jernigan (age 16), a resident of Madbury and Dover High School student, whose mangled body was found on the rocks at the foot of Silver Falls. It remains unclear whether she fell or was pushed. The circumstances of her death remain a mystery.
Some believe that every fifty years or so, the cliff calls out for a victim, and eventually draws someone there to their death. While historically inaccurate, this particular legend has received renewed attention recently, in the wake of the 1952 death of Dover High School student Brenda Jernigan.
One of the oldest and most persistent local legends suggests that Phebe (Tupper) Coffin, whose husband Barnabas had vanished without a trace in 1740, did not merely commit suicide, but rather she was chased over the ledge by old Barnabas himself, who had returned in the form of a vampire to take her soul. Some believe that the undead vampire Banabas still lurks among the dark shadows of the Coffinhurst Estate even today.
Situated at the head of Silver Falls, atop the craggy cliff that forms the west wall of Hilton’s Gorge, the ledge juts from the eastern slope of Garrison Hill, some 175 feet above the stoney riverbed below. There is a small clearing there by the river above the falls, surrounded by the old forest that shrouds most of the Coffinhurst property. It is accessed by a well-trodden foot path from the Great House. Another ancient pathway, now mostly reclaimed by the woods and barely visible, leads to the ruins of the Old House.
The views from Wretched Ledge are spectacular. In addition to providing an excellent vantage point for experiencing the roaring waters of Silver Falls, the ledge offers a panoramic view of the Piscataqua Estuary from the coast of Maine to Little Bay, and on clear days for miles beyond. The picturesque riverside meadow has been a favorite picnic spot for members of the Coffin family since the seventeenth century.
There are times, especially during storms, when the wind from the sea rushes up the narrow gorge in fierce surges, creating a howling cacophony of low, droning groans and high-pitched shrieks that some local residents say resemble the wails of a grieving woman. This strange phenomenon, combined with the sad truth that the precipice has been the site of many gruesome fatalities, intended as well as inadvertent, has given rise to several persistent local legends.
The legends even precede the coming of the white man to these shores, for the native Pennacook also associated the high cliff with tales of calamity and woe. As a result, more than a few Madbury residents have long believed the place to be cursed, and even haunted, by the tormented souls of those who have lost their lives there.
Legend of the Indian Maiden
Since the days before the arrival of the first European colonists, native people have associated Wretched Ledge with several legends involving a young Indian maiden. According to the old stories, in the long-ago times there was a beautiful Penacook maiden named Mimikej who lived nearby.She was the daughter of a strong and well-respected Penacook chief named Ku’ku’kwes, who was leader of his tribe, and also received tribute from neighboring tribes. When Mimikej became old enough to marry, she was courted by many suitors.
Of these, two became the primary rivals for her hand – one a good man of her people whom she had known since childhood, the other a covetous schemer of another clan, who had murdered his own brother, and who sought her out only to abuse her and become chief after her father.
It was determined that the choice would be decided by a footrace to the top of the great falls of the Winniconic River, a place which the European colonists later called “Indian Cliff.” Mimikej set out first, and shortly after, her two suitors followed in pursuit. Whichever of the two could catch her would take her as his bride.
Through treachery, the evil suitor blocked the path of the one whom Mimikej preferred, and made gains on the young maiden. Seeing which of them was in the lead, she ran swifter than ever, hoping to evade him. But when she reached the falls, Mimikej turned to face her pursuer, unable to go any further. Loath to submit to a brutal husband, she threw herself into the gorge, falling to her death.
In an alternative version of the legend, the princess is not killed, but rather is saved by a strong gust of wind which pushes her back to the top of the ledge, and into the arms of the good suitor.
In yet another version of the legend, it is the evil suitor who goes over the cliff.
History of Tragedy
Regardless of whether the Indian legends reflect true events, there is no doubt that Wretched Ledge has been the site of many tragedies. For all the serenity of its surroundings, and the majesty of its magnificent vistas, Wretched Ledge cannot escape the dark moments in its history, which has seen too many victims fall to their deaths from its treacherous heights. The following is a list of documented deaths associated with Wretched Ledge:1682 – Suicide of Menimba Maalah (age 24), servant/consort of Peter Coffin, who also murdered their two daughters, Amani (age 7) and Ekeni (age 4), by hurling herself off of Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge with the girls in her arms.
1682 – Suicide of Sylvia (Mathewson) Coffin (age 36), second wife of Peter Coffin, who leapt from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1763 – Suicide of Phebe (Tupper) Coffin (age 62), widow of Barnabas Coffin, who leapt from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1820 – Accidental death of Nathaniel W. Coffin (age 5), son of Samuel and Caroline (Orcutt) Coffin, who fell from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1891 – Suicide of Mary (Gore) Coffin (age 36), wife of Charles Orcutt Coffin, Jr., who leapt from Wretched Ledge into Hilton’s Gorge.
1952 – Death of Brenda Jernigan (age 16), a resident of Madbury and Dover High School student, whose mangled body was found on the rocks at the foot of Silver Falls. It remains unclear whether she fell or was pushed. The circumstances of her death remain a mystery.
Local Legends
The long history of tragedy associated with Wretched Ledge has given rise to many local folk tales and traditions surrounding it. Ghost stories and other rumors involving the Coffin family and the ledge have persisted for centuries. Most Madbury residents believe Wretched Ledge became cursed as a result of the many deaths caused by Menimba Maalah, whose victims included Abigail Coffin, wrongly hung for witchcraft, the young Coffin children murdered by Menimba in her plot to frame Abigail, Menimba’s own suicide, the deaths of her two daughters, whom she carried with her over the cliff, and the suicide of Sylvia Coffin.Some believe that every fifty years or so, the cliff calls out for a victim, and eventually draws someone there to their death. While historically inaccurate, this particular legend has received renewed attention recently, in the wake of the 1952 death of Dover High School student Brenda Jernigan.
One of the oldest and most persistent local legends suggests that Phebe (Tupper) Coffin, whose husband Barnabas had vanished without a trace in 1740, did not merely commit suicide, but rather she was chased over the ledge by old Barnabas himself, who had returned in the form of a vampire to take her soul. Some believe that the undead vampire Banabas still lurks among the dark shadows of the Coffinhurst Estate even today.
Wretched Ledge
RIVER CLIFF
Silver Falls, Madbury, New Hampshire
Alfred Thomson Britcher c. 1861
Alfred Thomson Britcher c. 1861
LOCATION
Country
United States
State
New Hampshire
County
Strafford
Town
Madbury
Coordinates
43°10'11.6"N 70°51'48.6"W
CHARACTERISTICS
Elevation
187 feet
Height
175 feet
Composition
Conway Granite
Hilton's Gorge
View Looking North
View Looking North
Comments