Theophilus Dunn

Theophilus Dunn (c. 1790 – October 1851) was a fortune teller from the Black Country village of Netherton who achieved regional fame for his claimed abilities to tell fortunes, find lost valuables, and cast healing spells.

Life

Theophilus Dunn was born at the end of the 18th century and lived for many years in Netherton, near Dudley. He achieved some fame as a fortune teller and finder of lost objects, and as someone who could cast healing spells.[1][2]

He supposedly was fairly well educated and could "cast a horoscope with as much facility almost as a Nostradamus".[3]

A number of stories are told of his prophesies such as warning the prizefighter, William Perry of his forthcoming defeat at the hands of Tom Sayers.[2][4]

He was known by some as the "Dudley Devil".[5] An obituary in a local paper claimed that "he was the chief resource in times of difficulty or trial to half the lower classes of society in the district in which he resided". It was also stated that he was the "restorer of lost goods, the discoverer of stolen property, the healer of broken hearts" and that "apparently respectable persons" had travelled fifty to sixty miles for consultations with Dunn.[5]

Reputedly, he sold charms to cure toothache, priced at 1 shilling, consisting of a supposed dialogue between Jesus and St Peter, written on a piece of paper, in which the apostle is cured of his painful teeth by faith.[1][3]

He was found dead at his home on 9 October 1851, apparently after taking his own life, the official verdict of the subsequent inquest being "Insanity".[5] His death was reported in many British newspapers, some published as far away from his home region as John o' Groats, Scotland.[6] Theophilus Dunn's grave is in the churchyard of St Andrews', Netherton.

References
  1. Raven, Jon (1986). Stories, Customs, Superstitions Tales, Legends & Folklore of the Black Country & Staffordshire. Broadside. ISBN 0-946757-03-8.
  2. Tump, Aristotle (1986). A Memorable Medley of Great Black Country Characters. A Bugle Publication.
  3. Hackwood, F. W. (1974). Staffordshire customs, superstitions and folklore. Wakefield, UK: EP Publishing Limited. pp. 155–156. ISBN 071581057X.
  4. Beauchamp, Perry (2011). The Story behind a Statue. Dudley: Perry Beauchamp Publications. p. 118. ISBN 9780956895004.
  5. "Death of the " Dudley Fortune Teller."". Worcestershire Chronicle. 15 October 1851. p. 5. Retrieved 29 October 2018 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Death of the Dudley Sorcerer". John o' Groat Journal. 31 October 1851. p. 4. Retrieved 29 October 2018 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
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