Legends and Tales of The Pine Barrens - The Black Doctor

The Black Doctor

Another interesting tale is The Black Doctor, or the ghost of an African American man known as James Still. According to legend, in the 19th Century, James was not permitted to practice medicine because of his race. Undiscouraged, however, James went into seclusion in the Pine Barrens to study medicine from his textbooks (in some variations, James also learns herbal remedies from the local Indians.) There are different versions of his death. Some say that he was unjustly lynched when local Pineys found he was studying medicine. Others stories state that he was a hero to the Piney community and died of natural causes. James Still's ghost, known as the Black Doctor, is said to come to the aid of injured or stranded travelers in the Pine Barrens. In fact, Dr. James Still was the brother of William Still, noted abolitionist who wrote the book, The Underground Railroad. Dr. Still wrote a book (currently out of print) title Early Recollections, The Life of Dr. James Still. He had an office in Medford, and was the third large largest landowner in town. He was self taught in the manners of medical botany and used many herbal remedies for cures.