In the second half of the 19th century farm hands were frightened to go on Pitsea Marshes at night because of strange lights, which they were convinced had ghostly origins, but were probably made by smugglers.

 

Old Boosey, who lived on Vange Marshes, was frightened by a Jack O’Lantern, which was believed to be an omen of death. He did not know that the ghostly light was due to the spontaneous combustion of gases from decaying vegetable matter on marshy ground.