John Edmonds was a leading public figure in early nineteenth-century New York. Edmonds was not, however, eminent in natural philosophy or mathematics. Nonetheless, Edmonds’ own analysis of gravitation led him to conclude that gravitation was actually “the effect of a combination of motion.” In the spiritual communication that Edmonds conducted with the dead Isaac Newton, Newton acknowledged his mistake in “considering the attraction of gravitation as a distinct and substantive principle.”^

Edmonds’ confirmation bias in spiritual communication with Newton emphasizes his concern for knowledge. John Edmonds’ spiritual communication with his dead brother Francis included a similar knowledge confirmation at a more personal level. In that communication, Francis confirmed that John had been correct about the possibility of spiritual communication.