A little local Ghost Hunters

This is a recent show from "Ghost Hunters"
This episode was filmed locally at the beautiful Edgewood Plantation. Although I have not been inside I have driven by several times. After watching this show I may have to talk the hubby into a romantic get away weekend.

Haunted Carter’s Grove

The windy road known today as Route 60 leads from Williamsburg to Newport News. VA. and if your not paying attention you won’t notice the  dirt driveway that once led to Carter’s Grove Plantation.  Built in the early 1700’s it was once one of Virginia’s finest plantations. It was closed to the public around 2003,  but tales of hauntings still linger among the locals.

From what I’ve been told a black man in raggedy clothes can be seen walking towards the Plantation from Williamsburg. Could this be the ghost of Jim, a slave who once worked at the Governors Place and walked the eight miles every Saturday night back to the Grove to see his family. From what they say he died of a broken heart when he came home one weekend to find that his wife and children had been sold and no one knew how to tell him where to find them.

During the time the plantation was open for tours flower petals could be found on the floor after being placed in what is known as the refusal room. Both Thomas Jefferson and George Washington offered marriage proposals to two different young ladies in the room and were turned down. Rumor has it that one of these young ladies still angry at herself for not accepting the life she could have had tears up the flowers any time they are left in the room. She especially hates white carnations. Could this have been what was offered to her along with the proposal? I suppose we will never know.  

Steps are sometimes heard in the halls. A phantom harp is said to play,  and another legend of Carter’s Grove is that Colonel Banastre Tarleton hacked the staircase as he rode his horse up the stairs to wake his troops during the Revolutionary War.


Click to open in new window where photo will be enlarged

I drove past the plantation today, and on a whim stopped at the beginning of the drive. The gates are locked now with big NO Trespassing signs in plain site, but for just a moment I jumped out of the car and took a few photos. When I loaded the photos and took a look I found something unusual in the upstairs window in the center of the house.

Take a look and tell me if it is my imagination or do you see a man wearing white pants and a red shirt.  Could this be Colonel Banastre in his Revolutionary War Uniform?

I may never know now that the plantation is  privately owned but from what I have read sometime in the future the new owners according to the terms of the sale have to open the house one day a year for tours. You better believe when they do, I will be there.

Tears in the snow

Not far from where I live is the town of Gloucester. Like most small towns it has its tragedies, but none so great as the one that happened one dark winter night. It was sometime in the 1800's that a lovely young girl named Elizabeth went with her father to London. While there she met a handsome young man and fell in love. Alas it was not meant to be because they soon returned home. Her father who was against the match intercepted the letters and they never heard from each other again.
Now the young girl longed for her love so much that she fell ill and died.
Friends say she lost the will to live, and on a late November afternoon they buried her in a grave at the foot of the garden. Snow begin to fall as the grief stricken father made his way back to the house, heart broken that his only child had died.
As the story goes a former butler angry at the family dug up her grave as soon as it was dark. He planned to steal the expensive jewlery she was buried with. He dug away the snow and soon reached the coffin where he found the body. He took the jewels from her neck and reached to take the ring on her finger but found it stuck so he took a knife and cut off her finger. Much to his surprise and horror the young woman who was not dead but simply in a coma woke up. He ran into the night never to be heard from again.
Somehow the young woman crawled across the yard and up onto the porch of the house. Her father who sat by the fireplace lost in thought and grieving paid no attention to the stratching at the door. Perhaps he thought it was one of the dogs, or just the wind.
The next morning the young woman was found outside the door.....Frozen under a pile of snow. There was a trail of bloody foot prints leading from the garden.

To this day when the first snow falls and the fire is crackling in the hearth...the new generations of this family still see the apparition of a young woman walking up the staircase..the rustling of the petticoats. If you look out into the snow, you can see the bloody footprints leading from the garden..She has at last found her way home.
And in the spring near the steps of the house grow the most beautiful violets. Watered by the tears of a young girl, seeking refuge from the snow


I first heard this story when I went on a "ghost tour" of Colonial Williamburg.I was touched by it as soon as I heard it and it was my favorite stories about hauntings in our area.
It can also be found in Volume 1 of The Ghost of Virginia by LB Taylor Jr.

I plan this spring to visit the area where this story took place.

Revisting an old haunt

You may remember me posting last year about the young woman who haunts the Public Records Office in Colonial Williamsburg.
For some reason when I went then I did not photograph the family cemetery, so on Monday while we were there I stopped by to take some photos,
I am reposting the story again for anyone who missed it the first time.
I have never experienced any paranormal activity at this site, but do find the old graves interesting.


Public Records Office



Jones Family Graves



Jones Family Graves




Jones Family Graves

Public Records office

Is the oldest archival building in North America. It once housed important documents. In 1784 it was converted into a grammar school. From 1789-1824 was rental property. In 1824 it was the office for the clerk of Chancery Court. In 1855 was acquired by the neighboring female Academy, which was located on the grounds of the Capital building. And in 1862 southern troops took refuge inside.
Near the turn of the century David Roland Jones and family owned it. They had seven children, and none of the girls married or left home. One of the daughters Edna became restless and when she met a man named John Mince she fell in love. Her father forbids the relationship. They made plans to run away together and meet at the Governors Place, which had burned over a century earlier. . Edna waited until dark and hurried to the meeting. One the way she was struck and killed by a speeding couch. It is thought that her spirit rushed home so that her father would not discover her deception.
Since that night she has been seen roaming the property.. She has also been seen at the Jones family cemetery. Her ghost has been photographed indeed the graveyard where her body rest. Strangers have heard her calling out as they make there way through the property.

Kings Arms Tavern

I haven't mentioned any of the huanted establisments in Colonial Williamsburg for a few days so I thought I would take up where I left off with the Kings Arms Tavern

It is believed to be haunted by a woman named Irma. She lived and died in the 1700'a
As the story goes she died because of a fire when a candle was dropped. She isn’t seen very often, but she is heard speaking to staff and people have felt her presence. Irma blows out candles and helps the staff. She is very friendly. Rumor has it that the staff says goodnight to her each night upon closing for the evening.

The Old Mill

The Robertson Windmill
Williamsburg's first serial killer stashed his young victim's bodies here, and it is said to be haunted by them.

I have not been able to document this information, but thought I would post it anyway

Review of tour at Williamsburg

If you’re planning on going on the Legends, Myths, Mysteries and Ghosts walking tour in Williamsburg expect it to be a waste of time. They say you get what you pay for and we paid 12.00 a ticket. It was worth about $5.00. On a scale of 1-10 this tour was a 4. The only reason I gave it that high is the first story was told in the Wythe House and that is one of the ones I had hoped to get inside of so that excited me. I did like the storyteller in this house, but it had nothing to do with the house. She told a story about a house in Gloucester VA. I plan on looking into it more and won’t spoil it by mentioning yet what it was. Anyway while I was the house I didn’t see or feel anything usual. Nor did hear Lady Ann running up the stairs. (See story on Wythe house)

The next stop was the Governors Mansion where we listened to, two stories. We simply changed rooms and new interpreters told the next story. I thought that sucked because they advertised that we would go to THREE places. The stories they told here again had nothing to do with the house or any house in Williamsburg. These last two were pretty lame and I had a hard time paying attention.. Also they did not allow any photos to be taken inside, and as you can see from the ones below, photos are a waste of time at night.
On the bright side I did get to carry the lantern. No one volunteered when the guide asked for someone so I spoke up. What the heck at lest that was cool. Our tour guide was funny so we did enjoy him and he was real sweet and walked my daughter and I back to the starting point. Along the way he pointed out a house that is suppose to be haunted. I had not heard any stories about it, so I took a photo of it and will do a bit of research on what he told me, so be looking for that later in the week. I understand there is at lest one other walking tour in Colonial Williamsburg. I think it is based on the books Ghost of Williamsburg by L B Taylor Jr. I suspect that will be more to my likening and the only reason I didn't asked for it this time is I thought we would do more walking and get in the homes. Live and learn as they say.
Oh also some weird guy latched on to my daughter. I guess he thought she was cute because he was like a puppy and kept right on her heels. He even jumped in the photo of her that I took. Just goes to show you live people are stranger than the dead ones. Ha Ha.


Me carrying the lantern

Outside the George Wythe house. (daughter with strange guy)

Our group outside the governors mansion
Notice the orbs (or dust depending on what you believe about orbs)

My daughter and I with the guide after the tour.

Haunted Maze

One of the most beautiful buildings in Colonial Williamsburg is the Governor’s Palace.
My ex-husband use to be a master gardener there in the kitchen gardens and although I have never been inside the palace itself I have spent time on the grounds.

Home of seven royal governors including Lord Dunmore, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. In 1780 the capital was moved to Richmond and in 1781 during the siege of Yorktown the palace was used as a hospital.. In 1781 the palace was burned to the ground killing one patient. In 1930 restoration of the palace began. While rummaging through the gardens archaeologists discovered a human skeleton. They continued to dig and found 156 men and two women. They also found musket balls with teeth marks on them indicating that they were bodies from the hospital. Because there was little anesthesia during the Revolutionary war the wounded suffered great agony. Most died from blood loss, shock, or infection. Theories of the women identity include that they are either family members who had followed the soldiers or more than likely nurses.

It is reported that a strange light appears in the palace at night when no one is there. When investigated it disappears.



The maze behind the building is supposed to be haunted by soldiers from the civil war and revolutionary war. The wall in front of the mansion is supposed to be haunted by the ghost of a criminally insane escapee of Eastern State Mental Institution, who in the 1920s slit a woman's throat.

A Haunting We Will Go

Ok, So you know how I've been talking about all these haunted buildings in Colonial Williamsburg? Well guess what? I am finally going to get a chance to get inside some of them!!
Yep it's true. Come this Thursday night at 8:30 yours truly along with my brave daughter who I drag everywhere (when hubby doesn't go) and I are going on the Legends, Ghosts, Mysteries, and Myths tour (for some reason that sounds like it should be a Beatles song). Anyway I am sure it will be lame, and I will probably come back disappointed, but hey it is only $12.00 for the ticket so I thought what the heck.
Just to buy a day pass to go up there is something like $40.00 so this is cheap entertainment. I think there are several "ghost" tours up there but this is the only one that you can go into the building. So cross your fingers that there will be activity that night (There are reports that people do see things on these tours).
I have my camera ready and I will be reporting back to you on the evening ASAP.
In the mean time enjoy some more of my stories.

A Sad Love Story

Public Records office

Is the oldest archival building in North America. It once housed important documents. In 1784 it was converted into a grammar school. From 1789-1824 was rental property. In 1824 it was the office for the clerk of Chancery Court. In 1855 was acquired by the neighboring female Academy, which was located on the grounds of the Capital building. And in 1862 southern troops took refuge inside.
Near the turn of the century David Roland Jones and family owned it. They had seven children, and none of the girls married or left home. One of the daughters Edna became restless and when she met a man named John Mince she fell in love. Her father forbids the relationship. They made plans to run away together and meet at the Governors Place, which had burned over a century earlier. . Edna waited until dark and hurried to the meeting. One the way she was struck and killed by a speeding couch. It is thought that her spirit rushed home so that her father would not discover her deception.
Since that night she has been seen roaming the property.. She has also been seen at the Jones family cemetery. Her ghost has been photographed indeed the graveyard where her body rest. Strangers have heard her calling out as they make there way through the property.

The Public Records Office stands the Eastern end of Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg. It is located to the north of the Capitol Building.

Looney Lucy Haunts Her Old Home

Front of the house from the street


Side of the house looking at it from the street


Looking at back door of the house


A well that is in the backyard



Some of the backyard

Ludwell-Paradise House built around 1755
Midway on Duke of Gloucester Street between Queen and Colonial Street in Colonial Williamsburg (Next to Prentis Store)

Haunted by Lucy Ludwell.
Lucy was a member of one of Williamsburg’s most prominent families. Her grandfather was a member of the House of Burgesses and one of the city’s orginial trustees. Her father was a member of the governor’s council. Lucy was never liked by the townspeople and was considered unkind. She met John Paradise in London and they settled there. After the revolutionarily war the state of VA. confiscated Lucy’s house in Williamsburg.
When John died in 1795 it took Lucy until 1805 to get permission to return to Virginia and claim her home.
It was clear when Lucy returned that she was in a deluded state of mind and thought that the people of Williamsburg should treat her as royalty.
She paraded up and down Duke of Gloucester street waving with her servant following behind. She would dress herself with two or three dresses and walk for hours down the street. She would also take make-believe carriage rides by having her slaves push and rock her horseless couch in her stable.
In 1816 the townspeople had her committed to the public hospital, a mental institute
on Frances Street
As they carried her away screaming and shouting she vowed she would return home someday. With in two years of her incarceration she went completely insane and died in the asylum.
Her home was sold several times before the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg and it was five years after it was purchased by CW that restoration began on the home.
Workers would report tools missing papers thrown about documents missing, water turning on and off by itself, and noises from empty rooms. Some are convinced that Lucy has come home to stay.

Wagon Of Death/Public Gaol (Jail) Colonial Williamsburg
If found guilty of a heinous crime a person was placed in the Public Gaol (Jail) to await hanging.

Cells were small, unheated, no glass in the windows, which were barred. Prisoners slept on insect ridden straw, shackles were found during excavations, Prisoners were shacked to the floor.
The “Wagon of Death” came to escort them to the gallows. The condemned man could hear the creaking of the carts wheels as it rolled down Nicholson Street. The prisoner then had to sit on there own coffin for the mile long ride to Hangman’s Road. No physical evidence is left of the gallows but the Gaol is still standing and is one of the oldest buildings in Colonial Williamsburg. It housed murders, pirates, Indians, run-away slaves and common debtors until 1780. It continued to house offenders until 1910.
Stories have been told for over a century of hearing the sounds of a horse and wagon going down Nicholson Street in pre-dawn hours. When those hearing the sound would rush to the windows, nothing was there.

The public Goal is located on the eastern end of Nicholson Street. Nicholson Street runs parallel to Duke of Gloucester Street. Look for the Capital. The jail is to the left (north) side of the Capital

*Footnote

The Orginial brick building was 20 by 20 feet with an adjoining walled exercise yard. Presently the gaol has three rooms on the first floor, a larger one for the gaoler and two smaller ones for male and female prisoners. Attic chambers were used to confine petty offenders.
Hanging was often the penalty for arson, piracy, horse stealing, forgery and stealing. The gaol served the colony until 1780 and used as a jail by the city of Williamsburg until 1910.

Visiting a local haunt

In all the excitement of the talking about the meeting with the paranormal group, I forgot to mention that I have been working on my stories for the houses in Williamsburg that are suppose to be haunted. My husband and I were up there on Saturday to take some photos. I was able to get shots of about half the houses on my list. Here is my first one.I hope you enjoy hearing about

The George Wythe House



Resembling a small plantation estate the George Wythe House has a laundry, a lumber house, a well, a stable and a kitchen. It also has a kitchen garden and an orchard.
The house was given to George Wythe as a wedding gift from his father in law. George was a lawyer, judge, teacher, and speaker of the House of Delegates. He also signed the declaration of Independence. He died in 1806 after a lingering death due to being poisoned by his grandnephew who wanted to gain his inheritance.
George Washington used the home as his temporary headquarters just prior to the siege of Yorktown. After the siege the home accommodated men wounded during the battle. One of these was a Colonel named Oscar LaBlance. A local woman named Katherine Anderson watched over him day and night. When he was out of danger of dying they made plans to marry. Unfortunately he contacted malaria from one of the other patients and died within a week. Soon after Katherine died from “natural causes”. Rumors said she died of a broken heart.
For decades there have been reports of voices, and shadows of a man in the hall. Also a woman has been seen in one of the bedrooms.
We do not know if George Wythe himself haunts the house, or if it is one of the many soliders who died. Could the lady that has been seen be poor Katherine searching for her true love? Maybe soon I will get a pass and visit the inside

Update
I found the following information about the ghost that haunt this house

The many ghost of the Wythe House

Judge George Wythe- Murdered in Richmond by his grandnephew, George Sweeney. If you sit in the study, you might feel a cold hand feel your brow.
George Washington- Said to stayed there during the time of the Revolutionary War. He is seen in the windows from time to time. In powdered wig and all.
Lady Ann Skipwith- Her ghost is seen on the stairwell on the house. Said to be outraged at a party held at the Governor's Palace. She ran home and broke her shoe. She is said to be seen hobbling on the stairs in a fit of rage.
Governor John Page- He jilted Lady Ann for the company of her sister instead. His ghost is the more revendant of the group. He's the most quite of the group and is rarely seen. He bought the house from the Wythes.

Lady Ann

While reading a book n the Ghost of Williamsburg I ran across another story about the George Wythe house which I talked about in the previous post.
Here it is for your entertainment


When George Wythe was still living he often had house-guest by the name of Peyton Skipwith and his wife Ann.
She was born near Petersburg about 1741 and was known for her temper. She married Sir Peyton Skipwith and they lived in Mecklenburg Co. Virginia. Back in the days when the governor lived in Williamsburg they were invited to attend a ball at the Governor's Place. That night she wore a cream satin dress and tiny high heeled red slippers.
Her temper flared when saw her husband dancing with her sister Jean. She bolted from the Palace unescorted and dashed across the Palace Green toward the Wythe House. En-route she either broke the strap or heel of one of her slippers and arrived at the house hobbling on one shoe, the other foot clad only in her silk stocking.
As she went up the stairs she sounded like someone with a peg leg.
Many years went by and Lady Ann died in childbirth. Her husband then married her sister.

Does Lady Ann haunt the house? I'm not sure but: Around midnight, some report a clicking going up the main staircase. Many think it is Ann Skipwith, running up the staircase in anger, after having a fight with her husband.
She also has been seen combing her hair at her dressing table. Also there are cold spots at the top of the stairs.

Something to look forward to

It will take me awhile, but I have decided as part of this blog to include The Ghost of Williamsburg.
What I would like to do is go to each of the houses/areas, that are listed as "haunted" in Colonial Williamsburg. I plan on taking a photo and telling a little bit of the history or story of why the place is haunted. I think that will be fun and hopefully you my readers will enjoy the stories as well as learn about our local history.

Also just so you know. I have been invited to go to a meeting of one of our local paranormal groups as a guest speaker. I will be talking about my grandson and how he "sees" the Ghost Lady and other happenings he seems to talk about.
It isn't coming up for a few weeks, but I will be sure and mention how the evening goes.
Probably sometime tomorrow I will make a list of the Williamsburg Ghost stories and post some information.