Saturday, May 31, 2008

The Moore House



The Moore House, near Yorktown, Virginia. May, 1862 Photographed by John Wood & James F. Gibson and Photo (I took) of how it looks today



The Moore House is another of Yorktown's haunted houses. Located on the battlefields along the river it was built by Lawrence Smith II and sitting on a 500 acre plantation this home was called” Temple Farm." In 1754, Lawrence Smith’s son, Robert, who was the third generation of Smiths to work this farm, inherited this farm. In 1760, due to financial reasons he was forced to sell the family's 500-acre estate to his brother-in-law, Augustine Moore.

During the Revolutionary War, The Moore House and farm was the spot picked by British Commander Cornwallis to sign The Articles of Capitulation to end the Revolutionary War on October 19th, 1781.

During the Revolutionary War. a stray bullet shot and killed Augustine Moore Jr. while he was working the family fields.

Also a local merchant by the name of John Turner, came to watch the shelling of the British Army in Yorktown just days before they surrendered. He was wounded as a result of the shelling and died in his wife's arms. There was nothing she could do to save him. John Turner's remains are buried in the Moore House family graveyard, which is near the Moore House. The dates on the graves are from 1730 - 1800's, the final resting place of the families who lived here.





The manifestations of the entities started making their appearance after the Park Service fully restored the home to its 18th century decor and style.


Sheets on the bed in the master bedroom have been found with indentations as if someone had been sleeping in this bed.
Tour guides showing groups around the home felt that an unseen, friendly presence was overseeing their tour.
Sheets on the beds in the bedrooms on the second floor look like others had slept in them.
In the parlor, there was a depression in a red velvet chair, like someone was sitting there.




I have made two trips to this house this week. The first one was with my daughter and grandson. (Yes, he did tell us he saw something there. He said there was a lady on the porch with my daughter when she posed for a photo, and no, nothing showed up)
I also took a photo on the porch and just as soon as it was snapped I heard a noise. I jumped and got off that porch in a hurry.
The second trip I made was today to take photos of the graves. It was to late the first day to get good photos. I was not as impressed with this home as I was the Nelson House, but it was on my list of places to visit



Me sitting on the steps of the Moore House

*Footnote
Want to buy this beautiful home. You can for only $1,200,000
*est. monthly payment: $5755.69
I found a listing for it while I was doing reasearch on the house...

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The Nelson House



Front of house from street


Back of house from the yard


(Part One)
As I mentioned yesterday I took a quick tour of Yorktown VA. I've been several times, but had not really looked into the haunted history other than to read the stories. This time I went with the intent to explore. My first stop was the Nelson House. Home of Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738-89) Most of the Nelson House is original, including the bricks and most of the mortar in the outer walls. It is a beautiful home with some lovely gardens and is reputed to be haunted. Reports include a young male entity of a British soldier who was killed in the Siege of Yorktown. His apparition has been seen on occasion in various spots around the house. Footsteps and cold spots, are also reported. The sobbing of a woman was heard coming from an empty third floor room.
We did not go inside, but spent several minutes wandering around the property.
Part Two Coming Soon

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Friday, May 30, 2008

Check This Out

I ran across this article today while searching for paranormal information. It was posted today so check it out!
Ghost Boy

Also I did some snooping ( I mean investigating) around in Yorktown Va. yesterday. I will be posting about it soon.

Enjoy your day..

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Sky Watch Friday


It is once again time for Sky Watch Friday
I hope you enjoy my photo. I am not sure what kind of tree that is, but I thought it made a lovely photo with the clouds.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

ABC Wednesday Letter S





NOTE:
For my regular readers I apologize. I know this is a re-post from the weekend, but I remembered that the letter for this week on ABC Wednesday withMrs Nesbitts was S and what better photos could I do than the beautiful plantations of SHIRLEY AND SHERWOOD.
So for your entertainment I present them both for this week.







This is the Shirley Plantation As you can see from the slide show above the grounds and house sit beside the beautiful James River. We were able to walk around for as long as we wanted and also tour inside the "big house". The tour guide very very good and told a lot of the history. Although we were not able to take photos inside if you visit the website (click on link) it will show you a few. One of my favorite parts of the tour was the glass in the windows. Several of the woman in the family (11 generations have lived in the house) started a tradition of scratching their name into the glass using their diamond engagement rings. This was called testing the stone and was a fun way to see the quality of the diamond. Also we did see the haunted portrait but of course as luck would have it, it sat very still on the wall and didn't even give the slightest shake.
We had brought along a picnic which we ate under one of many tress on the grounds and after spending almost two hours we left and headed back toward home. Along the way we stopped at another plantation in the area.


This one was called Sherwood Forest Plantation and was home to the 10th President of the United States John Tyler. Sherwood Forest Plantation has been the continuous residence of the Tyler family since the President purchased it in 1842. Known to be the longest frame house in America, it is over 300 feet long. The home itself is not opened to the public except by special reservations, but we were able to tour the grounds. The first thing we noticed when we came in was the Pet Cemetery. The Tyler's have been burying there beloved pets there since the time of John Tyler. There are two horses buried there along with a goat a duck and several dogs and cats. The house itself had glass doors which were open and all the curtains were open so we were able to peek into several rooms. I had not planned to visit this home so I didn't know the history of it. I found out later when I got home that there is a ghost in the house. I am glad I did not know at the time because we were the only ones on the grounds today (A family was leaving as we came in and one came in as we were leaving but other than that we were completely alone.)
We also found out that there are several other plantations in the area and we plan on going back up that way soon.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2008

My Personal Experience

Warning, this is a slightly long post, but please read it all you won’t be sorry.


Have you ever noticed when you talk to other people that you either believe in ghost or you don’t? According to a 2003 Harris Report (sorry I couldn’t find a current one) 51 % of all adults believe in them.
Out of those numbers I am not sure how many people have actually had a paranormal experience, but it got me to thinking
Why do some people see things and others don’t.

I would love to see a ghost. Yet I can’t seem to see a darn thing. I visit all the local haunts. I ramble through the graveyards. I always have my little voice recorder and my courage (ha ha) I rarely go out of the house without my camera in case “something” is there. Yes I know I took that really awesome photo of the lady and man at the tree but if my grandson hadn’t told me he “saw her” I wouldn’t have the photo. But I want to see something. Feel something. Hear a noise anything. Darn the luck I can’t even get a breeze half the time. As for EVP’s if I’m lucky I might get a slight whisper on a recording that might or might not be something. Yet I can watch shows like Ghost Hunters (Yes I know that is on TV and they have a zillion dollar budget with all the best equipment) and they get awesome stuff.
Sigh!
I never have any luck…….
Well, hmmm there is that “one time” that something happened to me. I suppose I should tell you about……Do you want to hear it? You do? Ok, clap your hands together really fast and say. I DO BELIEVE I DO BELIEVE I DO I DO (oh wait that is for fairies, oh well use your imagination, it might work for both)


My one and only experience with a “ghost” came when I was working at the information booth at a large mall in a near by city.
You see the mall I was working at is haunted. I even knew it was haunted. I had talked to some people who had worked there for years, and I had heard all the stories. I just didn’t believe them, until “something” convinced me other wise. Before I tell you what happened to me let me give you a little background.
When this mall being built back in the 1980’s one of the workers fell off the roof and died before he reached the hospital. Also a former security guard died while working there (I am not sure if he died in the mall or not, so the person in the food court might have been him not clear on this part) but someone had a heart attack in the food court and died. The food court is on the second floor so the mall and is built in the shape of a square so there are several hallways.
Also the mall had been remodeled several times taking away a theater that had been on the second floor leaving storage rooms. This left a lot of hallways open.
For years the security guards had talked about strange things happening.
Noises in the back halls. Smells of pipe tobacco late at night when the stores were closed. Feelings of being watched.
Even the mall office workers reported things.
Papers would be moved. Staplers and tape dispenser would not be where they left them; just little things that make you go hmmm.
They all told me it was haunted..
Yeah right I said.

So what happened to change my mind?
Well…..

One of the security guards and I had got to be pretty good friends. She would stop by everyday to visit when she did her rounds, and as we got to know each other better she told me that she “felt” the ghost. I just brushed her off, and then she told me the same thing again and again. She confessed that she was frightened to go in the back halls by herself.
At the time I really didn’t believe in ghost, but there was that side of me that is the little kid in all of us and I got brave and said…Ok…Show me this “ghost”
So she lead me up the back way behind the food court and into “the halls” We were chatting about other things just walking along when suddenly I just stopped. To this day I don’t know why I stopped, I just did, I looked down at my arms and had chill bumps on them. I think I said something like, oh creepy indicating to my arms, when I noticed hers were the same way. I brushed it off as my imagination and kept walking. We got to the part of the hall where she said she “felt” something. I looked around, Nope, nothing. No chills, no weird feeling, nothing, nada, just a hall. So we started back, and as we turned a corner something really strange happened. All at once I felt hot and cold at the same time. My skin was like ice, yet it felt like my blood was rushing through my body and it was really hot.
I am not sure If that makes sense, but I don’t know how else to explain it. I looked at my arms again and I had chill bumps. The feeling only lasted a few seconds, but I knew something had happened. Something besides us was in that hall. I don’t mind admitting that it frightened me. I got out of there as fast as I could. I worked there for several years after that and it took me a long long time before I would go back into those halls. I never denied that the mall was haunted after that happened and that one experience set me off on the path I am one today….To find the ghost!

*Footnote
I never saw it but I was told there was a photo taken by the mall personnel (It was one of those old fashioned Polaroid's that develop on there own) It was of a child and the Easter bunny. A "man" showed up in the photo and no one else was standing there. The claim is that it was the worker who fell off the roof.
Also I heard about how two female employees of a small store had "seen" an older man in the store one night. They were between him and the door and no one else was in the store. When they turned back around to asked if he needed help he was gone.

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Monday, May 26, 2008

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

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

Sherwood Forest Plantation

On the way home from the Shirley Plantation we stopped at the Sherwood Forest Plantation. It was a beautiful old home that had been owned by our 10th President John Tyler. I didn't know much about the history of this plantation so when I got home I did a bit of research and found that the house has a ghost. Known as the Gray Lady she has been seen by several people over the years. I'm kind of glad I didn't know she was there because we were the only ones visiting the grounds this afternoon. The house itself was not open for tours so we really didn't pay much attention to it other than to peek in the door and two of the windows when we first got there. I don't remember seeing a rocking chair, and my grandson did not seem to have any kind of experiences while we were on the property. I did find out while doing research on the plantations in the area that there is at lest one other one that has some haunting, so I will be going back soon. In the meantime here is the information on this gray lady.

Below is information from the plantation website about her.



*For more photos of the house and grounds visit my Other blog


The Gray Lady is called that because she apparently wore gray. This leads to the assumption that she was in the service of the family that owned the house when she lived there, because servants then wore gray when cleaning at Sherwood Forest.

"It is thought that she was a governess, who had charge of a small child at one time here," Payne says. "She would take the child from a first floor bedroom (which is now known, appropriately, as the Gray Room) and walk her up through the hidden staircase to a second floor nursery. There, she would rock the child on her lap in a rocking chair."


Unfortunately, the child was ill and died soon after. This presents a speculative motive for the Gray Lady's ghost to remain in the house. It could have been that the Gray Lady was not nearby when the child passed away, or she might have perceived that had she been more attentive the tragedy would not have occurred. No one knows for sure.
What is known is that ever since, the sounds of the Gray Lady have been heard in the house - always in the same forms. Her footsteps are heard going up or down the hidden stairway, and the sound of her rocking is heard in the second floor nursery and in the Gray Room.

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Visiting with Aunt Pratt


We had a wonderful time today at the Shirley Plantation and the highlight of course was seeing the portrait of Aunt Pratt. She sat in her place of honor in the first floor bedroom overlooking the beautiful James River.
I have to admit the picture gave me the creeps. There was just something about it that kept me from starting at it for more than a few seconds at a time. Maybe it was the stories I had read, or maybe it was her eyes. All I know was I didn't like her and neither did my grandson. The entire time we were in the room he seemed very uneasy and while the guide was telling us the story of the portrait I walked him over to the window to look out. When we got ready to leave the room my daughter and I both asked him if he liked her (Aunt Pratt) and he said no. I asked him if he saw her and he said yes. I then asked him where he saw her at and he pointed into the foyer way. I took him out there and asked him where, and he pointed to the stairs. We had not gone up there at all during the tour. Once we got outside he was very clingy for a few minutes and he sat on the bench on the porch. I rubbed his back for a few minutes and before long he was ok again and ready to get down and play. He loved walking around the ground but definitely did not like the inside of that house.

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Plantation Road




Hello Everyone
I had a wonderful time today visiting the Shirley Plantation As you can see from the slide show above the grounds and house sit beside the beautiful James River. We were able to walk around for as long as we wanted and also tour inside the "big house". The tour guide very very good and told a lot of the history. Although we were not able to take photos inside if you visit the website (click on link) it will show you a few. One of my favorite parts of the tour was the glass in the windows. Several of the woman in the family (11 generations have lived in the house) started a tradition of scratching their name into the glass using their diamond engagement rings. This was called testing the stone and was a fun way to see the quality of the diamond. Also we did see the haunted portrait but of course as luck would have it, it sat very still on the wall and didn't even give the slightest shake.
We had brought along a picnic which we ate under one of many tress on the grounds and after spending almost two hours we left and headed back toward home. Along the way we stopped at another plantation in the area.


This one was called Sherwood Forest Plantation and was home to the 10th President of the United States John Tyler. Sherwood Forest Plantation has been the continuous residence of the Tyler family since the President purchased it in 1842. Known to be the longest frame house in America, it is over 300 feet long. The home itself is not opened to the public except by special reservations, but we were able to tour the grounds. The first thing we noticed when we came in was the Pet Cemetery. The Tyler's have been burying there beloved pets there since the time of John Tyler. There are two horses buried there along with a goat a duck and several dogs and cats. The house itself had glass doors which were open and all the curtains were open so we were able to peek into several rooms. I had not planned to visit this home so I didn't know the history of it. I found out later when I got home that there is a ghost in the house. I am glad I did not know at the time because we were the only ones on the grounds today (A family was leaving as we came in and one came in as we were leaving but other than that we were completely alone.)
We also found out that there are several other plantations in the area and we plan on going back up that way soon.

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Saturday, May 24, 2008

Looking forward to the weekend

Hello Everyone and happy Memorial Day weekend. I have to work today, and Monday but will be off tomorrow and plan to take full advantage to it. I have a big day planned and will be visiting the Shirley Plantation which is Virginia's first plantation. It was built in 1613 and is the oldest family-owned business in North America. "Construction of the present mansion began in 1723 when Elizabeth Hill, great-granddaughter of the first Hill, married John Carter, eldest son of Robert "King" Carter. Completed in 1738, the mansion, referred to as the “Great House,” is largely in its original state and is owned, operated, and lived in by direct descendants of Edward Hill".
From what I understand the tour includes both the "Great House" and grounds. It should prove to be a lot of fun and if I am lucky they might even throw in a haunted portrait. See my Other Blog for the story on that.
I will be posting photos of the day some time tomorrow night or Monday so be sure and stop back by. Enjoy your weekend.

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Friday, May 23, 2008

Aunt Pratt

Look where I am going on Sunday!
(They won't let you photograph in the house, but you know I will be back with loads of photos of the grounds)

PLEASE NOTE I STOLE THIS INFOMRATION FROM THE SHADOWLANDS WEBSITE AND IN NO WAY TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR IT, IT WAS WRITTEN ENTIRELY BY
Stacey Graham (WyntersMoon@theshadowlands.net)


Gracing the southern Virginian colony and commanding a view of the James River, Shirley Plantation began building in 1723 by Edward Hill III for his daughter, Elizabeth. Hill’s sister, Martha, had left for England to study, leaving behind an unsigned portrait of herself. A strong mouth and deep eyes dominated the painting, almost daring one to ignore its presence in the room. Martha later married an Englishman, Hugh Griffith, and remained in England. Though the portrait is known by the family as “Aunt Pratt,” no one seems to know the source of the name Pratt.

In 1858, long after Martha’s death, the family noticed the painting rocking violently against the wall above the mantel in a third story bedroom. Moving the noisy portrait to the attic only intensified its turbulent actions. Knocking was heard around the house and word got out that the plantation was infected with a rather boisterous picture. The Civil War soon surrounded the plantation and the residents of Shirley were caught up in the turmoil of having their home turned into a field hospital as General McClellan transported over 8,000 injured and dying men out of Virginia. With their access to the James River close by, injured men were transferred onto Union ships and the dead were buried in the family cemetery. There is no mention of Pratt’s activity during this time, they probably had more pressing matters to worry about.

After peace ensued, the portrait was taken out of storage in the attic and placed on the first floor in a place of honor for the old gal. Though happy for a while, it soon began its rocking and the hunt was on for someplace that the picture would remain quiet. Finally placing the picture in Martha’s second floor bedroom, it remained relatively quiet for the next few years.

In 1974, the Virginia Travel Council loaned the portrait with other items associated with psychic phenomena to an exhibit at Rockefeller Plaza in New York. Once placed in a display window, the picture began to rock so vigorously that the seal of Virginia, which was placed beside it, began to swing from side to side in front of spectators. Aunt Pratt made her national television debut on NBC-TV as a reporter on his way to lunch stopped by to see what all the ruckus was about and caught the rocking on tape. It caused such a disturbance that it was removed from the exhibit and crated up. The night shift reported hearing crying and rocking in the storage room. One morning it was found on the floor outside the storage locker, some thought she was making a break for the exit…

After being returned to Virginia, the portrait was taken to Linden Galleries in Richmond, Virginia to help repair the damage to the frame. While there, workers would tell of bells ringing, though there were no bells on the property. The portrait was finally placed back at Shirley Plantation and is seemingly happy in it’s second floor bedroom. Tours are available of the mansion though you may have to pay more to see the rocking… ;)

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Sky Watch Friday 5-23-08

Wow it is Friday again and time for



I always have a hard time finding something different to post a photo of that shows the sky. Let's face it you can only take so many photos of the sky before it starts to look the same so I try and find some place of interest to photograph along with the sky. This week I choose the Brandford Church Cemetery In Petersburg Virginia Now I am guessing not to many people will have a photo of cemeteries, but I happen to love them and this one is especially beautiful. Just look at those clouds against the blue sky. You have to admit it makes for beautiful resting place.





Be sure and visit Tom's for more great Sky Watch Friday Photos.

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Review of a tour I took in Colonial 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 on my Other Blog)

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 (Posting will be on my other blog.) 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.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

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.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Blandford Church

I LOVE, and I repeat. LOVE old cemeteries. One of the best I have ever been to is Blandford church in Petersburg VA.

Listed as one of the top ten most haunted cemeteries in the country. There are reports of running pursuits through the grave lots, soldiers shooting from behind the cover of the headstones and other creepy stuff. My daughter and I took my grandson there last July (he had just turned two in May) and while walking around he told us he saw a "Papa". When asked where the man came from he walked over to a grave stone and laid his hands on it. Right there he said. This would be the first of many sightings that my grandson tells us about. Later that same day we were looking at some deer that were grazing in the back area. We had taken my grandson out of his car seat and let him stand next to us in the car (We were the only ones there and we were going about 3 miles an hour) He suddenly gasp and told us he saw a man. When asked where he all most crawled out the car window trying to point to the front bumper of the car. It really spooked my daughter and I. It was almost dark and we decided we better get out of there. It was just getting to creepy.

Later that night my grandson woke her up (he was sleeping in her bed at the time) and told her there was a papa in the room with them. She was really alarmed. She said she was afraid to look and told him to put the covers over his head and go to sleep. The next day we burned some sage and she didn't have any more problems with him sleeping. Could the ghost from the cemetary have followed her home?

Anyway I plan on taking a trip back there again soon. In the mean time enjoy the photos.





(The following information came from the Internet)



The cemetery adjacent to Blandford Church has been used as a burial ground since the early eighteenth century. The oldest marked grave dates from 1702. Among the more noted individuals buried within the cemetery is one foreigner, Major General William Phillips, British citizen and commander of the British troops during the April 25, 1781 "Battle of Petersburg." Phillips died on May 13, 1781 in Petersburg following a fever that was most likely malaria or typhus. A memorial stone, erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1914, stands adjacent to Blandford Church, marking the general location of Phillips' secret burial, done at the direction of his deputy commander, Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. For more information on Petersburg's Revolutionary War history, follow the link on the left.



In June 1866, the first Memorial Day was celebrated in honor of the 30,000 Confederate soldiers buried on Memorial Hill inside the burial ground. For more information about Petersburg's Civil War history follow the link on the left.



The cemetery's gravestones, sculptures, and tombs represent a diverse array of eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century styles of funerary art. In addition, some plots feature exquisite examples of nineteenth century decorative iron fences. A walking tour, highlighting some of the monuments and burial sites in close vicinity of the Church is incorporated into the Church tour, weather permitting. More extensive cemetery tours are offered throughout the year, including a Halloween evening tour on October 31. Check the Calendar for additional information.



Begin your tour of Historic Blandford Church and Cemetery at the Blandford Visitors' Reception Center, 111 Rochelle Lane, Petersburg, VA 23803, (804) 733-2396. The reception center features a display of artifacts associated with the history of the Cemetery and Church as well as a gift shop.



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Read It

If your a fan of TAPS and the Ghost Hunters you have to read this book.




I checked it out from the library yesterday and I am almost finished with it..
Great stories!

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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.

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

A Ghostly Tale

In 1984, my husband and his now ex-wife lived at an old farmhouse that was on an acre of land in Oakhurst, NJ. They lived in the upstairs of the house along with her son and two daughters from a previous marriage.
They shared the home with friends who lived downstairs with their two children.
They shared the kitchen and both used the living room by dividing it with a blanket.

One time while they were living there the friends went out of town for a few days.
One of the nights while the friends were gone my hubby and the ex were upstairs in their bedroom watching TV. The kids were suppose to be asleep but one of them keep making noise and acting up so. They both dashed out the door, to the girl's room to scold her.

My husband glanced out of the corner of his eye, and saw what he thought was the downstairs roommates wife coming up the stairs, dressed in her white nightgown. When they got back from the daughters bedroom he asked his(ex)wife if the couple was back from their trip. She said, no, but she thought she saw her, too. When they looked downstairs, all the lights were off.

When the friends got back, they asked them if they had ever saw any ghosts in the house. The Male said that he saw ghosts through the blanket that separated his side of the downstairs from the living room, but only through shadows of what appeared to be people in the living room, partying. He just passed it off as him smoking too much pot.

Now for a bit of history on the house.
It seems when they moved in there was a large stain on the wall at the bottom of the stairs.
The wall was made of horsehair instead of sheet rock and no matter how many times they washed the stain it would always come back.

They eventually found out about the house. It had been built before 1900, and at some point a woman fell down the stairs, smashing her head against the wall at the bottom. After discovering what happened, they addressed the spirits in the house and told them there was no need to bother them because they weren't going anywhere. It must have worked because for the rest of the time they lived in the house, they weren't bothered anymore, but that stain stayed.

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ABC Wednesday-R

This week we are on the letter R and I would like to share a couple of photos of the (Peyton)Randolph House in Colonial Williamsburg. Below the photos is a story of some some of the "ghost" that are in the home. According to legend the home has over 20 spirits that haunt it.


FRONT



SIDE



In Williamsburg Colonial Village, the home faces market square, and is one of the original structures. This two story Colonial mansion was built in 1715 by Sir John Randolph. His family lived there throughout the 1700's, and was eventually sold to someone outside of the family. In 1824, Mrs. Mary Monroe Peachy owned the house. One of her children died after falling from the tree.

After the Civil War, a young orphaned soldier stayed with the Peachy family while he went to William and Mary College. He came down with tuberculosis and died there.

Many have heard the shattering of a mirror and the sound of heavy footsteps. In an upstairs room residents have awakened in the middle of the night, to see a white, shimmering, male figure.


Late at night in the small rear 2nd floor bedroom there have been reports of a thin old lady in a gown and laced night cap. Visitors reported that she would wake them up politely by calling them by their names, and then she would wring her hands and cry. Could this be Mrs. Peachy?

Allegedly, the Peyton Randolph House is home to as many as 23 ghosts. Many of the house’s most famous ghost stories center on children. In one such story, a little girl was killed after her ghostly best friend, Elizabeth, grew angry with her and threw her down the stairs. Doctors claimed that superhuman force would have been required to cause such a death, given that she had only fallen from the second floor

Historical information on the house:


The original structure of the Peyton Randolph House was built in 1715. Colonial Williamsburg's primary restoration of the home began in October 1938 and was completed in April 1940. More restoration of the main section was undertaken in June 1967 and was finished 12 months later. The center and west portions of the house opened for exhibition on July 1, 1968.
Original structure located at the corner of Nicholson and North England Streets
Built in 1715 by William Robertson
Sir John Randolph purchased the west wing in 1721
House willed to son Peyton Randolph
First restoration 1938-1940
Further restoration began in 1967
Center and west portions opened in 1968
Construction of outbuildings began in 1997
Rochambeau, Lafayette, and Washington among notable guests at the home

The deep red Peyton Randolph House is one of the oldest, most historic, and without doubt most beautiful of Colonial Williamsburg's original 18th-century homes.

The west wing of the impressive house has stood at the corner of Nicholson and North England Streets since about 1715. Among the historic figures that took shelter in the house were General Rochambeau and the Marquis de Lafayette.



William Robertson built the house that eventually became the west wing of the Peyton Randolph house. Sir John Randolph purchased the west wing in 1721. He bought the east lot for £50 on July 20, 1724 and had a home constructed there as well.

Sir John's son, Peyton Randolph, built a spacious and well-appointed two-story central section between the two houses. A hall with a large round headed window and a grand staircase connect single rooms on each floor. The first-floor parlor measures 19 feet square, and the bed chamber above has the same dimensions.



The southern face of the center section matches the appearance of the 29-foot-square clapboard house that makes up the west wing. The low-pitched hip roof of the west wing was extended across the addition but ends abruptly when it reaches the high gable of the dormered roof on the east wing.

Although the west and center sections of the house were connected by doors on both floors, there was no opening through the brick wall to the east wing. The east wing may have served as an office or a service building, or it could have been rented out. Demolished in the 19th century, the east wing was reconstructed by Colonial Williamsburg after the property was purchased in 1938.

The roof of the west wing was designed to funnel rain to two concealed two-log gutters, which apparently carried the water to a cistern. Only traces remain of this contrivance that may have leaked and was later covered by the roof. A chimney rises through the center of the wing, venting corner fireplaces in three rooms on each floor. The stairway passage is located in the southwest corner of each floor.



The center section contains some of the best surviving paneling in the city — some of it walnut — while unusually fine brass hinges and locks trim the parlor doors. The floor is mostly made of original edge-cut pine

Outbuildings supported household activity

A full complement of outbuildings stood to the north (in back), including a two-story brick kitchen, a stable for 12 horses, a coach house, and a dairy.



Sir John Randolph, the only colonial born in Virginia to be knighted, died in 1737. He left the house to his wife, Susannah Beverley Randolph, until their second son, Peyton, reached the age of 24. Their first son, Beverley, inherited property in Gloucester County; their third son, John, inherited acreage on the city's southern edge; and their daughter, Mary, received a dowry of £1,000. Susannah Beverley Randolph remained in the home until her death sometime after 1754.

Peyton Randolph, Speaker of Virginia's House of Burgesses in the years leading to the Revolution, brought his wife, Betty Harrison Randolph, to the home by 1751. It became a hub of political activity, and its owner Peyton Randolph was elected the presiding officer of the First Continental Congress at Philadelphia in 1774. An inventory taken at Peyton Randolph's death in 1775 indicates how the house was furnished and equipped.

Widow Betty Randolph opened her home to French general Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, when he arrived in Williamsburg with General George Washington to prepare for the siege of Yorktown in 1781. The house served as the French headquarters until they moved to the field.


Peyton and Betty Randolph had no children and, after her death and according to directions in Betty Randolph’s will, the house was sold at auction on February 19, 1783. A newspaper advertisement described it as "pleasantly situated on the great square." It was conveyed to the highest bidder, Joseph Hornsby, on February 21, and the proceeds were divided among Betty Randolph's legatees.

By 1824, the house was in the possession of Mary Monroe Peachy. She had the honor that year of lodging Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, when he visited the city on October 20 and 21 during a tour of America.

Colonial Williamsburg's primary restoration of the home began in October 1939 and was completed in April 1940. More restoration of the main section was undertaken in June 1967 and was finished 12 months later. The center and west portions of the house opened for exhibition on July 1, 1968.



For more great photos be sure and visit Mrs Nesbitts

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Grand Babies





My grandson turned three a few days ago. I can't believe how big he is getting.
Isn't he cute!

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Monday, May 19, 2008

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.

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Saturday, May 17, 2008

Do You Hear What I hear?

Hi Everyone
If you have a few minutes would you listen to this. I did a EVP today out at the farm where I took the photo of my ghost lady
I made a wave file out of the section I think I hear something in and wonder if anyone else hears it.
You can hear me ask the question.
Were you killed here.
At the end I hear what sounds like a whisper saying YES
I may be my imagination. I wanted an opinion
The second one is silence with what sounds like a whisper about half way though saying HIDE ME
This is a reverse of the original file.
Thanks for giving this a listen

http://www.badongo.com/file/9429933
HIDE ME

http://www.badongo.com/file/9429961

YES

Go to the link..Then open by downloading it, you then have the option to save or open..Just open and it will bring up what ever media player you use to listen to music

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Boxwood Inn


The Boxwood Inn, Newport News, VA
10 Elmhurst Street, Lee Hall Village, Newport News, VA (757) 888-8854
The gentle spirit here is said to be one of Nannie Curtis. Harmless activity is the norm, such as doors opening and closing on their own. She is also said to enjoy knocking on doors in the morning. Sleeping in is apparently not her idea of fun for this world. There is also an elderly gentleman, holding a cane, who appears on occasion.


This place is about 10 mintues from me. I have pased by it dozens of times and have never been inside. It is open as a bed and breakfast amd the rooms run around a hundred dollars a night. Maybe I will save some money so I can spend a night there sometime....But then again, I like to sleep late.

*Note This photo came off the web. I have never stopped to take one.

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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.

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Sky-Watch Friday



The clouds rolled in this evening threatening more rain, but soon passed by.


Be sure and visit Tom's for more great Sky Watch Friday Photos.

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

where is everyone?

I can't help but notice that I'm not getting as many comments on this blog as I use to get. I'm just curious, have all my readers dropped me and moved on to someone new and more exciting or are more people just reading through bloglines and similar programs like that? It's ok if you do and that is why my comments have slowed down. I read through bloglines myself so I don't always go to the blog to leave a comment. I just can't help but feel if no one is reading that I am wasting my time writting. Please let me know if your still around ok?

Come out Come out where every you are?

Thanks

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

ABC Wednesday


Wow time is flying and we are up to the letter Q on ABC Wednesday
I really had to think hard about this one. Not many words start with Q. At lest not something I would have a photo of. Then I remembered my sister's cat. Miss QUEEN
She is one spoiled darling as you can see.

Stop by Mrs Nesbitts Place to participate or view more great photos.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Public Gaol (Jail) and the Wagon of Death





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.

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