The city of Williamsburg, Virginia, was once the center of political activity, playing prominent roles both before and during the American Revolution. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry met here to discuss important matters such as taxes, slavery, and the rights of men. Since the 1930s, Williamsburg has been restored and reconstructed thanks to the generous efforts of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. It is now a historic district, preserving many key locations essential to America’s past.
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The Haunted Past of Williamsburg, VA
With its long history of being on the forefront of our country’s revolution, Williamsburg has seen its share of horrific death, inequity, and destruction. It is no secret that this city is filled with many locations that bear witness to these past tragedies. If you love good ghost stories or memorable takes on historical events, you should check out these haunted places the next time you are visiting Williamsburg, Virginia.
The Public Hospital aka Eastern State Hospital
Centuries ago, the first mental asylums in the U.S. were known as “public hospitals.” These facilities were used to provide extensive psychiatric treatment for patients throughout the nation. Unfortunately, in the early days of mental healthcare, many patients did not receive the quality care one would hope. This was especially true at Williamsburg’s Public Hospital, now known as Eastern State.
Many claim the patients were treated worse than prison inmates and received cruel punishments that included isolation inside small, barred cells. They endured horrific living conditions, were forced to sleep on the floor, and had to involuntarily take a large number of drugs that were often experimental.
Dr. John Minson Gait II offers relief for patients
Things started to turn around for the asylum in 1841 when John Minson Galt II became the superintendent and improved the conditions of the hospital for patients, ensuring they were treated with the utmost respect. However, when the Battle of Williamsburg began, Gait was forced from his position as Union soldiers took over the hospital.
John was devastated for his patients, and many believe he took his own life due to being so distraught over the situation. It’s been said he overdosed on opiates that caused his brain to burst, leaving behind a puddle of blood on the floor. He was found dead inside his home located on the grounds of the hospital.
The ghost of Dr. Gait
Soon after Gait’s death, the Lee family moved into his former home. Mrs. Lee stated she tried everything to get the blood stains out of the wooden floor, but they just wouldn’t come out. So she replaced the damaged portion with new wooden boards. The next morning, she discovered the bloodstain had somehow returned.
Mrs. Lee also said her children would wake her up at night, claiming there was a man in the upstairs bedroom where John Gait had died. Years later, the house was torn down. However, it’s been said that the spirit of Dr. Gait simply moved from one residence to another; he now resides at the asylum.
The Public Gaol aka the Public Jail
When the City of Williamsburg became the capital of Virginia in 1699, there was a need for a jail to be built. The city officials believed they only needed a small jail and never intended to house a large number of murderers or thieves. Therefore, they wanted to keep the design simple.
Initially, the jail only had three rooms: two cells for inmates and one for the jailer. It wasn’t long before the officials realized the city had more criminals than they originally thought. The small building wouldn’t support all of those who had been sentenced to serve their time.
An exercise yard and additional building were added, but it didn’t do much to improve the quality of the jail. The food served to inmates was terrible, the cells were so cold that many prisoners froze to death, and overall the building was extremely unsanitary, with prisoners and jailers ending up with terrible diseases such as typhus.
The arrest of an infamous pirate’s crew
One thing the officials of Williamsburg may not have accounted for was the havoc they would endure once they captured the crew of the infamous pirate Blackbeard.
When Blackbeard sailed his ship Queen Anne’s Revenge to the Carolinas, Virginia governor Alexander Spotswood was ready for him. He ordered Lieutenant Robert Maynard to capture Blackbeard and his crew. As a bloody hand-to-hand combat took place, the pirate captain was killed.
There are some who say that Governor Spotswood displayed Blackbeard’s skull on a pike on the banks of the Hampton River in hopes of scaring away other scallywags and freebooters from the harbor. As for the fifteen crew members who survived the attack, they were all taken to the Public Gaol in Williamsburg to stand trial.
The corrupt governor Hamilton
Another famous inmate of the Public Gaol was Governor Henry Hamilton, who was known to forge friendships with Native Americans. He also allegedly helped them with their raid parties. He was captured and held at the jail as he awaited trial. He received the same brutal treatment as other inmates, as he was shackled in a small cell. It’s believed that his restless, vengeful spirit haunts the cells of the jail this very day.
The haunting at the jail
There are numerous hauntings reported at this jail. The spirits of the inmates who died at the old jail due to the cruel environment are thought to haunt the small building. Some visitors have reported seeing the apparitions of two women roaming throughout the jailer’s quarters upstairs. People have heard the ladies having a conversation and even laughing at times. They have also heard the sound of heavy footsteps following them around, possibly the heavy boots of the ghost of Blackbeard himself.
The Kimball Theatre
The Kimball Theatre opened in January of 1933 and was known as the Williamsburg Theatre. It was inspired by Williamsburg’s colonial era in an attempt to bring together the city’s culture, history, and commerce in an entertaining way. The theater was a success and hosted many live events, including light shows and fireworks. It was also a first-run cinema until 1989, when it was converted into an art house, devoted to showing classic and foreign second-run films.
However, before it became a place of entertainment, the Kimball Theatre was a residential home with a very unsettling past.
The Ware house
During the Civil War era, the theater belonged to a widowed woman named Mrs. Ware. Following the devastating Battle of Williamsburg, the once peaceful colonial city was filled with the bodies of dead and wounded soldiers from both sides of the war. The number of those who were injured or killed during the battle exceeded 4,000 men.
Mrs. Ware took in a wounded Confederate soldier who was lying outside her home. She did everything she could to help him recover, but he later succumbed to his injuries and died. She covered his body and went to find help to remove the body so he’d be properly buried.
Union soldiers soon arrived and took over Mrs. Ware’s home, turning it into a makeshift hospital. She welcomed them in and let them know about the dead Confederate soldier she had tried to help. The commanding officer went to inspect the body and slowly pulled away the blanket covering him. He stared back in horror at the mangled face of his younger brother.
The ghostly duo who haunt the theatre
The two brothers from Virginia had joined opposing sides during the early days of the war. The Union commander was heartbroken to find his brother had lost his life. He was later killed in the war as well. Several people have reported seeing two men at the theater, wandering both inside and outside, wearing Civil War-era uniforms.
They sometimes appear to vanish through the walls and have also been seen sitting quietly in the theater, enjoying a show. There are other restless souls said to linger inside the theater, many believed to be other soldiers from the war. Guests and staff members alike have reported strange activity over the years.
One of the most common ghostly encounters happens in the ladies’ restroom, where toilets will flush on their own and faucets turn on and off. There are some who believe these mischievous acts are the two brothers having fun pranking the patrons.
Merchant’s Square
The historic Merchant’s Square marketplace in Williamsburg has a haunted past that’s intertwined with a clandestine love affair. According to the story, there was once a small white home on Henry Street that belonged to a man named Thomas Moore, who inherited it from his older brother when he tragically died in the war. Thomas was known to be a womanizer, and one day a lovely young woman named Constance Hall caught his attention.
The tragic tale of Constance and Thomas
Thomas and Constance were soon inseparable and enjoyed each other’s company as they spent their days in town. It was no secret that they were a couple, and their relationship continued for three months until it was viciously ended by Constance’s husband.
Mr. Hall, who was believed to be out of town on business, found out about the affair when he returned to Williamsburg. He was obviously furious and stormed into Thomas’ home, killing him and fleeing the home before getting caught. He threatened Constance and forced her to help him hide Thomas’ body. They placed the body in the basement and were seen by neighbors as they exited the home.
The neighbors knew something wasn’t right when they noticed Thomas hadn’t left his home in several days. They contacted the police, who searched the home and eventually found his body in the basement. Constance and her husband were arrested, and Mr. Hall eventually confessed to the murder in exchange for giving Constance her freedom. He spent the rest of his days in prison while Constance was free, but her reputation was ruined. She fled Williamsburg and never returned.
People say Merchant Square is now haunted by the ghost of Thomas Moore. He spends the afterlife walking the streets, searching for Constance in the places they once walked together as well as inside his former home.
The George Wythe House
George Wythe House was constructed for the elite members of the colony in 1753. This elaborate brick mansion was presented as a gift to George Wythe from his father-in-law.
Wythe was the very first law professor in the United States, and he was also a mentor to President Thomas Jefferson. Additionally, he was also the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence from the state of Virginia. His home served as headquarters to General George Washington, who he was close friends with, prior to the Battle of Yorktown.
A residence with so much rich history and owned by a regal citizen of Williamsburg may not initially seem to be a dark and haunted location. But when you learn about the story behind this old mansion, you will soon understand why so many locals stay far away from the Wythe House.
There are some who say the ghost of George Wythe haunts the home seeking vengeance for his gruesome murder in 1805. But the house is also known to be haunted by one of the most legendary ghosts in Williamsburg, Lady Ann Skipwith.
The legend of Lady Ann Skipwith
Peyton and Ann Skipwith were among the elite citizens of the colony and would visit George at his home often. One evening, the three of them attended an event at the Governor’s Palace. It was during the event that onlookers noticed quarreling between Ann and her husband. According to the story, Lady Ann was seen in tears as she fled the palace and ran down the street, heading back to George Wythe’s house.
On her way there, she lost one of her red shoes, but she kept going. As she reached the house and ran up the stairs, she made a distinctive sound that the servants heard: a clanking noise that one would make if they were only wearing a single high heel shoe.
The story becomes unclear from this point, as it has been retold over the years and the facts have become twisted. There are some versions of the tale that say Lady Ann died in the home the following day. Others say she was murdered, while a different version says she committed suicide. Still other versions of the story say she was buried in the Bruton Parish Cemetery.
And there are some locals who claim that none of those versions are true and Lady Ann Skipwith didn’t die in the Wythe House at all, but instead died three months later during childbirth. No matter which story is true, it is believed her ghost haunts the Wythe home and the circumstances of the night at the Governor’s Palace are scandalous.
According to the story, it is believed she became upset at the party because she found her husband was having an affair with her sister. And immediately following her death, Peyton Skipwith ended up marrying Ann’s sister. The betrayal of her husband and sister makes the idea that Lady Ann committed suicide more believable. It also makes it possible that Peyton Skipwith killed her so he could be free to move on with her sister.
If you can’t get enough of ghostly tales or hearing about historic haunted locations, you should book a local Williamsburg ghost tour!
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