Haunted Colonial Williamsburg – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
(content by Ben)
Williamsburg is a popular tourist destination for its colonial buildings and historic architecture. Today, though, I want to show you another side of Williamsburg – one that is often overlooked.
Most visitors are unaware that Williamsburg has a dark, sinister side. Besides being the birthplace of the American Revolution, Williamsburg has many haunted legends woven into its canvas.
Let’s take a quick walk around the lantern-lit streets of Colonial Williamsburg and stop at its most haunted sites.
The Peyton Randolph House
Peyton Randolph, one of the Founding Fathers, played an instrumental role in shaping the course of the revolution. He was President of the First and Second Continental Congresses and chaired the meeting during which Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.
The French general Marquis de Lafayette reported feeling a hand on his shoulder while sitting in the house. Upon turning around, he found nobody there. Other people who stayed in the house, which offered lodging in the 1900s, also reported feeling an eerie presence and other bizarre occurrences, including a hand tugging on them while sleeping.
A couple of children also died after falling from a tree and a window on this property.
But why is the Peyton Randolph House so haunted?
Locals believe that it’s due to the horrific treatment of the Randolph’s slaves by Betty Randolph. One of the slaves, who was separated from her son (they were sold to different people), reportedly cursed the house, and the curse stuck.
Merchants Square
Let’s now walk down W Nicholson and St. George Streets towards Merchants Square, a popular shopping district with dozens of stores and restaurants located along Henry Street.
In the 1860s, the Moore family lived in a small white house located along South Henry Street. A young 20-something-year-old inhabited it, Thomas Moore, who inherited the house from his older brother, a soldier who died during the Civil War. Thomas, who sported a thick mustache and was quite the ladies’ man, was often seen strolling around town with Constance Hall, his new girlfriend at the time.
Unfortunately for Thomas, Constance Hall was married. Whether he was aware of it is up for debate, as Constance’s husband was away for several months on business, but when Mr. Hall returned, all hell broke loose for Thomas.
Upon learning of the affair, Constance’s husband took out his rage and fury on Thomas, whom he beat to death in his own home. He later returned with Constance to bury the body in the basement, but it was later found, and suspicion immediately fell on Constance’s husband, who was seen leaving the house the last day Thomas was ever seen alive.
Thomas is still seen roaming around Merchants Square, looking for Constance. As for Mr. Hall, he confessed to the murder in exchange for taking all the blame, setting his wife free, and spending the rest of his life in prison.
The Kimball Theatre
The historic, tiny Kimball Theatre was recently named as one of the 50 Best Small Stage Theaters in America. Located in the heart of Merchants Square in Williamsburg, this small theater, which opened in the 1930s, is packed with stories.
However, the structure in which the theater is located existed long before the 1930s. Its simple facade, with a small poster announcing its presence, has seen a lot over the years.
During the Civil War, the building was inhabited by a widow by the name of Mrs. Ware. As the fighting from the Battle of Williamsburg intensified outside, Mrs. Ware took in a wounded Confederate soldier and cared for him. Unfortunately, the soldier died. Shortly after, a group of Union soldiers came to commandeer the building for their wounded.
That was common practice at the time. Army medics would set up shop in local buildings, including private residences, and treat those injured in battle.
The commanding officer of the group was notified that a Confederate soldier had died in the building. Upon pulling back the sheets, he saw, to his utter shock, that the soldier was, in fact, his very own brother. His brother had fought for the Confederate side.
With a troubled mind, the Union officer went back to join the battle, but, perhaps due to his lack of focus, or maybe because he lost the will to keep on living, he died in battle that day as well. Perhaps it was fate because now they were truly together, united in death. They are still seen taking a stroll outside the theater or sitting in the auditorium after hours.
Do you want to see all of Williamsburg’s haunted glory? Take a Williamsburg ghost tour for the full experience!
