Wythe House Ghosts - Williamsburg, VA
Building Called the Most Haunted in the Living Village Museum
Mar 14, 2009
The Wythe House (pronounced “with”), constructed circa 1750, was designed as a wedding gift for George Wythe, America's first law professor, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson’s mentor.
It was General George Washington's headquarters before the Yorktown siege and French General Rochambeau’s after the victory. Thomas Jefferson and his family lived there as well.
Goodwin and Wythe House Ghosts
The Reverend Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin, is given credit for the idea of reconstructing Colonial Williamsburg. He told a newspaper reporter that he didn’t give a “hoot” for people who didn’t believe ghosts existed. Goodwin wrote that he wasn’t alone in what had been the Bruton Church Parish House. Apparitions, with whom he communicated, were described as his companions.
Wythe House Ghosts
There’s a plethora of paranormal incidents that have been reported at the Wythe House, including a specter passing through a railing, apples flying off a Christmas decoration, phantoms, Colonial men in wingback chairs by a fireplace, seeing blue lights and sightings of a scowling man in 1700 attire pacing outside the library.
In fact, aa guest fainted after she saw a woman pass through a bedroom over the parlor and disappear through the wall near the closet. More detailed accounts include:
- Ann Skipwith’s ghost. She was a former resident. While rumor had it she died by suicide, fact is she died during childbirth. Her ghost has been sighted combing her hair. A custodian saw a colonial woman, believed to be Ann, in an evening gown standing on the staircase. Thinking she was a guide, he went over to talk to her. She vanished. Some witnesses have heard clicking footsteps climbing a staircase and believe it’s Ann. A Wythe House employee, male friend and girl with psychic ability decided to visit and summon Ann’s spirit, but the girl grew scared and they left. When they reached the Bruton churchyard wall, the trio looked back at the house and saw a woman in a white shift peeping out from a second story window, then fade away.
- There are cold spots at the top of the stairs. While walking through one, an employee felt a presence trying to push her. A hostess felt tapping on her shoulder, but saw no one. Another employee heard furniture being moved around when the house was empty.
- An employee was counting visitors while she sat on a chair at the back of the hallway when she smelled perfume and thought that a guest was wearing it. After the group left, she smelled the perfume again in the empty room. A worker heard chairs being dragged around in the empty parlor and smelled the same fragrance when she went to its doorway.
- A staff member was placing lit candles on windowsills when she heard heavy footsteps upstairs. She investigated. The rooms were empty. The ghostly footsteps resumed below, so she returned to the kitchen. The candle on its windowsill had been moved to a table. Then, the exterior door opened but no one entered the room. When another employee was preparing the kitchen for a tour, the door and outside gates kept mysteriously opening and shutting.
- A re-enactor opened a door to the basement break room when she felt pressure behind her knees and sat on the top step. When she turned to her left, she saw a mirror reflecting a red-haired woman’s image. When she turned to her right, she saw the lady whose reflection she had seen sitting beside her. The phantom smiled and faded away.
Related Reading on Hauntings and Ghosts
Looking for more articles on hauntings and ghosts? Read Black Cat Haunts Capitol Building, along with Ghosts of Fort Monroe and Ghosts! Haunted Capitol Building.
Source:
- Haunted America, Michael Norman & Beth Scott, (Tor, 1994).
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