Haunted History: New England

By Sara Welsh on October 15th, 2009

• Share
• Link to StumbleUpon
• 1 Comment

New England is the home of some of the original colonies.  The puritans landed searching for religious freedom, but with them they brought a deep fear in anything that goes bump in the night.  In this episode of Haunted History we explore the eerie background behind some of New England’s scariest haunted sites.

At the Benton Homestead, Jamima Barrows and Elijah Benton were destined to marry.  Elijah went off to war but promised he’d return.  He did, but with smallpox.  Jamima cared for him til his death then died herself of the disease before they were able to marry.  Strange happenings occur at the Benton Homestead to this day.  A writer in 1989 spent the night in the home in order to write a story of the haunted house.  She stated there were male voices coming from the basement and when she went to inspect the second floor, she felt a strong coldness and an oppressive pressure on her.  She even stated that she saw something watching her from the room Elijah Benton died in.  Are the long lost lovers still caring for each other in Elijah’s old home?

The Salem Witch Trials are a black spot on the history of Massachusetts.  It all started with two girls in 1692, screaming and twisting with seizures.  Soon enough, 141 women were arrested for witchcraft.  The governor finally stepped in after five men and 15 women were put to death.  The Joshua Ward house was the holding place of those accused in the trials.  The house was preserved and some years ago, Julie Tache bought the house for corporate offices.  Soon candle holders started turning over, tricks started being played on Julie and her partner, and a ghostly picture was taken of a figure at the front door.  Julie believes it’s a teenage girl who haunts and enjoys her playfulness.

One of America’s greatest authors, Nathaniel Hawthorne, was born and raised in New England and two of his houses are said to be haunted.  The place of his birth is said to be haunted by a young seamstress who wanders the house and is said to join tours on occasion.  The house Nathaniel spent most of his time in, The Seven Gables, was owned by his cousins the Ingersoles.  He was specifically close to Susanna Ingersole who was said to have allowed the house to be part of the underground railroad.  She died in the house at 72 and many have said she’s never left.

In Ashland, Massachusetts is John Stone’s Inn, built in 1884.  John Stone was the owner and apparently he killed a traveling salesman in a poker game and his guilty soul stays with the building.  Recently a woman ran out of the restaurant screaming that something had put cold hands on her neck.  John Stone is not alone as there’s a little girl who fills the halls with laughter and plays tricks like pulling beer taps and shattering ashtrays.  The regulars love the ghosts and the inn is the talk of the town.

I decided after watching this show that I want to be a Psychic Counselor.  They get to have all the fun it seems!