A beautiful Georgian home that is a recognized historic landmark in Williamsburg is a grand symbol of colonial American history. Still, inside its walls, the Wythe House carries many dark secrets about the kind souls who experienced tragic deaths there.
The Wythe House is one of the most enchanting and haunting locations in Williamsburg that all haunting enthusiasts should check out. If you are ready to experience the chills and thrills of Colonial Williamsburg’s most haunted places, be sure to book your tour with us at Colonial Ghosts today.
Who Haunts the Wythe House?
Inside the Wythe House is a dark and disturbing presence that staff members and visitors can’t ignore. The most popular spirit inside the home is that of a distinguished lady who lived a sad life, but the home is also haunted by the ghost of its former owner, who met a tragic and unfortunate fate.
The History of the Wythe House
Located in historic Colonial Williamsburg, the Wythe House is a testament to Georgian architecture and American history. The home was designed and built by Richard Taliaferro, who built it for himself and later gifted it to his daughter Elizabeth after she married George Wythe.
George was a prominent figure in the early days of the United States. He was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence from Virginia. George became a successful lawyer and was the first law professor at the College of William and Mary. He was also a mentor to Thomas Jefferson, who studied under Wythe after attending the college.
George and Elizabeth had no children of their own. Their only child died in infancy. The couple would often take in college students like Jefferson, who was an orphan at the age of 16. They would also allow friends and family members to stay with them for extended visits.
Sir Paten and Lady Ann Skipwith
The Skipwiths were a wealthy couple who visited George and Elizabeth regularly, and the couples often attended events together, such as parties at the Governor’s Palace. It was rumored at the time that Lady Ann was unhappy in her marriage to Sir Skipwith.
One evening during one of those events, she was seen fighting with her husband before leaving the venue in tears. Distraught, she ran from the Governor’s Palace down the street to the Wythe House.
While she was running home, she lost one of her red shoes. Once inside the home, she ran upstairs. The staff members could hear the distinct sound they described as a ‘clank-step’ one would make if they were only wearing one high-heeled shoe.
Lady Ann’s Tragic End
This is where the story of Lady Ann takes a turn, and the different versions of the legend get confused. There are some who claimed she died at the Wythe House the following day.
There is another version of the story that says she was murdered, and yet another says she committed suicide. Another version of the tale says she was pregnant and died bleeding to death while suffering a miscarriage.
Because it is well known that she was miserable in her marriage, she may have felt trapped and believed taking her life would be the only way to experience true freedom. Suicides were not reported often in colonial times so that ending is based more on theory than fact.
However her life ended, it was tragic, and many believe that her spirit still lingers around the Wythe Home because she died as her life was in such despair.
Lady Ann’s death was only one of the tragedies that occurred at the Wythe House. George Wythe unfortunately suffered from a horrid and traumatic death at the hands of his own family member.
The Harrowing Death of George Wythe
When people die under deliberate and cruel consequences, their spirits can become angry and relentless, as they don’t want to let go of the homes or the lives they have to leave behind. Because of the death George Wythe endured, it is believed that he, too, haunts his former home.
In 1806, George’s great nephew, George Wythe Sweeney, moved in with him and Elizabeth. Sweeney was considered a good-for-nothing by many of the people in the community, but still, George welcomed him into his home when he needed a place to stay.
Sweeney took advantage of his uncle’s kindness. He had many debts due to an obsession with gambling and would often forge George’s name on checks to pay them off. He was next in line to inherit the majority of George’s estate and apparently was tired of waiting for fate to take its course.
Sweeney came up with a plan to poison George. After the cook, Lydia Broadmax had prepared oatmeal to serve for breakfast to George and a former slave, Michael Brown, who was staying with the Wythes, she saw Sweeney tamper with the food by adding something to it.
Michael died almost immediately after consuming the food, but George was able to hold on for two weeks. However, he was in an intense amount of pain throughout his final days. He knew who carried out the horrible deed, and fortunately, he was able to change the terms of his will before he died.
The Downfall of George Wythe Sweeney
Sweeney was arrested for the murder of his uncle but was later set free even with the testimony of the cook proving he was guilty. The reason why her testimony couldn’t be entered into a court of law was because she was a black woman.
Although the court excused Sweeney, the public believed Broadmax’s testimony and shunned Sweeney from their community. He left the city of Richmond as a despised and penniless man.
The Hauntings of the Wythe House
Along with its historic significance, the Wythe House has earned a great reputation for being a local hotspot for ghostly encounters. Over the years, there have been many sightings of the spirits of both Lady Ann and George Wythe at the house.
Visitors have reported feeling a drop in temperature as they walk through the house, while others have claimed to hear disembodied voices and unexplained noises in the halls. The apparitions of George and Lady Ann have been seen by many.
Lady Ann’s Shoes
According to legend, when visitors of the house kneel in front of the closet where Lady Ann’s spirit dwells and speak, “Lady Skipwith, Lady Skipwith, I found your red shoe.” Her ghost will rush over with a loud noise in an attempt to retrieve it. Her apparition has been known to come in and out of her bedroom closet, dressed in a lavish satin gown and red shoes.
The closet door will also swing open in her former bedroom, and visitors have reported smelling the sweet scent of her favorite lavender perfume. Guests have also noticed the lady sitting at her dressing table, combing her hair.
A custodian once saw a highly detailed and lifelike apparition of a colonial woman in an evening gown standing at the staircase. He initially believed she was a tour guide working at the house. He went over to speak to her and was shocked when she evaporated into thin air.
The Vengeful Spirit of George Wythe
It has been said that the spirit of Geroge Wythe will show up around the day of his death on June 8th each year. Wythe is a vengeful spirit often in a bad mood on that particular day. A few years ago, when the house was used as a bed and breakfast, guests staying in George’s former room reported feeling a cold and firm hand press against their foreheads.
At other times, however, the spirit of George Wythe is much calmer. He visits his former home, reliving the good times, and will often have fun with the living by tapping them gently on the shoulder to get a kick out of their reactions.
Haunted Williamsburg
As one of the first colonies in the United States, Williamsburg has a rich history that is filled with some dark and disturbing moments. From murders and tragic deaths like those of George Wythe and Lady Ann to death from incurable diseases and the casualties of war. The spirits of those who died due to unfortunate circumstances still haunt areas of Williamsburg, making it one of the most haunted towns on the East Coast.
If you would like to find out more about the history behind the most haunted places in Williamsburg and surrounding areas, be sure to check out our regularly updated blog. And for even more thrills schedule your next ghost tour with us here at Colonial Ghosts.
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Sources:
- https://williamsburgghosttour.com/george-wythe-house/
- https://hauntedhouses.com/virginia/george-wythe-house-museum/
- https://www.habituallychic.luxury/2020/02/george-wythe-house/
- https://spinnakerresorts.com/the-wythe-house-a-glimpse-into-colonial-history-and-haunting-legends/
- https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/wythe-the-death-of-george-1806/