Priscilla Ridgely,

who was the wife of Charles Carnan Ridgely, suffered from constant, mental depression, took little interest in their 11 children, and spent a lot of time in seclusion up in her room, away from everyone. As time went on, she became more and more mentally unbalanced. She died a very unhappy woman.

a) She has been seen at Hampton House, dressed in a gray gown, wandering through the vast hallways, passages, and various rooms, places where she shied from during her painful life. She seems to be searching for the happiness she couldn’t find when she was alive. She has been seen by visitors, family members, and the Hampton House National Park Staff.

b) Many years after Priscilla died, a new bride of one of her descendants heard a faint, weak tapping at the front door. Opening the door, she found a “thin, frail woman,” dressed only in a plain dress and cap, with no coat, peering longingly through the opened door. The compassionate, kind young bride immediately invited this confused, wistful woman in to warm herself by the large fire in the fireplace. The woman quickly turned and vanished into thin air, right in front of the very surprised would-be hostess.

Cygnet Swann,

who lived in the 1800s, was the blue-eyed, blond haired, young daughter of Governor Swann. After surviving a serious illness, she came to stay at Hampton House, to fully recover in the country air. Governor Swann’s wife, Eliza, adored young Cygnet.

One morning, Cygnet came to breakfast, looking very pale, exhausted, with her hair matted, tangled around her face. She told Eliza about her terrifying dream, about being chased around a wheat field by a horrid man with a scythe, telling her he was going to kill her, one way or another. Eliza, trying to comfort the child, told her it was just a dream, and had her relax on the porch. That night Eliza staged a ball to cheer up young Cygnet. When she didn’t come down to join the party, a servant found her slumped over her dressing table, clutching her hair brush, dead. Her death was called “mysterious” by the doctor.

a) Cygnet has been seen by visitors, family members, and the National Park Staff over the years in her old northwest bedroom, sitting in her satin ball gown, combing her beautiful blond hair.

b) Harpsichord music has been heard coming from Cygnet’s bedroom.

Tom, the Faithful Butler –

Was born at Hampton House, and served the Ridgely family faithfully his whole life. He died around late 1890s -1900. It seems that he didn’t want to retire.

On a cold, January afternoon, during the 1920s or 30s, a young woman, fascinated by historical houses, decided to take the Ridgely’s up on their offer to “drop in anytime.” A “formerly dressed butler” answered the door. He told her that although the family was gone for the day, he would be glad to show her around. As he proceeded with the tour, he told her great details of the family history, identified family portraits and told stories of the people in them, which amazed and delighted his avid listener, who appreciated his devotion and his knowledge. When she tried to tip him, he told her that “I need for nothing.” Several days later, she called Mrs. Ridgely on the phone. Much to her surprise, she learned from Mrs. Ridgely, that currently there was no butler. Mrs. Ridgely identified the mysterious tour guide as being that of old Tom, who had served them for many years, but died thirty years ago.

Unknown Ghost # 1 –

Over the years, this specter is fond of roaming around the mansion, around midnight, opening doors. Family members, guests, and Hampton House National Park Service personnel have heard latches lifted, bolts withdrawn, doors opened, and the scrape of the iron bar that opens the main door to the Great Hall. When checked, nothing has been moved.

Unknown Ghost #2 –

The old tack room was rated the noisiest and busiest by Hampton House Park employees. In a room where the windows and doors are kept tightly closed, Rangers has heard chains being beaten against the walls, and when they check out the racket, they find that the saddles and harnesses are swinging merrily back and forth on the pegs in the walls as well. Some experts say that it may well be Jehu Howell, the original carpenter of Hampton House, who is haunting the tack room. In November of 1787, after being paid for work rendered, $6,000 and 68 quarts of rum, he got himself roaring drunk, and rode his horse into a rain-swollen creek, where he and the horse drowned.