New Jersey Hauntings

Have you encountered the Headless Hessian in the Great Swamp?

It's the spooky Halloween season. I wrote on another blog about why we think that ghosts say BOO, and about some history of ghosts. Think globally, but be ghostly locally. Here are 5 Garden State ghostly tales for Halloween. If you’re feeling brave, many of these sites are open to the public. Bring along a flashlight and a healthy dose of skepticism. One of the most frightening things I've seen this month is the price of Halloween candy!

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🪓 The Devil’s Tree – Bernards Township

This solitary oak in a quiet field has a reputation darker than its bark. Legend says a farmer murdered his family and hanged himself from the tree, cursing it forever. Locals claim snow won’t stick to the ground around it, and anyone who tries to chop it down meets a mysterious end. The tree reportedly radiates warmth even in winter—because apparently ghosts don’t believe in seasonal chill.   horrorhistory.net. 

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🏴‍☠️ The Ghost of Captain Kidd – Sandy Hook

The infamous pirate Captain William Kidd allegedly buried treasure along Sandy Hook’s coast—and stuck around to guard it. His ghost is said to wander the beaches at night, dragging chains and scaring off treasure hunters. If you hear clinking metal while stargazing on the beach, maybe skip digging in the sand.   horrorhistory.net.

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👻 Phyllis Parker – Perth Amboy & Bernardsville

Phyllis Parker’s story is a tragic one. In Bernardsville, she’s said to haunt the old Parker Tavern (now the library), mourning a lost lover who was hanged and buried in a cellar coffin. Visitors report seeing her ghostly figure and feeling an overwhelming sense of sorrow. In Perth Amboy, her grave is also a hotspot for spectral sightings.    horrorhistory.net and Mr. Local History Project.

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🕯️ Shippen Manor – Oxford

Built in 1755, this Revolutionary War-era estate is haunted by a young boy in period clothing, a woman’s torso (yes, just the torso), and a ghostly soldier. Paranormal investigators have recorded whispers, doors opening on their own, and other classic haunted house antics.    horrorhistory.net 

Finally, we have the Headless Hessian of the Great Swamp. Some say Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman was actually inspired by a local legend and there is some evidence to support that (watch the video below). The Headless Hessian haunts the Great Swamp near Morristown and has been known to be joined by witches, wandering mothers, and the occasional Jersey Devil cameo.   

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