Most Haunted Places in America: Wedgefield Plantation

Built sometime before 1750, Wedgefield Plantation is one of the oldest plantations in the country, dating back around the time Georgetown was first settled by Europeans in colonial South Carolina. It is the final resting place of a now-famous British dragoon who was wretchedly killed and haunts Wedgefield Plantation to this day.

The plantation was purchased in 1762 by a considerably wealthy gentleman with a lot of influence in business and politics, though he never took interest in holding office himself. He had a second home built on the property, the first being a cottage and the second being just as simple, but much more lavishly decorated.

When the Americans decided to declare independence from Great Britain, the owner of Wedgefield Plantation remained neutral. The majority of his family sided with the revolutionaries, but most of his business ventures required England’s support. Caught on the fence, he inadvertently assisted both sides back and forth until British soldiers invaded Georgetown and he pledged support to them. His family was furious, dubbing him a traitor.

His daughter supported the colonies, but chose not to voice her opinions to him. Instead she became one of General Francis Marion’s best spies, receiving and delivering information via letters hidden in the Prince George Church cemetery, which adjoined Wedgefield Plantation.

Though Georgetown was relatively small, it was the setting for a multitude of lavish homes, which resulted in a notable overcrowding problem as the war waged on, and more British soldiers needed living quarters. Every home, including Wedgefield Plantation, was required to provide space for them, regardless of who they supported. Some owners were even moved to smaller homes outside of town, forced to give up their larger abodes to the British army.

The larger homes – Wedgefield Plantation being one of them – were converted into hospitals as wounded troops poured in. Every inch of space was claimed to tend to the injured, and still there was not enough capacity.

Wedgefield Plantation became the residence of the wounded, influential prisoners of war and guards. One of the prisoners was considered extremely important by General Francis Marion as he had been highly involved in the colony’s war plans. He was also old and a bit senile at times. It was feared that he would inadvertently reveal information to the enemy.

Marion had his whereabouts tracked down and an elaborate plot to rescue him, and the other American prisoners held at Wedgefield Plantation, went into effect. All of the guards were lured away by an invite to dinner at nearby Mansfield Plantation, leaving a single guard on duty that night. As Marion’s brigade road up to Wedgefield, the guard was caught completely unaware that the enemy was approaching.

Just as he realized what was happening, he drew his pistol and took aim. The target raised his pistol as well and both fired, but neither’s aim was true. Instead, a cavalryman beheaded the guard with his blade. The guard is said to have remained on his feet, staggering like a chicken with its head cut off. The site was so awful that those who were present told stories of it for years thereafter. The guard was buried on Wedgefield Plantation in the garden.

The ghastly apparition of the British soldier’s ghost is said to haunt Wedgefield Plantation in the evening, just before dusk. It is always preluded by the thundering of horses’ hooves approaching the house, or a sound like chains dragging across the front porch. It is quite a sight to behold, and horrifies all who’ve witnessed it as the headless dragoon teeters about, pistol in hand, looking for his head. The apparition is said to disappear as quickly as it materializes.

Some claim to have seen the ghost of the British guard pacing the porch late at night, head intact. Though disquieting, this vision is not nearly so frightening as when he appears at headless at dusk.

The apparition is no longer seen on or near the porch of Wedgefield Plantation, but is occasionally reported in the spacious gardens where the original home once stood. In 1930 the old Wedgefield Plantation home was demolished and a new, much larger home was built in its place.

Disembodied voices and strange noises are sometimes heard within the new Wedgefield Plantation home; some say haunted by the centuries-dead guard curiously exploring the new residence.

Related posts:

1. The Myrtles Plantation Ghosts
2. Ghosts of Oak Alley Plantation
3. The Haunts of Gaineswood Plantation
4. The Haunting of the Ames Plantation
5. The Haunting’s at Woodlawn Plantation