The Ghosts of Williamsburg...And Nearby Environs

by L.B. Taylor Jr.

Dare you not believe?
The wispy appearance of a love-sick young maiden who died nearly 250 years ago.. The haunting return of a French soldier who was killed during the Revolutionary War.. The mysterious "curse tree" which separated husband and wife in their graves.. The strange portrait which moved about on its own.. These and other examples of inexplicable psychic phenomena are chronicled in this book.
Are the stories true?
Judge for yourself.

Genres: Ghosts, Paranormal, Nonfiction, History, Ghost Stories, Horror, Travel

84 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Williamsburg resident L.B. Taylor, Jr., is credited with 50 non-fiction books, including 25 enormously popular collections of Virginia ghost stories.

He earned his journalism degree from Florida State University, served in the U.S. Army, and later covered spaceflight missions for NASA. As a freelance writer, he wrote more than 300 articles throughout his career and his retirement.

While his popular non-fiction books cover diverse subjects, from pirate treasure to electronic surveillance, his ghost story collections set him firmly in Virginia libraries, schools, and homes.

Reviews

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the 22nd printing from 2003 but nothing seems to be updated. Use this book not as a travel guide but as a book of mildly spooky and entertaining stories. While I don't believe in psychics or hauntings (heard too many behind the scenes stories about those popular TV shows and met some phony so-called psychics), I enjoyed reading these stories during the week of Halloween. However, reading with a critical eye, I believe if there ARE such things as spirits, I fully expect some of the feelings of sadness and anger people feel are coming from the spirits of enslaved people. Not once does Mr. Taylor mention that as a possible theory. There are some BRIEF mentions of "servants" (quotes mine) and slaves but no commentary. The stories blithely mention plantations and the current owners, some of whom are descendants of the original owners from the colonial period. There is ONE story of the Brafferton Indian School (William & Mary) that comments on the atrocities committed against the indigenous people of Virginia. Other stories only mention attacks on white settlers by Indians. In this respect the book is very dated.

There are lots of military ghosts from long-ago wars, one "mad" woman and some heartbroken women. Was the mad woman really mad or merely unconventional? It sounds to me like she may have had dementia. There's also one unsolved mystery-one I was intrigued by on my first trip to Williamsburg as a young teen. Who carved "oh fatal day!" in the window of the President's house with a diamond? Was it really one of the Tyler girls?

These stories are best told by candlelight and lantern light on the spot but if you can't travel to Williamsburg, imagine yourself out in the middle of nowhere (in reality in the center of a small college town) without electric street lamps, only fires burning in braziers and people carrying lanterns. That's how best to appreciate these stories. I'm more willing to believe in them when I'm there.

I did enjoy reading the history of the supposedly haunted places especially only 2 years after my last visit to Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love ghosts! and since I lived in williamsburg, VA for 2 1/2 years, these books were great. i actually drove, lived, or could visit many of these haunted places.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

We purchased this book after going on a candlelight, "ghost" tour on our honeymoon. The stories are even more interesting when you've walked through the areas where the ghosts supposedly haunt.

[Karen Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Especially fun to read if you're going to visit Williamsburg.

[Skip Unger · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of LB Taylor's earlier efforts and a shorter one than most. But as with all his ghost folklore books, eminently enjoyable although some of the tales here reappear in subsequent tomes. But Williamsburg is an uniquely rich area in history with a lot of ghost folklore connected to the very beginnings of our republic. Recommended, especially if you are only up for a short read on Virginia ghost folklore.

[Mandy Helfer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really bad editing

[Sarah Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice little book filled with rich history and spooky tales of ghosts. It's an easy and intriguing read. I really enjoyed it!

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found neither the stories or writing style compelling.

[Eric Burroughs · Rating 1 out of 5]

History wasn’t good prior to ghost stories and it wasn’t redeemed by the ghosts either

[Katie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little book. I've had it for years but never read it.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy read. Must read for ghost fanatics visiting Williamsburg.

[fried.rambutans · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're visiting Colonial Williamsburg, don't just buy the scented homemade soaps or the souvenir magnets, don't just stop by to admire the old structures or the famed Governor Palace. Buy one of these ghost storybooks and try to visit one of the sites mentioned.



I didn't have enough time to visit the surrounding areas of Colonial Williamsburg - I should have! The 'burg is becoming touristic and doesn't feel as authentic as I've expected (though I wouldn't miss its Civil/Revolutionary War battle re-enactment), and the only thing I enjoyed is the quaint souvenir shops and the Barnes & Nobles of College of William & Mary. If you have a lot of time in your hands, try visit Sherwood Forest on your way out (assuming you're taking the scenic route and staying clear of I-95 traffic) - it's the home of two former US Presidents - and Shirley Plantation. I'm sure there are enough sightings for those looking for paranormal activities there! Plus, the Williamsburg area, including the vast wheat fields that hug the area, used to be battlefields of the bloody Civil War, where many people from both the Union and Confederates army lost their lives fighting each other. See if you dare going about the lonely service roads after sundown!

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, something about the way Taylor writes this made my attention wane. It's the same way with the Ghost of Williamsburg tour that is based off this series of books. Well intentioned, yet somehow boring in parts. I think it is because the stories are presented half in story form (no specific details, lot's of 'it is said', 'she may have' 'perhaps')and half filled with historical background and data. By the time the author gets to the ghost part the chapter is over. Also, it's called The Ghost of Williamsburg...and Nearby Environs but it really should be flipped. Most of the stories are about the surrounding areas and the College of William and Mary and a few sprinkling stories about the town in between.

[Molly Crumbley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colonial Williamsburg is one of my absolute favorite places on this earth, and my husband and I jump at the chance to go whenever we can, especially in the fall. The reason: cool weather, Halloween attractions at Busch Gardens, and ghost tours.

All year, Williamsburg offers candlelight ghost walking tours in which costumed guides lead you around the town and share some delightfully creepy tales. Those stories are all published in a series of volumes called The Ghosts of Williamsburg. They’re all quick and spooky and teach you a good dose of history to boot.

Next time you’re in the area, go on a tour and pick up a copy to take home and enjoy all October!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My parents picked this up for me near Carter's Grove when it was new (probably around 1984). At the time, I thought it was near about the neatest thing ever written, and proceeded to spend the rest of our trip to Tidewater Country plaguing tour guides with questions about the phenomenon in the book.

Now that I am no longer seven or eight years old, I realise to a great extent this book sort of glazes over cases, and omits a lot of information, but it's a nice overview or a neat tourist take away for anyone planning to visit the Colonial Williamsburg region.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was not impressed at all. The author concentrated more on the history surrounding the legends than the ghosts themselves. The writing wasn't that great and the editing was shoddy; I found quite a few typos. I do have one positive thing to say about the book - it inspired me to find a better one on the subject, as well as more about the history of the area.

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the ghost tour I took in Williamsburg that used this book in part, this presents interesting history as well as ghost stories for an enjoyable look at some of the houses in Williamsburg, Yorktown and the James River Plantations.

[Travis Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really started getting into some of the local history of Colonial Williamsburg. Great book, full of neat stories about on of the most important cities in early America of it's time.

[Matthew Cirilli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite short (about 80 pages) but it includes some excellent ghost stories. The writing is in the style or reporting rather than story telling.