Portsmouth: Molly Malone’s Pub

Portsmouth in New Hampshire is the 3^rd oldest city in the United States. In the 1800s it hosted over forty brothels that serviced the thousands of seamen that visited this port every week.

Molly Malone's when it was open.

Molly Malone’s is an Irish Pub that once was located on the second floor of a building in downtown Portsmouth. The building that housed this pub was one of these brothels. It is said the fancy ladies that worked at this location in the 1800s and early 1900s would perch or hang out the 2nd-floor windows to attract their clientele.

As patrons would walk up the stairs to enter the pub they passed several portraits of these working ladies.

A recent owner of this pub, Jeff Cutter feels the bar still hosts two of these fancy ladies. He calls them “the ladies.” On several occasions, he saw these two spirits looking out the pub’s windows late at night.

He states they were attempting to get the attention of those passing by on the street below. Cutter describes them as lovely, wearing 19th-century gowns and waving to people who walk along State Street.

Besides Cutter, several people who work or live in neighboring buildings have reported seeing these two ghosts. Two sisters both in the nineties, state they often saw the two ghostly women peering out the pub’s windows.

Cutter mentioned that the ladies liked to play pranks. At the end of night shifts employees would often find one of the 1^st floor Ladies restroom stall doors locked from the inside.

This baffled everyone because these stall doors have slide locks and the doors reach to one and a half inches from the floor so it would be impossible for someone to lock them from the outside--not being able to crawl underneath.

The first few times this happened Cutter recounts they broke down these doors, thinking a female patron must have passed out inside the stall from drinking too much Guinness, only to find no one there.

Molly Malone's Bar

Cutter’s two ladies also liked to mess with the kitchen staff. Cooks often had their arms tugged and one cook recounts an incident involving the kitchen radio.

A dishwasher remarked he liked the song playing on this radio. The cook then noticed the volume on the radio turned up. No one was by it, but he saw the radio’s dial turning on its own.

In a finale note Cutter remembers the ladies always were protective of him. He recounts two separate instances that happened while his silent partner visited the bar.

The first time he and his partner--who rarely came to the pub--were having a heated argument. They stopped when a stack of glasses at the end of the bar flew off in the direction of his partner. Several witnesses saw this happen.

Two weeks later a similar incident occurred. The two men were arguing again when suddenly several glasses flew off the bar and smashed on the wall near his partner.

After this, Jeff Cutter bought out his partner’s share of the bar.

There are other ghosts besides Cutter’s two ladies in this building including a spirit seen wearing a long white coat in the pub’s basement. This room in the 1800s was used as an apothecary.

In 2008 this pub closed down. This saddened many of the local residents who have fond memories.

A final note for ghost hunters--the building still stands.

New Hampshire’s South Street Cemetery

This South Street Cemetery located near downtown Portsmouth is haunted. One reason for this is because it was used as a hanging ground in the 1700s.

South Street is enormous and actually consists of five cemeteries that were eventually combined. 

South Street Cemetery

“South Street” is not the cemeteries’ official name but most call it this--because it stands at the intersection of South Street and Sagamore Avenue.

Near the north side, of the entrance to this cemetery, is where the gallows stood. In this area is where many visitors and investigators claim they get “creepy” or “eerie” feelings.

It was here in 1739 that Penelope Henry and Sarah Simpson were “turned off the cart.” This means they were positioned on a cart beneath the gallows--the cart was then pulled away leaving them hanging.

The man responsible for their deaths was High Sheriff Thomas Packer. In New Hampshire’s history, only three women have been executed by hanging--Packer was accountable for all three of these executions.

The most well known of these three was a 25-year old school teacher, Ruth Blay. Becoming pregnant out of wedlock, Blay concealed her condition. Her baby was stillborn.

She wrapped her dead baby in a cloak and buried it beneath loose floorboards, in the schoolhouse. Several of her students, including 5-year old Betsy Pettengill, saw her do this.

Packer's Falls

Blay's trial was rushed. She was found guilty and sentenced to hang--which many considered too harsh a punishment. After the trial, it was discovered her baby was stillborn.

Portsmouth residents defended their favorite schoolteacher and requested that a reprieve be granted.

However, on the day of her execution, December 30, 1768, Packer had other plans. Knowing a pardon might be on the way, he moved Blay’s execution up by one hour, before noon, so he would not be late for dinner.

An angry mob discovering this stood in the street, as Ruth Blay dressed in silk was taken by cart to the gallows. She did not go quietly--all heard her shrieks.

Packer hastily positioned her beneath the gallows and ignoring the shouting crowd, looped the noose around her neck. With his brisk command, the horses were driven away--leaving Blay's body swinging.

Her last view was of the open sea--today at this spot the view is blocked.

Ruth Blay is buried at the bottom of Gallows Hill. 

Packer left quickly as not to be late for his meal. Within minutes of Blay’s death, a rider with an urgent letter arrived. It was a pardon from New Hampshire’s Royal Governor, for Blay.

Outraged, the mob marched to the sheriff’s house. They hung an effigy of Packer with a sign that read:

“Am I to love my dinner

This woman for to hang?

Come draw away the cart, my boys--

Don’t stop to say amen.

Draw away, draw away the cart.”

Ruth Blay was buried in an unmarked grave, 300 feet north of the pond, that sits at the center of South Street Cemetery. It is near her grave where investigators capture the most anomalies in their photographs.

It is here, where most cameras malfunction. When investigators leave the area, they find their cameras work fine. Strange glowing lights--described as different than orbs--are also seen near Blay’s grave.

It is also believed that Blay and her baby, haunt the old schoolhouse located at 94 Main South Hampton, New Hampshire.

Thomas Packer hanged all three women for the same reason--records show that they were convicted of “ feloniously concealing the death of an infant bastard child.”

Just 25 years after Ruth Blay’s execution, American lawmakers ruled that Concealment should no longer be punishable by death.

Packer died in office, on June 22, 1771.

England’s Haunted Wymering Manor

This manor house, the oldest in Portsmouth, England, has more than its fair share of ghosts and legends.

The original Wymering Manor house dates back to 1042. One of the first owners of the manor was King Edward the Confessor. Then after the Battle of Hastings, it fell into the hands of King William the Conqueror who retained it until 1084.

The oldest parts of the current manor house date back to the 16^th century. Over the centuries it has had many owners and has been continuously renovated. Modern suburbs surround Wymering today.

Unusual activity has been reported in the house for several centuries. Because of this, several U.K. paranormal groups have investigated it.

Here are just a few of the ghost stories that are told by people who have owned or stayed at Wymering.

A Cousin Returns

One owner, Thomas Parr, was awakened one night to see the apparition of his cousin standing at the foot of his bed. She happily chatted with him about various members of their family that were deceased.

Before she faded away, she fondly told him goodbye and mentioned that the family was getting ready to greet their Aunt Em. The following morning Parr received a telegram that his Aunt Em had died during the night.

One elderly relative that visited Parr at Wymering had an irrational fear the manor would be “invaded by burglars,” so she kept her bedroom door locked as she slept.

One morning she awoke and was surprised to see her door unlocked and wide open.

Singing Nuns

Another owner of Wymering, Leonard Metcalf who died in 1958, reported strange occurrences while living at the manor.

On several occasions, he saw a group of nuns crossing the manor’s hall. He watched as they chanted to the clear sound of music. At the time, he did not know that the Sisterhood of St. Mary of Virgin had visited the house in the mid-1800s.

Metcalf’s bedroom in the house is known as the “Panelled Room.” This room is considered the creepiest place in the manor. One day while standing at a washbasin Metcalf felt a hand on his shoulder when he spun around, no one was there.

Others who have stayed or just visited the room all report they become anxious and wanted to leave immediately.

A couple that lived in the manor also used this room as their bedroom. They stated they often felt fearful.

The Bleeding Nun

Attic Room

One ghost that has been seen for centuries is another nun. She is seen in the hallway outside the attic bedroom, which is directly above the “Panelled Room.”

It is said her hand's drip blood as she stares down the narrow staircase that leads to the attic.

Reckless Roddy

Wymering’s most infamous legend involves Sir Roderick of Portchester.

Newlyweds were staying at the manor when the husband was called away unexpectedly. Reckless Roddy hearing the bride was left alone, went to Wymering to try and seduce her.

The husband returned earlier than expected and chased Reckless Roddy from the home. As he tried to mount his horse, the husband killed him.

The legend states whenever a newly married couple stays at Wymering they can hear Reckless Roddy’s horse galloping down the lane.

Leonard Metcalf stated that shortly after his marriage following WWll, he and his wife were awakened in the middle of the night by the sounds of this horse galloping away.

Sir Francis Austin

Another ghost seen at Wymering is the distinguished Naval officer who was the brother of novelist Jane Austin.

Sir Francis is buried at the nearby Wymering Parish Churchyard. Many witnesses over the years have claimed he haunts the old manor.

One paranormal group states they recorded a video of a tall man they think might be Austin.

Sir Francis Austin

Investigation Results

Various paranormal groups that have investigated Wymering have reported seeing apparitions of both men and women descending the manor’s staircases.

Light anomalies have been photographed, and cold spots are felt. One video captured what looks like a monk standing by one window.

One investigator reported being slapped on the chest.

Others have recorded disembodied voices, singing, and a piano playing--there is no piano in the manor house today.

A baby has been heard crying and the sounds of children laughing have been recorded.

Poltergeist activity has also been reported.

One group claims there are at least 18 ghosts at Wymering.

The manor has sat empty since 2006. It is up for sale for $600,000.

Sise Inn’s Playful Ghosts

Portsmouth, NH

This Bed and Breakfast is located in the quaint seaside town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

John Sise, a wealthy businessman, built this Queen Anne style home on land formerly owned by his wife’s family in 1881. He and his wife Lucy, and their daughter Mabel lived happily on the property for years. When Mabel married, she and her husband inherited the home.

In the 1930s the property was sold and then used as business and doctor’s offices. It later was a beauty salon and then was converted into apartments. By the 1950s the home was being used as a halfway house for the mentally ill.

It was at this time the haunting was first noticed by several patients. 

Sise Inn today.

In 1986 the home was renovated and became the Sise Inn. This inn has a charming Victorian Era atmosphere. Every room has antiques, and the butter wood paneling adds to the overall warmth of this 3-story building.

At the time the inn opened a modern light-filled atrium was added to the building.

With guests coming and going the ghostly activity became more pronounced.

Some feel there are two ghosts at the inn, one being male and the other female. Both are very mischievous--especially the male spirit who appears to be the more active of the two.

Ghosts tend to be fascinated by doors, and these two are no different. They like to open and shut doors, but they take this a step further and lock and unlock doors.

Haunted Suite 204

One couple staying at the inn returned late one night to find their room key would not open their suite’s door. The desk clerk and the manager tried with their passkeys, but they couldn’t unlock the door. At 4:00 a.m., a locksmith was called, and this man tried the couple’s key, and the door opened easily.

Maids at the inn have also reported having trouble unlocking doors--they feel cold spots each time this happens.

These two ghosts seem to be obsessed by the inn’s elevator--it often goes up and down, and the door opens and closes without human assistance.

They are also fascinated by the inn’s second-floor ice machine. One evening the desk clerk heard a commotion upstairs when no guests were staying on the second floor. This staff member found ice strewn around the hall and stacks of cubes melting on the floor in various guest rooms.

Another time a maid saw ice cubes being thrown across a room.

These two also enjoy moving objects. One noted incident involved a large potted plant that was seen levitating off a coffee table by a guest staying in a suite. This man demanded a new room.

A rocking chair that is near the front desk is seen rocking on its own.

In this same area one evening the desk clerk stepped away from the counter briefly and returned to find a pair of scissors on top of the counter--moments before these scissors were in a box where they are usually stored beneath this shelf.

The male ghost has gained a reputation as an amorous ladies' man. Female guests often report having their bottoms grabbed. One female visitor reported seeing this ghost lie down on the bed with her.

Maids have also reported his cheeky behavior. One stated this ghost approached her from behind and placed his hands on her hips.

So why is the ill haunted?

What is unusual is the two ghosts in this building have no apparent connection to the home’s history. Most haunted houses have former owners, servants, or someone that stayed on the property while living, then they return after death.

One favorite backstory or legend that is circulated about the home states a butler of Sise’s fell in love with a housemaid, but when their relationship went sour, the butler killed the maid and then hung himself. But there is no evidence this actually happened.

Most feel since these two ghosts are playful that it is doubtful they experienced violent or tragic deaths.

Who these two might be remains a mystery.