Ropes Mansion

A Brief History: Constructed around 1727, still sitting quietly at 318 Essex Street, Salem Massachusetts is the Ropes Mansion. First built as a house for Samuel Bernard after he became a successful merchant, he originally hailed from Deerfield, however he relocated to Salem after the death of his first wife and infant child. Once Samuel Barnard passed away in Salem in 1762, he left the property to his nephew Joseph Barnard, who then sold the house to Judge Nathaniel Ropes in 1768. Ropes’ was representing Salem in the colonial legislature in the years 1760 and 1761, served on the governor’s council from 1762 to 1768, a judge on the inferior court of common pleas, a judge of probate, and in 1772 was appointed by Governor Thomas Hutchinson as a justice of the Superior Court of Judicature which at the time was the highest court in the colony. On November 9, 1771, a tea meet was held at the house with multiple important jurists in the court system at this point in history as well, such as future president John Adams, Benjamin Lynde Jr. and Peter Oliver (both Superior Court justices). The house and property are now currently under the ownership of the Peabody Essex Museum and is currently open to the public.

Haunted History: In the town of Salem, the Ropes Mansion is considered the most haunted location in the entire town. Photographs have been taken on the property by former caretakers that have caught what they say is a pair of ghostly hands of a man seated on a couch. Legend also says that either Abagail Ropes, Nathaniel’s wife had tragically caught her nightgown on fire one night while trying to transfer coals from one room to another and burned to death. According to many people, she has been seen many times around the house after her passing. Among these many claims, visitors have also said they have felt tapping, or an icy touch on their arms, as well as hearing disembodied voices or whispers in the house or around the property.