Neilson Farm Saratoga Battlefield

A Brief History: Located on Saratoga Battlefield in New York, John Neilson came to Stillwater New York in 1772 from Elizabeth New Jersey. John went to work for Abner Quitterfield on his farm. A few years later in 1775 he leased 150 acres, a couple miles away and married Lydia who just so happened to be the daughter of Abner Quitterfield his boss. They built a small house and farm on their 150-acre lease. In 1777 the British Army under command of General Burgoyne was moving southwest from Canada on a collision course with Neilson’s farmstead. John took his wife Lydia to her parent’s home in Stillwater and then joined the local Militia. On September 12, 1777 Generals Enoch Poor and Benedict Arnold occupied the Neilson’s Farmhouse. During the battles of Saratoga, the farmhouse was not only the quarters for Poor and Arnold but served as their Headquarters. During the battles, the fighting was within a mile of the house.  After the battle, John and Lydia returned to their farm to find it in utter ruins. Their crops and house was destroyed. They rebuilt their farm and went on to raise eight children. Around 1830 they had to expand the house to fit there growing family. Today the Neilson Farm is owned by New York State and is part of the Saratoga National Historical Park.

Haunted History: There are claims of hearing male voices coming from inside the farmhouse when the house is locked and no one is in there.  People have also claimed to have heard the sounds of gun fire and cannon fire around the house.