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The Sorrel-Weed House was built in 1837 by famous architect Charles Cluskey. In the mid 20th century, it was one of the first homes in the historic district that was restored. The Historic Savannah Foundation made the Sorrel-Weed home their first exhibit, which they used to showcase the restoration work they intended to place upon other homes in the area. It was also one of the first sites to be named a historic landmark by the state of Georgia.
The home also made multiple appearances in pop culture, as the opening shot of the movie Forrest Gump. The building was showcased when the first scene was shot from the rooftop of the Sorrel-Weed home, showing Madison Square and the surrounding area. The home has also made its appearance on the Today Show as well as multiple ghost investigation shows like Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters, and Most Terrifying Places in America.
Suicides of the Sorrel-Weed House
Francis Sorrel married Lucinda Moxley shortly after his arrival in the United States. Lucinda came from a wealthy background who did business with Sorrel. Lucinda died just a few years after their marriage (a coincidence?) so Francis decided he would stay in the family and married her younger sister, Matilda.
The two enjoyed their marriage, but Francis had little to no self control. He began to have an affair with Molly, one of his slaves. Francis even forced her to stay in her own room so that they could have privacy. Matilda soon found out about Molly and in a distraught and enraged state, she jumped off of the second-story balcony, landing head first. She died instantly upon impact.
Molly was overtaken by guilt. She knew she would be held responsible for the affair and Matilda’s subsequent death. Molly was found hanging by a noose in the home, having killed herself as well.
The Siege of Savannah
The Sorrel-Weed House sits just atop Madison Square, the very site of the vicious battle ‘The Seige of Savannah,’ during the Revolutionary War. American and French forces attempted to push the British out of Savannah, who had taken over the city just a year prior.
Forces were outmanned and outgunned. Men were dying, and fast. The Revolutionaries dug up a trench right at Madison Square to bury the bodies of their dead. Hundreds of Revolutionary soldiers died in the span of just a few weeks. Injured soldiers were thrown into the ditch alongside the dead and were buried alive.
After the battle, their bodies were never removed. Savannah just continued to expand around the original battlefield and many of the buildings in the area, including the Soreel-Weed House, were built right on top of the old burying ground.
Hauntings of the Sorrel-Weed House
As one of the most well-known haunted houses not only in Savannah, but in the world, the Sorrel-Weed House has a reputation to uphold. The spirits of Molly and Matilda are the most commonly reported. They are seen are dark apparitions walking throughout the halls of the home. Some visitors claim to have seen the apparitions of women in the mirrors throughout the home.
The spirit of Molly is said to haunt the home’s slave quarters. The space was once rented to a man who used it as his office, unaware of the history. He reported a constant sense of unease and the feeling of being watched. Other who enter the slave quarters report feeling nauseous or drowsy. Some even state they feel as though they are being choked with a thick rope.
Others report the sounds of parties and gatherings in the living room. The sounds of merriment stop as soon as someone approaches the room. A dark energy is said to occupy the home. This energy is said to be caused by the bodies buried underneath the home, left over from the Siege of Savannah. A similar energy hangs over the entirety of Madison Square as well. The sound of gunshots are often reported in the Square, especially during quiet nights.
The Sorrel-Weed House has bore witness to more than a few tragic deaths. Being built atop a burial ground surely adds a questionable flair to the history of the home as well. If one was to walk the streets of Madison Square and listen closely, the echoes of the tragic past could possibly be heard. The Sorrel-Weed House is just one of many of Savannah’s most haunted locations. – https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/the-sorrel-weed-house/
What do Others Feel when visiting the house?
Others report feeling drowsy upon entering the building. Much of the dark energy comes from the hundreds of dead soldiers who died during the Siege of Savannah, as the bloodiest battles were fought at nearby Madison Square. Some experts say there may be soldiers buried underneath the Sorrel Weed House. (Remember: After the battle, the bodies were never exhumed. The city continued to expand around the old battlefield. Madison Square and the surrounding areas were built in the 1830s, fifty years after the war. Many of the buildings, including the Sorrel Weed House, are built over the remains of the dead soldiers.) A man once rented the space to use as an office, unaware of the history. He claimed to constantly feel a sense of uneasiness, as if he was constantly being watched. Some who have entered the slave quarters felt sick or as though they were being strangled by a rope. – https://savannahghosttour.com