Image by Derivative Images
From Bootleggers to Bordellos, Historic Mansion’s Haunting Spirits of the Past…
Situated on a bluff overlooking the Delaware River in Fieldsboro, NJ, White Hill Mansion has stood witness to pivotal state and national historic events for more than 250 years. The mansion is a favorite among paranormal investigators and psychics, including noted medium Joseph Tittel, who have felt the strong presence of the home’s many prior inhabitants and guests. White Hill Mansion was built by prominent businessman Robert Field in 1760 as a high-style Georgian country estate. His widow, Mary Peel Field, housed both Hessian and Colonial troops during the American Revolution and succeeded in saving the mansion from destruction during the war.
In 1804, Mary’s son Robert—who had married the daughter of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence—lost the property due to mismanagement. The mansion had a variety of owners over the next hundred years, including David Bruce Jr., inventor of the first operational typesetting machine; and two notable entrepreneurs in the Trenton pottery business. Throughout much of the 20th century, White Hill operated as a restaurant and was a favorite of politicians and union leaders because of its secluded location.
The Hauntings …
White Hill Mansion is regarded as one of the most haunted mansions in the Northeast. Hundreds of ghost hunts have been held in the home, and they’ve captured a large volume of sounds and images of entities that aren’t from the living world.
The original White Hill home was smaller than it is now and served as the Field family’s abode. Robert Field originally bought the land and built the home, passing it on to his son, Robert Field II, when he died.
Robert II was married to Mary Peale Field. The couple had seven children, but only three survived to adulthood. In 1775, as the colonies were bristling with the prospect of war, Robert II died suddenly.
He drowned in the nearby Delaware River under incredibly suspicious circumstances. However, it was ruled an accident, and Mary had to now look after her home and three children on her own.
By 1776, the home’s location on the bluff above the river made it of interest to both sides of the war. Mary tried to remain neutral, but her neighbors were constantly spying on her, trying to get an idea of her leanings. After an American captain had dinner at Mary’s home, the rumor mill churned out that she was a supporter of the colonists.
After catching wind of this, British soldiers quickly descended on Mary’s house, trying to root out any colonial soldiers. They found none, but left a lasting impression on Mary. By 1779, she was done hiding her support—and she married Thomas Read, a commodore in the Continental Navy.
The Years After the War
After the war, Read and Mary lived a quiet life in their White Hill home. After their deaths, Mary’s son, Robert Field III, inherited the home. He lived here with his wife, Abigail Stockton, an heiress from one of the wealthiest families in New Jersey, and their children.
Robert III worked on expanding the home and adding expensive features. However, he did so without having the financial backing needed for the changes.
He went into heavy debt and almost lost the home. The only reason he didn’t was that his brother-in-law bailed him out and bought the home, allowing Robert III and Abigail to continue living there.
Other Notable Residents
After Robert III’s death in 1810, the home changed hands several times. While living at White Hill, David Bruce invented a groundbreaking type-setting machine. This machine provided the foundation for typefaces we still use today, including Times New Roman.
By the 1890s, a pottery mogul named Joseph Crossley remodeled the home to be the large Georgian/Queen Anne mansion that we see today. In the 1920s, a restaurateur saw an opportunity with this large manor and transformed it into an upscale restaurant.
Yet, this classy establishment served more than just fine cuisine—even during Prohibition. It’s said the owner, Heinrich Glenk, began digging tunnels under the basement of the mansion as soon as Prohibition was announced.
This allowed him to sneak booze in for his upper-class clientele. However, Glenk’s plan wasn’t foolproof, and he was arrested for bootlegging.
The restaurant continued operating until the 1970s. Around this time, the estate started falling into disrepair. In recent years, the nonprofit called The Friends of White Hill Mansion has been working to restore the historic home to its former glory.
The Ghosts of White Hill Mansion
There appear to be several spirits living within the White Hill Mansion. Some of the most commonly seen ghosts are:
- A blond boy, thought to be Mary Field’s son
- Heinrich Glenk
- A French woman
The Child Spirit
A guide had just wrapped up a tour of the home and went to close a window. He was by himself in the home, yet when he turned around, a three-year-old boy with blond hair was looking up at him.
Before the guide knew what was happening, the boy disappeared. Workers believe this to be one of Mary Field’s sons, potentially one of the boys who didn’t reach adulthood. He, along with his siblings, is believed to be responsible for the laughter that can be heard throughout the home.
Heinrich Glenk
It seems Glenk has unfinished business involving his restaurant. His spirit is often heard in the attic, where he likely hid some of his illegal liquor. His deep voice can be heard from the floor below, still toiling away at his booze operation.
The French Woman
A pair of ghost hunters were shocked to hear a disembodied woman speak to them in French. They have the voice on tape, though they haven’t been able to decipher what she says.
Responses to Questions
One of the favorite pastimes of the ghosts of White Hill Mansion is to respond to questions that guests ask. During a ghost hunt, someone asked, “Were you a servant?” A clear “yeah” emerged from the shadows.
On another tour, someone asked, “Can you come out and talk to us?” A voice replied, “Yep,” then released a loud exhale. The guide said no one was brave enough to continue after that exchange.
Odd Sounds & Sensations
Strange noises are the most common experience to have while touring the White Hill Mansion. Visitors have heard footsteps on empty floors, whispers from invisible lips, and music quietly playing in another room.
Some guests, however, have been the target of playful teasing. One woman said her shirt was feeling weird in one of the rooms. The group returned to the room and stood with mouths agape as they watched the hood of the woman’s sweatshirt lift up on its own.
The Dark Energy in the Basement
For the most part, the spirits in the mansion are fairly friendly and harmless. However, in one section of the basement, there’s a foreboding spirit that lurks in the shadows. Visitors claim to feel an overpowering sense of dread and fear when they venture into that area, and many volunteers refuse to step into that room.
The White Hill Mansion has decades of documented encounters with unearthly beings. From giggling children to a bumbling bootlegger, you never know what kind of spirit you’ll run into on a visit.
https://weirdnj.com/weird-news/the-haunting-of-white-hill-house/
https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-places/the-spirits-of-white-hill-mansion/