The Lightfoot House, nestled in the heart of colonial Williamsburg, is a testament to the area’s rich history and predilection towards harrowing hauntings.
Since the early 17th century, this colonial gem has been a centerpiece of Williamsburg. Now, it is a haven for guests, both living and dead. The passage of time has battered the red-bricked wonder. But, much like the rest of the town, it has survived and been well-preserved. Yet beneath its weathered exterior lies one of haunted Williamsburg’s most fascinating tales.
It is said that the original owner, Phillip Lightfoot, danced with the Devil and won. Could that explain the strange energy often reported at the Lightfoot House?
Is it just a historical goldmine, or does something darker lurk within? Journey with us as we explore the eerie accounts and lingering questions that make this one of Williamsburg’s most haunted houses.
If you’re ready to step into the shadows and learn more about Williamsburg’s haunted past, join us for a Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Tour.
Is the Lightfoot House In Colonial Williamsburg Haunted?
Strange and perplexing events have left many questioning what or who lurks within the Lightfoot House. Staff members have experienced unsettling events, such as freshly made beds mysteriously unmade and objects moving or disappearing without explanation. Spine-tingling apparitions dressed in colonial clothing have prompted deep-reaching fears in staff and guests.
History of The Lightfoot House
Duke of Gloucester Street is the center of Colonial Williamsburg. The Lightfoot House has been part of that since around 1730, when the property, owned by Philip Lightfoot, was believed to have been built. The first record of Lightfoot owning the home dates back to 1740.
Philip, like his father, also named Philip, was a wealthy landowner in Colonial Williamsburg. After his death, his son, also named Philip, inherited the property. It went on this way, Philip’s included, until it was eventually sold by William Lightfoot in 1839.
George W. Southall bought the home in 1842, and William S. Peachy purchased the property in 1846. It is worth noting that the Peachy family also owned the very haunted Peyton-Randolph House during the Civil War.
Some believe a member of the Peachy family haunts the house now. But, with a history that stretches back centuries, it’s hard to pinpoint when the ghostly activity began.
The Lightfoot House, one of the original eighty-eight buildings in Williamsburg, gives a nod to a bygone era. Connecting visitors to the history of this centuries-old town in more ways than they realize.
Dancing With The Devil
Other than his home, one of the most famous stories about Philip Lightfoot is his dance battle with the devil. Dances Point, a small plot of land where vegetation and trees won’t grow, was the sight of this legendary dance-off.
Philip Lightfoot, born in Yorktown, VA, in 1689, inherited a large fortune from his father, Philip Lightfoot Sr. Ever the shrewd businessman, took that money and made an even more considerable fortune. “The Merchant Prince,” as he was often called, played a prominent role in the development of Williamsburg.
But his wealth and influence caught the attention of another prince. Satan himself, the prince of darkness, envied Lightfoot’s prowess over the first English-speaking colony in the New World.
Lightfoot had his eyes on a piece of land near the Chickahominy River. The Devil met him there out of spite and jealousy, claiming the land for himself. Lightfoot, a businessman at heart and undisturbed by the moral ramifications of what he was about to do, offered to sell the Devil the land. But he refused to give up his claim.
This refusal didn’t sit well with the fallen angel, so he devised another plan. Lightfoot had been very proudly boasting for many years that he was the best dancer in Williamsburg. Intrigued and playing into Lightfoot’s ego, Satan challenged Philip to a dance-off.
The story ends with Lightfoot surprisingly defeating the Devil. The heat from their dance battle left the land barren and the Lightfoot name forever tied to the macabre. Perhaps this is why Philip’s home is one of the most haunted places in Williamsburg.
Hauntings of the Lightfoot House
A range of unexplainable and eerie events suggest this historic property is haunted. Over the years, visitors and staff have reported them in alarming numbers. Accounts of a young woman wandering the halls are among the most skin-crawling.
Staff have described her ethereal appearance in quakes of fear to those who ask. Her cold presence is coupled with an unsettling atmosphere that is hard to shake.
Even more unnerving is the figure of a man in colonial-era clothing with a shadowy, sunken face. One staff member’s encounter with this apparition was so disturbing that she resigned immediately after the run-in.
Poltergeist-like activity in the form of freshly made beds violently unmade, furniture rearranged, and objects missing, only to reappear in odd locations, is all too common. These occurrences are frequent enough to leave even hardened skeptics wondering about spiritual happenings at the Lightfoot House.
The Lightfoot House’s deep connection to Williamsburg’s colonial past, including being owned by two founding families, raises many eyebrows. Theories about who and why the house is so haunted are numerous. But perhaps Williamsburg’s place at the center of American history has left the home so haunted.
Why is Williamsburg Haunted?
Towns like Williamsburg have endured for hundreds of years and are often filled with restless spirits. Buildings like the Lightfoot House are silent witnesses to centuries of triumph, tragedy, and untimely deaths. The stories within their walls play out for us in an accurate and often skin-crawling display of energy.
Colonial Williamsburg’s haunted reputation extends far beyond a single house. The city was a center of political turmoil during the American Revolution, from the Stamp Act protest in 1765 to the battle of Spencer’s Ordinary in 1781 on the outskirts of the town.
Williamsburg also endured hardships during the Civil War. On May 5th, 1862, over 3000 casualties were taken by both sides of the war during the Battle of Williamsburg. The dead have been far from forgotten today.
Bloodshed and loss have tied these events to the psychic footprint in Williamsburg. The Lightfoot House, with its rich legacy and paranormal activity, is just one example of why Williamsburg is one of the most haunted towns in America. Take a closer look at the history here with a Williamsburg Guided Ghost Tour, and you might find that the past never truly leaves.
Haunted Williamsburg
The Lightfoot House is a window into Colonial Williamsburg’s haunting and often bloody past. The peculiar poltergeist activity and ethereal apparitions of Colonial homeowners tell a story—a tale woven into this home’s legacy. Guests and staff alike continue to be captivated and unsettled by the home’s haunting shadows.
Haunted Williamsburg offers historic walking tours that explore the shadowy world of ghosts and ghouls. If the ghostly activity at the Lightfoot House has piqued your interest, join us on a Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Tour. Discover the historical and haunting stories that make this city one of the most haunted places in America.
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Sources:
https://www.wsls.com/features/2017/10/19/october-road-trip-creepiest-places-in-virginia-guaranteed-to-haunt-your-dreams
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LT3K-VCD/phillip-lightfoot-ii-1689-1748
https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=ResearchReports%5CRR1243.xml&highlight=
https://www.williampoole.com/plans/Lightfoot_House/rear_view
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/history-williamsburg
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/williamsburg
Dancing with the Devil