The Chilling Haunted History of The Fearing Tavern
The Fearing Tavern is one of the oldest buildings in Wareham, Massachusetts. Thanks to its chilling reputation, it has captured the attention of locals and visitors alike. This infamous tavern was built by Isaac Bump in 1690 and is now owned by the Wareham Historical Society. It operates as a museum displaying antiques from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
However, the building’s historical significance is not the only pull for visitors. Many believe the Fearing Tavern is one of the most haunted locations in Massachusetts.
Book a stay at the Lizzie Borden House if you want to dive deeper into New England’s haunted heritage! Whether you’re exploring Wareham or Fall River, these locations promise an unforgettable experience steeped in mystery and legend.
Who Haunts the Fearing Tavern?
Thanks to its long and eerie history, The Fearing Tavern is rumored to be home to several different spirits. From the mysterious figures in Victorian clothing to the Revolutionary War soldiers, reports of ghostly sightings and unexplained occurrences have persisted for decades.
Visitors claim to hear voices in empty rooms or even see shadowy figures roaming throughout the halls. Some guests claim to report encounters from specific apparitions, each with their own story to tell.
History of the Fearing Tavern
Built in 1690 by Isaac Bump, the tavern has held a wide variety of roles throughout its long history. By 1765, Israel Fearing had added an addition to the building, originally a generational family home.
As time passed, the tavern served as a stagecoach stop, temporary jail, courthouse, town hall, and post office. In 1958, it became a museum under the Wareham Historical Society’s care.
Hauntings at the Fearing Tavern
It may be unsurprising to learn that the Fearing Tavern is one of the most haunted locations in Massachusetts. With over three centuries of history, the tavern has witnessed countless lives, deaths, and dark secrets. Many of which seem to linger to this day.
Visitors often report hearing unexplained voices, seeing shadowy figures, and encountering specific apparitions tied to the tavern’s varied past.
The Knitting Woman
Arguably, the most famous lingering spirit at the haunted Massachusetts bed and breakfast is the woman often seen knitting in a rocking chair. Two young girls first reported this apparition during a ghost tour over a decade ago.
The girls noticed a woman dressed in Victorian clothing sitting quietly and knitting as they passed through the house. It was only after they asked their guide about the woman that they realized nobody else was supposed to be in the building with them.
Since the girls spotted the knitting woman, other visitors have claimed to have seen her or felt her presence in the same room. Visitors claim to hear faint creaking sounds, similar to a rocking chair moving on its own, while others feel a sense of calm or nostalgia when standing near their usual spot.
The knitting woman is a mystery. It is unknown whether she is tied to one of the many former residents of the tavern or simply a lingering spirit from its past.
The Secret Room and Revolutionary Soldiers
The Fearing Tavern has been rumored to contain secret passages and hidden rooms that have served various purposes throughout American history. One room is rumored to have housed British Loyalist soldiers seeking refuge during the Revolutionary War.
While investigating this room, researchers attempted to contact the soldiers’ spirits and were startled when a heavy latch on the secret room door popped open on its own.
Visitors have reported hearing footsteps echoing from this hidden area or feeling cold drafts despite the warm weather outside. Some claim to see shadowy figures dressed in 18th-century military attire moving through nearby rooms before vanishing entirely.
These occurrences add an air of mystery to this historic site and suggest that its role during wartime may have left behind more than just memories.
The Misty Figure
In addition to soldiers and a knitting woman, guests have been known to encounter a misty gray figure. Investigators had reported an encounter with the figure when it stopped at a doorway, rested its arms on the frame while peering into the room where they stood, and disappeared quickly. Witnesses of the event described feeling an intense chill and unease throughout this dark encounter.
Since this eerie interaction, the misty figure has been spotted often in areas associated with high activity, like staircases or doorways. Its sudden appearance and unnerving behavior make it one of the most memorable hauntings of the Fearing Tavern.
Voices from the Basement
The final reports of hauntings reside in the basement, a major hotspot for ghostly activity. Many investigators have captured recordings of unexplained voices during EVP sessions. During these EVP sessions, recordings suggest a darker history is tied to this historical location.
In one recording, a sinister voice claims responsibility for killing “Grandpa Ash,” followed by an even more sinister “Consider it…. A gift”. Another recording captured a rather cryptic phrase, “Christ did penance,” which was spoken in a low, distorted tone, accompanied by metallic clanging sounds.
Both visitors and investigators alike report a sense of unease in the basement, with sudden nausea or an oppressive heaviness in the air. The sensations are typically paired with faint whispers or broken voices seeming to emulate from the walls themselves.
Microphones picked up unexplained gurgling and high-pitched frequencies during a Phantom Paranormal Investigations session. Some have interpreted these frequencies as residual energy from the tavern’s past use as a temporary jail or shelter during wartime conflicts.
The basement’s reputation has led to various theories about its role in the tavern’s checkered history. Many speculate it could have been a hiding place for escaped slaves or Loyalist soldiers during the Revolutionary War, leaving behind emotional imprints linked to fear or violence.
Haunted Wareham
The infamous Fearing Tavern is not only a historic landmark for Massachusetts but also one of Wareham’s most intriguing haunted locations. From the mysterious woman knitting in a rocking chair to the Revolutionary War soldiers roaming the building’s secret rooms, the iconic building continues to captivate visitors with its chilling tales.
If you’re fascinated by stories like these and want to explore other haunted locations in Massachusetts, consider booking a stay at the Lizzie Borden House—a bed-and-breakfast steeped in equally eerie history—or joining one of their tours for an unforgettable journey into Massachusetts’ darker past!
Visit Lizzie Borden House today for an experience that blends chilling history with cozy accommodations! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Massachusetts hauntings.
Sources:
- https://warehamhistoricalsociety.com/
- https://wareham.theweektoday.com/article/ghost-hunters-tell-tales-fearing-tavern/1720
- https://wbsm.com/southcoasts-most-haunted-fearing-tavern/
- https://wheretheghostslive.com/2013/10/11/the-fearing-tavern-museum/
- https://wareham.theweektoday.com/article/ghost-hunters-tell-tales-fearing-tavern/1720
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6SsBB-_-F8
