(Published with permission from Discover Saint John)
Saint John’s streets are alive with history, but it’s the whispers of the past that truly capture the imagination. Beneath the surface of this historic port city lies a world of eerie legends, sordid battles, and ghostly encounters waiting to be uncovered.
Dare to explore the haunted side of Saint John?
Disclaimer: While this blog is meant for entertainment purposes and the ghost stories are all speculation, the historical facts provided for each location are true and may be upsetting to some due to the nature of the content.
Sydney Street & King Street East, Saint John
Established in the wake of the United Empire Loyalists’ arrival in 1783, the Loyalist Burial Ground holds the stories of those who fled the American Revolutionary War, seeking refuge in a new land. For more than a century, the cemetery served as a reminder of the past, with generations of Loyalists and their descendants laid to rest within its boundaries. Today the site stands as a memorial to the courage and determination of immigrants who left their homes to establish a new life free from persecution. Among the many gravestones in the grounds, the oldest belongs to Coonradt Hendricks, dated July 13, 1784.
Spooky Speculations: The Loyalist Burial Ground is more than a resting place for the city’s founders – it also harbours dark stories. Deep within the grounds lies the crypt of Chief Justice James Putnam, a descendant of the infamous Thomas and Ann Putnam, whose names are linked to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Thomas Putnam, a cunning landowner, was suspected of accusing his neighbours of witchcraft, with the goal of seizing their land after their execution. Their grandson, James Putnam, eventually became a lawyer and moved to Saint John. After his death in 1789, he was entombed in the Loyalist Burial Ground, where his crypt is encircled by a cast iron fence – meant to keep grave robbers at bay, and to form a barrier between the living and the dead. But does it truly serve its purpose? Many visitors who claim to have felt the lingering spirit of James Putnam would say otherwise…
