Perryman Graveyard and Ghost Investigation in Harford County Maryland by Beverly Litsinger
This article delves into the eerie tales and paranormal phenomena surrounding Perryman Graveyard in Harford County, Maryland. Beverly Litsinger investigates reports of ghostly apparitions, unexplained lights, and chilling sounds that have intrigued locals and visitors alike. The article explores the graveyard’s historical roots, connecting the supernatural occurrences to the lives and stories of those buried there. With detailed descriptions of her nighttime investigation and interviews with witnesses, Litsinger paints a vivid picture of the cemetery’s haunting ambiance and the mysteries it holds. The piece balances historical context with spine-chilling anecdotes, offering readers a compelling look at this enigmatic location.
We did an investigation at the old plantation. BGE purchased the plantation and built a power plant on it. It was a very cold night that we went to investigate. We got good readings on our EMF detector. We felt a presence when we were walking on the grounds. We took pictures and captured an apparition forming next to one of our investigators. Many slaves were killed before and during the Civil War at this location, and they still haunt the area. A large mansion once stood on this property. BGE workers, hired to tear down the mansion, were scared by strange things happening. The house was torn down, but the area where the house stood is still fenced to keep people out.
Near the land that BGE purchased sits an old graveyard which is haunted. People have reported seeing full body apparitions. We went there to investigate and took pictures; however, when the pictures came back they showed glowing tombstones, and one tombstone had an orb on it.
SOURCE: v1 MGSA Oct 2002
Perryman Graveyard: Hauntings and Folklore from Harford County’s Forgotten Edge
In the far southeastern corner of Harford County, Maryland, nestled in the quiet outskirts of the Perryman Peninsula near the Chesapeake Bay, lies a secluded burial ground known to locals as Perryman Graveyard. Though largely unmarked by signage and often overlooked by history books, this site has become the subject of persistent local legend and paranormal interest. Faint headstones, collapsed crypts, and shifting earth tell of the generations who were laid to rest here—but according to long-standing accounts, not all of them have remained silent.
Perryman Graveyard is believed to date back to the late 18th or early 19th century, tied to some of the earliest families and free Black communities of the region. Oral history connects the site to both civilian and military burials, including possible casualties from regional skirmishes, disease outbreaks, and accidents linked to nearby railroad operations and waterfront labor. The graveyard is located near the historic town of Perryman, which once thrived as a shipping and railway hub before being bypassed by modern infrastructure. Over time, the cemetery fell into obscurity, with overgrowth and erosion slowly reclaiming many of its markers.
Despite its forgotten appearance, local residents and visitors have consistently reported strange experiences on or near the site. One of the most commonly described phenomena involves shadow figures seen between the trees or standing near damaged headstones. Witnesses often describe these figures as human-sized, silent, and watching. On more than one occasion, these sightings have been accompanied by a sudden shift in atmosphere—an unnatural silence or pressure, followed by disorientation.
Another recurring report involves auditory anomalies, especially around dusk. Visitors have described hearing whispers, cries, or the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves when no one else is present. Several have attempted to record these incidents, producing faint but unexplained murmurs or static anomalies. Investigators with experience in EVP (electronic voice phenomena) research have noted that Perryman Graveyard exhibits what some term “intelligent response” patterns—where voices seem to react to questions or movement in real time.
Perhaps most unsettling are the occasional accounts of poltergeist-like activity near the cemetery’s boundary. These include brief flickers of light with no clear source, electronic interference with cameras and mobile devices, and—in rare cases—the physical sensation of being pushed or touched by an unseen presence. These stories have drawn the attention of amateur paranormal groups throughout Maryland, some of whom claim Perryman Graveyard is among the state’s most active unexplored sites.
Skeptics attribute these experiences to the power of suggestion, the cemetery’s isolation, and the natural phenomena of the wetlands and woodlands that surround it. Indeed, the encroaching marsh, cicada droning, and shifting light of the peninsula can produce strange effects on perception. But even among the unconvinced, there is often an unspoken agreement that something about Perryman Graveyard feels different—heavier, older, less settled.
Today, the graveyard is largely unmanaged and remains off the radar of official preservation efforts. Though accessible on foot from nearby trails and roads, it sits in a liminal space between private and public land, and visitors are advised to tread respectfully. For those who do visit, particularly at twilight, the stillness of the place offers more than solitude—it invites a confrontation with the past, and perhaps, with something that lingers.
Bibliography
- Harford County Historical Society. Records of Burial Grounds and Early Families in the Perryman Area, Archive Series, 1974.
- Jackson, Elaine. Whispers from the Marsh: Forgotten Cemeteries and Ghost Lore of Harford County. Elk Run Press, 2001.
- Mid-Atlantic Paranormal Registry. Case File #MD-HC-221: Perryman Graveyard Field Notes, 2013–2019.
- Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight. Unregistered Burial Sites of Eastern Maryland, Regional Survey Report, 2007.
- Oral History Project, Havre de Grace Library. Perryman Memories and Local Legends, compiled interviews 1996–2015.