Is This SC Town Being Haunted by the Ghost of a Witch

Within the beautiful Fairfield County sits a small historic town named Winnsboro. It’s known for its clock, which stood in the same spot since the 1830s. Soldiers from the Revolutionary War had stayed here in preparation for their next battle. But that isn’t all Winnsboro has to offer. There is a mystery here that has yet to be fully understood.

A painting of a witch facing executionPhoto byHistory Collection

Everyone knows about the horrors of the Salem Witch Trials, but very few people know about the witch trials that have existed around the country. Yes, that’s right - it wasn’t just Salem that experienced these trials. Winnsboro had trials back in 1792.

The people of Winnsboro believed they found four different witch-doctors and had them tried as well as punished by burning the soles of their feet completely off. Mary Ingleman was an elderly German woman approximately 70 years of age who was caught up in the middle of the horrifying situation when people found dead livestock around the town.

People began slandering the innocent woman, accusing her of being the reason for the animals and decided to try her as well. Townsfolk started doubling down on the stories, and soon they began escalating. They accused Mary of turning one man into a horse and levitating people off their beds. She received the same fate as the men, having the soles of her feet burned off and flogged.

Although Mary was found innocent and even sued those who wronged her, the locals cannot shake the uncomfortable feeling that Mary still has not left the town of Winnsboro, sometimes even catching glimpses of a ghostly elderly woman appearing at the local museum. Why? Nobody is sure. The museum may be where she was tried or even persecuted. But if Mary was never executed and was eventually found innocent, then why her ghost? Is there something that we have yet to uncover?

Disclaimer: The Lantern does not profit from tourism or any businesses mentioned in our articles.

Written By: Izzy

Photo By: History Collection

Sources: https://blueridgetruecrime.com/mystery/conjuring-fear-the-forgotten-south-carolina-witch-trials/

https://www.fairfieldsc.com/community/museum