The Proprietary House — Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey
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The stately Georgian mansion standing in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, may look like a slice of colonial elegance — but behind its dignified brick façade lurks a haunted history that refuses to be forgotten.
Built in 1764, the Proprietary House was intended as the official residence of the royal governors of New Jersey. The most infamous of these residents was William Franklin, the estranged Loyalist son of founding father Benjamin Franklin. As tensions rose between Britain and her colonies, William remained loyal to the Crown — a decision that ultimately tore his family apart and sealed his fate. He was arrested in 1776 and imprisoned by Patriot forces, never to return to the house again.
But something of William’s spirit may have stayed behind.
After the Revolutionary War, the mansion passed through many hands — serving at various times as a private residence, a hotel, a retirement home, and eventually, a historical site. But no matter how many renovations or restorations took place, the energy inside the Proprietary House never quite settled. Visitors, staff, and paranormal investigators have reported a wide range of eerie activity that suggests the house is still very much alive with unseen forces.
Some have heard disembodied footsteps pacing the upper halls when no one is there. Others have seen flickering candlelight in rooms that were dark only moments before. Perhaps most chilling are the frequent accounts of shadowy figures, particularly that of a man in colonial attire believed to be William Franklin himself. Witnesses say he appears most often near the grand staircase, his expression solemn — as if still weighed down by betrayal, duty, and regret.
Another spirit is said to be that of a mourning woman in gray, often spotted in the gardens or gazing out the upstairs windows. Some believe she is the widow of a former occupant, endlessly waiting for a husband who never returned from war.
Over the years, paranormal investigators have captured EVPs, cold spots, and unexplained electromagnetic disturbances throughout the house. Lights flicker without cause, and locked doors are found mysteriously open. Even skeptics admit that the Proprietary House has an unsettling presence — one that cannot easily be explained away.
Still, the mansion continues to open its doors to the public. It is currently managed by the Proprietary House Association, which offers historical tours and special haunted events throughout the year. But be warned: those who visit after dark often leave with more questions than answers — and a lingering feeling that something followed them out.
Location:
The Proprietary House
149 Kearny Avenue
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
Phone: (732) 826-5527
Website: proprietaryhouse.org
Note: Photography is allowed in most areas. Paranormal tours may have limited space, so reservations are recommended.