On June 28th, 1778 the Revolutionary War took a change for the better, as General George Washington (coming to the aid of Charles Lee) met the British in the Battle of Monmouth and drove the British away. In a day with over 100 degree heat, the two armies, 25,000 people in total, met resulting in an estimated 700 killed (probably much more), 700 wounded and countless captured. Standing on the outskirts of the battle still stands the historical Old Tennent Church which played a role in the battle and holds many of the dead who passed away.

The church was built in 1751 and replaced a smaller church built by immigrants who arrived in the 1670’s. The church has similar styling to that many older churches; a simple hand built frame and box pews which were rented by families. Throughout the generations its been used for town meetings, religious services and most famously a field hospital during the Battle of Monmouth where the building was hit with cannon fire and musket-balls. Amoung this gunfire comes the legend of Captain Henry Fauntleroy:

“Henry was a young soldier of 22 years and today, June 28th, was his birthday. As the battle took place in front of him, he stood his place in the back lines resting on the graves of the fallen. The graves of young men who has passed away in 1744 helped support the captain who was tired and suffering from heat exhaustion. While he sat a stray cannon ball came flying in and took out the soldiers leg and the gravestone. The solder screamed in pain, falling into shock at the sight of his now removed leg. His fellow soldiers rushed Henry into the church where medics worked to save him the best they could. Attempting to remove the foreign material and help avoid infection (granting he could be saved), the doctors performed an amputation higher up on the leg. Unfortunately, due to the severity of the injury Henry passed away due to the massive blood loss.”

The saw marks and remnants of the blood can still be seen in the church (second box from the back on the left side) when you lift up the pillows on the pew. As for Captain Henry, he has not overcome the shock of his death and still travels the graves searching for answers. It is said that on warm summer nights if you look into the graveyard you can still see Henry walking around in search for answers, calling out for other lost souls.

Other legends speak of a more “dark” history. One of the readers who contacted us spoke an old witch, named Alice, who used to live in the town, and was accused of practicing dark magic. In the early 1700’s the local towns were facing a plague which wiped out many of the local farms crops. According to the stories she was blamed for the incident and attacked by a gang of men and hanged on one of the trees in the cemetery. She was thrown into an unmarked grave and damned for eternity. No sooner after her death, did the food begin to blossom. It is said that on nights when the moon is full you can see her hovering the graves, with eyes like dark sockets screaming out for revenge on the souls of her killers.

Other spirits include young children who were killed by a smallpox epidemic. These children’s spirits frolic the graves and are known to push and make contact with visitors. Other users speak of a young woman named Cookie, who was killed in a car accident (either a Prom or Teenage Dance) and she is said to walk at night wearing her dress.

Either way, take a trip through the graves, visit the blood stained pew and see some revolutionary ghosts for yourself.

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Ian

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I have been near there at night and saw a spirit with a dear head. It was one of the native americans.
1 year ago
Maxwell

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No ghost been there several times.
3 years ago
George Washington

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It’s coming for you…
4 years ago
No Name

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Not Scary
4 years ago
Diuvska N Quinones

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We have been there. It was in the afternoon and although it was a very pleasant visit we felt as if we were being watched by someone. My children 4 and 3 at the time kept playing near a worn out grave and looked as if they kept talking to someone. I wasn’t scared at all; on the contrary it was a very peaceful place until geese feathers started to fall from the sky and no geese were overlying us. We secuses to leave and my small child started waiving goodbye. I asked D… who are you saying bye to my love? and he said “new friend mama.” Thats when we looked back and saw orbs near the graves and my hubby got chill as I just kept looking in shock. We’ve never been there again but my kids always ask if the kids that lived in the church cementery are still living there so they can pmay again… CREEPY
4 years ago

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Haunted Places, Legends and Ghosts

The Old Tennent Church : Manalapan, NJ

The Old Tennent Church : Manalapan, NJ

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