The Ghost of Mary Wallace
In 1720, James and Elizabeth Wilson embarked on a fateful journey from Ireland to America aboard the ship “Wolf.” Their dreams of a new life were shattered when pirates, led by the ruthless Don Pedro, boarded the ship near Boston Harbor. However, fate took a surprising turn when Pedro spared the lives of the passengers upon learning of Elizabeth’s newborn daughter, Mary.
As promised, Don Pedro gifted the Wilsons a length of green Chinese silk for Mary’s future wedding gown. Tragedy struck when James Wilson passed away in Boston, leaving Elizabeth and Mary to settle in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on James’ planned land. Elizabeth later married James Clark, setting the stage for the legendary tale of Ocean-Born Mary.
Mary, a striking six-foot-tall beauty with red hair, married Thomas Wallace in 1742, donning the silk brocade given by Don Pedro. The legend diverges from reality as it suggests that Thomas died soon after their last child’s birth. Don Pedro, supposedly an English nobleman, arrived in Henniker, New Hampshire, built a mansion, and convinced the grieving Mary to become his housekeeper.
In the legend’s dramatic twist, Pedro’s past catches up to him, leading to a fatal encounter. Mary honors his dying request to bury him beneath the mansion’s hearth and lives comfortably, untouched by the hidden gold. The mansion gains a reputation for hauntings, perpetuated by Louis Roy’s elaborate tales and staged events during his ownership.
Contrary to the legend, Mary and Thomas Wallace lived a long and happy life together until his death in 1791. Mary, never residing in the renovated mansion, spent her later years in Henniker with her son William until her death in 1814. The mysterious Don Pedro remains largely unknown after sparing the Wilsons’ lives.
The true legacy lies in the silk brocade, worn by Mary and subsequent generations. Although faded, pieces of the gown are preserved in the DAR Museum in Washington D.C. Mary’s son, Thomas Wallace Jr., becomes a distinguished Revolutionary War hero, while her daughter, Elizabeth, marries a major in the New Hampshire Militia.
The ghostly tale of “Ocean-Born Mary” endures, with reported sightings of her spirit in Centre Cemetery. Tall, red-haired, and eternally beautiful, Mary’s haunting presence transcends the boundaries of reality and legend in the town of Henniker, leaving an indelible mark on its history.
