Witch's Grave in Pilot's Knobb Cemetery, Marion, Kentucky

Pilot Knob Cemetery is located in the city of Marion, Kentucky. Marion is a small city in the county of Crittenden, which is in the far north-western part of Kentucky. The city of Marion, Kentucky itself is situated in the middle As of the year 2000, the population of Marion was 3,196.

The most popular haunting in Pilot Knob Cemetery is the story of witch’s grave. The story goes that a little five year old girl named Mary Evelyn (May 9 1911 - May 31 1916), and her mother, Mary Rebecca Ford, who were both accused of witchcraft, and burnt at the stake. After being burnt at the stake, Mary Evelyn and her mother were buried in two separate places, although where Mary Rebecca is buried is unknown. The “little witch girl” will often appear as an average sized five year old wearing a white dress that’s scorched at the bottom, like her blond hair. People say that Mary Evelyn will “sleep” in the daytime, making it difficult to see her, but at night, her presence is very prominent. If you go to visit her, Mary Evelyn will make faces at you, and reach out as if trying to grab you. Many believe that although she can not escape the fence of crosses that surrounds her stone filled, steel grave, Mary Evelyn is looking for her long lost mother. There is a haunt that‘s not so much a sighting of a ghost, but a physical encounter with one. It says that if you lie on her grave, you will be held down, and not let back up unless somebody from the outside pulls you out. It also says that you are not supposed to do this alone, or you will be sucked into her grave with her, thus giving her more power. The legend of “the little witch girl” is very popular, but false. According to Mary Evelyn’s death certificate, she did not die of being burnt at the stake, but of peritonitis, an inflammation of the stomach lining. Also, her mother, Mary Rebecca Ford, was still living after her daughter’s death, but it is still unknown where she is buried. Neither was burned, or accused, of witchcraft, but it’s still a very interesting tale.

The second most well known haunting of Pilot Knob Cemetery is that of the malevolent spirit, “The Watcher”. Some say that he was murdered on the nearby swinging bridge, but came to Pilot Knob Cemetery to hurt the little girl. “The Watcher” can’t hurt Mary Evelyn, because of the fence around her grave, but whenever anybody comes near, he chases them away. Witnesses report that when they encounter “The Watcher”, a feeling of being watched will come about them, along with a feeling of fear accompanied by goosebumps. Occasionally, people will report that they heard voices or loud, heavy footsteps coming from behind them, usually associated with “The Watcher”. There’s one more notable spiritual experience that happens at Pilot Knob Cemetery. Supposedly, when you leave the cemetery, your car will not start. Many people have witnessed this, but their cars usually did start up in the end.

To get there, take North Main Street up to where it changes into Fords Ferry Road (past Pierce Street). On North Main Street, there will be a slight fork in the road, go straight, not right. Go two miles on Fords Ferry Road until you come to Pilot Knob Cemetery Rd. Continue on this road for .4 miles until you come to Pilot Knob Cemetery.

RESOURCES:

Wikipedia (2012) Marion, Kentucky. Retrieved 1/15/2012 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion,_Kentucky

N.A. (1998) Haunted Places in Kentucky. Retrieved 1/15/2012 from: http://www.theshadowlands.net/places/kentucky.htm

Gass, Bonnie (2007) Pilot Knob Cemetery Crittenden Co., KY. Retrieved 1/16/2012 from: http://www.westernkyhistory.org/crittenden/pilotknobcem.html

Fox, Tony (2008) Ghost Hunt #6. Retrieved 1/16/2012 from: http://www.the-unknown-truth.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93:ghost-hunt-5-11-30-08-witches-grave-pilots-knob-cemetery-marion-kentucky&catid=58:ghost-hunting-case-management&Itemid=96

Wheat A., Jake (2012) The Witch Girl of Pilots Knob. Retrieved 1/16/2012 from: http://www.louisvilleghs.com/LGHS_MASTER/SUB/Legends/Pilots%20Knob/pilots_knob.htm

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