William Peckham

The ghost of William Peckham has been seen wandering about the campus of the University of Rhode Island for at least the past forty years. According to legend, William E. Peckham (1860-1884) killed his wife, Nancy, because he thought that she was being unfaithful. He was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged on July 11, 1884, the date on his tombstone. About a year after his execution, evidence came to light that he was innocent. The haunting and subsequent legend apparently began after a seance was held in the cemetery by members of the Chi Phi fraternity. According to the campus newspaper, the fraternity brothers, unaware of any details of Peckham's life, went to the cemetery in 1962: "It was a warm summer night, but the wind was still blowing strongly. They had brought a candle with them and were using it during the seance and the calling up of the spirit. It was lit on the tombstone of Peckham, but despite the strength of the wind, the flame did not flicker at all.

Text © Dr. Michael Bell