Mr. Justice Ghost

Samuel Chew was the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware until his death in 1744. His name was the object of many jokers and many of them faked sneezes when they saw him "Ah Chew" they would say. Others made chewing motions with their mouths.

He was fair and just in and out of court, and he was both liked and admired by the people of Dover.

After his death those who mocked him did so with more zeal, others couldn't see the point of mocking a dead man. But the spirit of Mr. Chew was not dead and it was adamant that the ridicule was going to end.

It was on a cold autumn night when Mr. Chews spectre made it's first appearance. A farmer, David Hendricks, was on his way to the tavern, where most of the farmers met after working the fields, when it rose up in the light of the moon. The black robes that Mr. Chew wore during his life now wavered in the night wind, and his wig shone much brighter in the moonlight.

Hendricks was cold and scared and, to his mortification, started sneezing. Needless to say, the ghost didn't like that and started chasing Mr. Hendricks. He ran all the way home and told his wife about the terrifying ordeal that he had just went through.

The next morning his wife told their neighbor about what happened and before to long the story had made its way through the town. The episode was finally forgotten.

One year later the miller, Peter Droongoggle, was on his way home with the wind blowing hard and rain and hail assaulting him. The wind blew his lantern to the ground. He reached down to pick it up and as he stood, there was the ghost of Mr. Chew right in front with him. Peter remembered that he had mocked the judge once and now regretted it. His face turned white, he dropped the lantern and ran.

Everyone in Dover stayed inside after dark, and the taverns were empty except for the owners. This continued every night and the tavern owners were worried about how to pay their bills.

One of the owners, Mistress van Loon, called a town meeting and said to the townspeople: "Our town was once a cheerful place filled with happy, satisfied people. We have all worked together side by side, each to his own talents, to make our town a haven of prosperity and safety for all. But now the ghost of our late Justice Chew roams the streets, frightening all of us."

"I have thought long and hard of how we might rid ourselves of this unwelcome spirit, and I think there may be a way. I have heard it said that in England a ghost who roams can be put to rest by giving it a nice burial."

She then explained that they must have another service for him, and a burial of an empty coffin. The townspeople agreed and gave Mr. Chew's "ghost" a funeral to top all funerals. That night the bravest men of Dover went passed the big poplar tree that the coffin was buried under. There was no sign of a ghost, and hasn't been since.