Ghosts and The Bible

by Donna L. Watkins

After we visited Westover Plantation in Charles City, Virginia, I read more information about it while I was adding historical information to my photos. I happened upon a forum post mentioning the ghosts that have been reported at Westover. I think ghosts are too lightly discussed by people without the understanding that is behind the reality of them.

Let's begin with what was reported at GhostVillage.com:

© 2010 Donna L. Watkins - Westover Plantation House
Charles City, VA

This stately plantation is said to be haunted by the lovely, Evelyn Byrd. Miss Byrd, was born in 1707. She was the daughter of William Byrd II. Mr. Byrd was a very prominent statesmen during the colonial era. He was an advisor to the governor of Virginia and the founder of the city of Richmond, to name just a couple of his jobs during his lifetieme.

Evelyn when she was young, was considered an intelligent child, but on the other hand she was also considered to be spoiled. Although, Evelyn has been dead for over 250 years, many witnesses have reported seeing her at Westover.

When Evelyn turned 10 years old, her father sent her to England to be schooled. It was here that Evelyn fell in love with a man, many historians believe to be, Charles Morduant. But her father was adamantly against the relationship. He ventured as far as telling Evelyn, "as to any expectation you may fondly entertain of a fortune from me, you are not to look for one brass farthing...Nay besides all that I will avoid the sight of you as of a creature detested."

So with heaviness of heart and reluctantly, Evelyn returned to Westover in 1726, forgetting the romance. But William Byrd would live to regret his decision. Because in 1737, Evelyn Byrd, many say died of a broken heart.  Evelyn has been spotted at Westover over the years. The first time was in about 1738, when Evelyn's dear friend, Anne Harrison, saw Evelyn walking towards her in the gardens of Westover.

Another relative of the Byrds, committed suicide here in 1777. William Byrd III was distressed over financial matters and committed suicide at Westover sitting in his favorite chair in his bedroom.  The first wife of William Byrd III, Elizabeth, was killed at Westover when a heavy cabinet fell on top of her, crushing her to death.

It is said that William Byrd III can still be seen at Midnight slumping over his favorite chair in his old bedroom. Elizabeth, it is said, you can hear her wailing still echoing through the halls of Westover, still waiting for someone to help her.

This caused a discussion between my husband and I on why ghosts inhabit such places. Believing them to be actual spirits that obviously did not go to Heaven at the time of death, since "to be 'absent from the body' is to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8), we could only assume they were demonic spirits.

Randal decided to do a bit of digging online and after he sent the information to me to read, I thought it would be a good thing to share this topic here on since many people discuss ghosts without knowing anything about them.

So, here's a few links to review:
What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts/Hauntings from GotQuestions.org
What Does The Bible Say About Ghosts from GetChristianAnswers.com
What The Bible Says About Ghosts and Psychics from AngelFire.com

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