The not so Haunted Rose Hall
© Copyright 2010 Miami Paranormal Research Society
{This article cannot be republished on any other website or in print without permission from the author.}
The haunting of Rose Hall in Montego Bay Jamaica is legendary. It goes like this: Annie Palmer was reportedly born in France and learned Voodoo by from a Priestess while living in Haiti. By the time she moved to Jamaica, she had already buried two husbands. Palmer had a reputation for seducing her slaves and murdering them when she wished to end the affair. Annie met her end when an angry plantation Overseer sought revenge. She was buried on the grounds of Rose Hall Plantation in a specially designed tomb that was supposed to ensure that her spirit did not return to commit more evil deeds. Is is widely believed that her spirit does haunt this property. Annie’s cruel nature, practice of black magick and the strange occurrences on the property since her death, perpetuate the legend of the woman who has become infamously known as the White Witch of Rose Hall.
Annie Palmer is said to have been a petite woman, standing just four feet tall and that she owned a very large sugar plantation. She ruthlessly responded to any perceived any defiance with public whippings, torture and even murder. Whenever Annie tired of her lover, she murdered them and had them buried in unmarked graves on the grounds of Rose Hall.
It is claimed that she murdered her husband John Palmer in bed no less. The legend says that she murdered two other husbands after John Palmer’s death so that she could take control of their vast fortunes. Annie Palmer has been accused of some atrocious and disgusting deeds including sacrificing babies for her black magick.
Her death was at the hand’s of a plantation Overseer. This Overseer’s daughter was engaged to another young slave at the plantation. This young slave was soon called upon to be her latest lover. True to her murderous pattern Annie killed him, leaving the Overseer’s daughter a heartbroken wreck and the Voodoo practicing Overseer fit with rage. Because Annie Palmer was supposed to be a very powerful Mambo she was buried in a specially designed tomb on the grounds of the plantation. Despite this something went wrong at the burial ceremony and all sorts of paranormal activity has been reported on the property. Rose Hall which has been turned into a museum has become a ghost hunter and psychic paradise. Many visitors claim to have taken anomalous photographs. Psychics have “validated” the long held belief that this wicked Annie Palmer’s ghost lingers here. Many of the well known paranormal authors have published re-tellings of this same story. An incredible tale like this would certainly prove profitable for tourism and book sales. What could be an explanation for this haunting? Why does the ghost of the murderous Annie Palmer haunt Rose Hall? Rule number one, before you can explain something, make sure it really happened first.
It is true that you will not find historical documents relating To her life prior to her life prior to moving to Rose Hall. Many have presented mere speculation as to her temperament. How did Annie Palmer come to be so cruel? These are the same questions that have captivated the imaginations of those researching the equally infamous Madame Delphine Lalaurie of New Orleans. The only “evidence” of the legend itself is a far fetched murderous tale published in a pamphlet by James Castello in 1868. In 1928 author Herbert G. Lisser elaborated on that story in his Jamaican novel “The White Witch of Rose Hall.” After Lisser’s novel was published people started spinning spooky yarns about the place, claiming to see specters and mysterious blood stains. Adding to the haunted atmosphere at that time the novel was published, the once magnificent mansion stood in ruin and remained so until the 1980s. According to island historians there really was a woman named Annie Palmer and the novel was based loosely on her. How loosely you ask? Although I hate to rain on anybody’s ghostly parade, Their only connection is in name only.
There is absolutely no evidence that she ever committed murder practiced voodoo or remarried after the death of John Palmer. It first appears that Annie Palmer never existed at all and that these are just island lore handed down one generation after another. However the record had been officially set straight 46 years ago by a Jamaican historian. All of these years it seems no one was listening.
This evidence pointing to Annie Palmer being a real person is in a relatively unknown historical report written by Geoffrey Yates in 1965. Yates was an assistant Archivist at the Jamaican Archives. Annie Mary Palmer nee Paterson was born in England in 1802. She was the only child of John Paterson ESQ. There is no mention of her studying voodoo but she did travel the Caribbean during her childhood. At the age of 18, Annie married John Rose Palmer on March 2c 1820 at Mount Pleasant, st. James. There was a second ceremony
while the couple honeymooned in England according to an announcement to an announcement in the Royal Gazette. The real Annie Palmer was only married once.
According to Mr. Yate’s report the couple did live at Rose Hall but their lifestyle was far from lavish. Contrary to the 1928 novel the real Palmers suffered financial hardship. John Rose Palmer inherited the plantation from his great uncle the Hon.John Palmer. Custos of St. James.
The mansion was built around 1770 on the same site as a previous residence that had also been known as Rose Hall. The estate was named for Hon. John Palmer’s second wife Rose Kelly, whom had been married four times and to whom he was married for a quarter of a century when she died in 1790.
The reason for Annie Palmer and her husband John Palmer’s financial trouble despite ownership of Rose Hall lays in the fact that great uncle Hon. John Palmer, had remarried to a young woman named Rebecca Ann James after the death of Rosa Kelly. Under a marriage agreement she continued to receive a weekly annuity from the profit from Rose Hall and a and a second estate called Palmyra. The Hon. John Palmer had considerable debt himself and further indebted himself when he built Rose Hall. Indeed he was living beyond his means on credit. About 5 years prior to his death his creditors foreclosed and he mortgaged rose hall and Palmyra which forced him to move into a modest abode at Brandon Hill where he died in 1797.
Despite the litigation the original owner and his heirs did retain some rights to the property. John Palmer grand nephew of the hon. John Palmer came to Jamaica in 1818 intending to assert himself as the legal heir and take control of the estate. Contrary to the legends there is no evidence to support any claim that he or his wife Annie Palmer owned any slaves. John Palmer did in 1827 at the age of 42 and all his wife of 7 years obtained was debt. John Palmer was buried in St. James Angelican church yard in Montego Bay. John Palmer’s obituary published in the Kingston Chronicle published a few days after his death spoke of his character and notoriety “his intrinsic worth, kind heart and generous disposition obtained him the esteem of all his acquaintance,but to his family,and these friends who had the pleasure of being intimate with him,his loss is irreparable.” Mr. Yates specifically pointed out that there was no murder,no evidence of any murder and no hint of motive. Surely if foul play were involved it would not go unnoticed for the sheer fact of his prominence. Annie did not remain at Rose Hall after his death but instead relocated to another part of the island. She sold what small right she had to rose hall in 1830 to a Dr. Bernard. In fact there is no historical records to show that the Palmers even lived at Palmyra or Rose Hall from about 1792.
Annie Palmer died in 1846 in Bonavista near Anchovy having never remarried. She was not murdered by anyone either but died of natural causes at the age of 44. Both she and her husband were model citizens. Annie Palmer was not
buried in any tomb on the grounds of Rose Hall. She was buried in the Montego Bay church yard with Rev. T.Garrett officiating. There is no tombstone that has survived to mark her grave but her burial record can be found at the church.
The supposed grave that we see in photographs at Rose hall, the very one that tour guides caution visitors about approaching is not a grave at all. This story is so wide spread and readily accepted as factual that even findagrave.com got it wrong. They allowed a contributor to create a burial record for this supposed evil Annie Palmer on the Rose Hall property. Just goes to show you how unreliable Internet sources can be.
All of the psychics and ghost hunters who claim that the plantation is haunted by the wicked Annie Palmer are fraudulent. Could Rose hall really be haunted? Sure. But the fact is these psychics have claimed to have communicated or felt the presence of the fictionalized Annie Palmer who never existed and the details and events they claim to “see” never happened. None of these psychics or ghost hunters have ever ever been able to connect with a not so wealthy, not so evil, or murderous Annie Palmer. Never mind the authors who have published this story in books and on websites without doing much if any historical research. The spirit of the real Annie Palmer would have every reason to be angry at the slanderous tales told about her to this very day. If anything these people should be haunted for telling such horrible lies about this woman. It is my hope that this information will be repeated and these lies will cease to be told. May Annie Palmer finally rest in peace.
Has the tomb on the grounds ever been opened?
There is no tomb on the property.
@ Miamighost There is a tomb on the property. I went to Rose Hall in 2008. I have pictures of the tomb.
Sure you may have pictures of that marker on the property and sure, the paid tour guides tell people that is the grave of Annie Palmer (to propell the legend) but it DOES NOT serve as a tomb. No one is buried there.
Im appalled at the audacity of those who digged this up.Having realised that there were no murders,voodoo,slaves or anything that would leave lasting vestiges what was the point of revealing it? The stories of Rose Hall serve as a mark of West Indian history or at least a byproduct of it.So what if its a tourist attraction and capitalises on the notoriety surrounding it.Although anyone would expect an American to sniff out where the money is.Stick to weeding out ghosts in North America and stay out of West Indian history and culture.
@Ambika. What you should be appalled at are the lies that have been told here. TRUTH is the point of revealing this. The legends of Rose Hall are built upon lies. If there were no deaths, then there are most certainly no ghosts. Go be a troll somewhere else. For those of you who want to hear truths, read on.
Amika thanks for turning this into a racial issue. How can you claim this is a part of your “history” when it never happened? Annie Palmer was a white lady who never did any of the things that she has been accused of doing. It’s time to set that record straight. An innocent woman has been vilified for almost two centuries in the name of your “culture?” Gee, that’s really something to be proud of.
Oh sure. Shame on you guys for telling the truth! How dare you. Oh I am sooo offended that you people would dare speak the truth and shatter the illusion of our history. I agree completely with Sade. How can you claim to be so proud of a history that never even happened? There is nothing wrong with being proud of your culture. Do not misunderstand what is being said here. But this story that has been told about Annie Palmer for generations has defamed a real lady. People still want to believe that she did these horrible things but facts do not support those tales. Sure, be proud of your culture and heritage, but have honor and be truthful.
@Ambika, let me get this straight; if a black man, or an Hispanic man were to be accused of heinous atrocities, convicted in public opinion, and vilified for centuries, would that be okay with you? Is it okay if I accuse you of murder at a time when you are incapable of defending yourself? Or is it only okay for white women? Furthermore, are you saying it’s crucial that the West Indian culture live in ignorance of the past? Does this make it okay for it for you to then make offensive comments toward my nationality? Well, I don’t have to tell you. You already know what you can go do with yourself.
Well I wasted my time at Rose Hall. That’s a shame for centuries that Annie Palmer be accused if things she didn’t do. Thanks for the info.
Why do you say you wasted your time? It is still a piece of Jamaica’s history, and perhaps one of the oldest surviving buildings. No part of history is a waste…
When I said I wasted my time, was because the tour guide spoke only of Annie Parker and in not such a good way. Don’t get me wrong, it was a very beautiful place and I would definitely go again without a “tour guide” so to speak.:)
@Dee. I wouldn’t say that you wasted your time. Rose Hall is a beautiful place. It is full of history, but the embellishment of Annie Palmer is what draws the crowds.
Ambika is no longer allowed to post here. This person’s obvious disdain for American citizens is quite disturbing and suspicious. This is not the place for such comments.
I don’t think that these comments represent what the people of TRINIDAD really believe. And its shocking that a post about the true history of Rose Hall could spark such hatred. This person has been sent a notice to cease and desist and has been reported to the proper authorities.
Thanks for the information Miami PRS…The whole purpose of being a ghost investigator is to find the truth behind the stories…We might have heard stories and lores about the beautiful Rose Hall but wouldnt it be nice to know what really happened and possibly find cold hard facts…Indeed, the place is majestic and beautiful but people need to know the truth. Maybe at those early times they didnt like the way Annie Palmer ran the plantation so people gossip…Word of Mouth is a pretty good instrument of delivering news and quite effective. The stories might have been colorful and interesting but the truth has to prevail.
The tales of Rose Hall have all the makings of a genuine Urban Legend, as related by people not aware of its true history. It’s unfortunate that the previous owners are having their memories embellished and slandered in the name of commerce and the tourist trade. Tour guides generally know what kind of stories people enjoy, and they certainly have had fun and profit from this one. A step towards a more edifying image of Rose Hall would be to have the true history of the place verified and published by genuine historians, either through a historical society or local university.
Thank you for your comments femsage.
“A step towards a more edifying image of Rose Hall would be to have the true history of the place verified and published by genuine historians”
We have made that step. The author of this article is an historian. This article actually was first published in her news column.
TJW…..So…….if I understand you correctly, you state that just because I believe (actually=KNOW) spirits exist, that I have a “fear of death”?? Hmmmm….I see. Well.. dig it, Buddy… I’ll soon drift off into a sound, peaceful sleep tonite with a grin on my face, because I KNOW it’s only a matter of time before your world gets rocked. And when the paranormal does happen to you….it’ll be as if somebody hit you upside the head with a cold, wet fish. It WILL get your attention. Please be man enough to admit that you were wrong when it does. Best of luck!
The fact of or should i say the myth of ghost existing is still a myth to me. It is as such.. If you are told that some thing happen some where your mind portrays the place as it was told to you for it is an onset to what you were led to believe. As in Count Drac being linked to a real person it is merely a story handed down by people’s past fears or should i say uneducated minds. To stain someones existence for the love of money is typical for the ones looking to make an easy buck off of common people. This is merely one of over a 1000 lies that are told about people in the past. Like when your mother of father would not want you to do something like open a closet door, some would use phrases such as their’s a ghost in there or a monster . Linked that to a home or a real person to keep children out of an abandon building.. Some are never told the truth so they hand it down from one generation to the next. Ghost are a myth..Never has there been ANY real proof of their presents and the ones that are can most likely be proven wrong as this one has. If there was ghost of humans.. Why not dogs,cats, even beetles? To believe childish fairy tales merely means the fear of death lies within you.
I blame the show “Ghost Adventures” for contributing to the Annie Palmer story. I’m actually glad these horrible things didn’t happen. But, I am appalled at Ghost Adventures for not telling the truth. Can they, or any of these TV ghost hunters be trusted when they have to turn in an “exciting” show every week. Actual ghost hunting, like most scientific research can be tedious.
As for poor maligned Annie, as Oscar Wilde said: “No publicity is bad publicity.”
Fascinating article. In 1965, I was fortunate enough to visit Rose Hall before it was purchased and renovated. The aura of history surrounding it then was awesome. One afternoon, my mother hired a taxi to take us out to the hall. The driver, (Jamaican) warned us that the house was haunted by “duppies” and that he would not take us all the way up to the house. Sure enough, he parked some distance down the dirt road leading up to Rose Hall, and Mom and I had to hoof it the rest of the way. Before we started out, he warned us that he would be leaving at dusk, as that was when the duppies came out. The hall was in ruins and the grounds deserted except for Mom and me, so you can imagine the eeriness of exploring. I, of course, subsequently bought the book “The White Witch of Rose Hall” and believed much of it for many years. However, even knowing the truth takes nothing from that experience. I have mixed emotions about what has been done to Rose Hall since.
I recently just visited Rose Hall. Among other things I was told that slaves were beheaded in the back yard while Annie watched. I was also told that slaves were tortured in the basement and on and on. I was never told that this was a FABLE. I was really upset at the time of the tour to think that blacks were treated that way and I do think it is a misrepresentation especially when we know how horrible slavery was to so many. Especially in the West Indies.
looks like this truthful article angered some people running the tours at Rose Hall. Some very questionable comments were made, but will not be posted as it would be a waste of bandwidth. Although this person left us a bogus email address to cover up their identity, they originated from the IP address of 66.54.114.210- Montego Bay Jamaica, This IP has been blacklisted and any further harassment will be reported to the authorities. Anonymous comments have ZERO credibility.