CAPTAIN
GRANT’S INN
Preston, Connecticut
CAPTAIN GRANT’S INN
Sea captain William Grant built the house in Poquetanuck Village in 1754 for his wife, Mercy Adelaide Avery, and their children. The historic property was restored in the 1990s and opened as a bed-and-breakfast in 1995.
THE CASE
Grant eventually died at sea off the coast of North Carolina, while Mercy remained in the house for decades. The property passed through several generations of the Grant family. During the Revolutionary War, the house reportedly served as a garrison for Continental soldiers, and later accounts say it was used as a hiding place for people escaping slavery.
The Adelaide Room is considered the center of Captain Grant’s paranormal reputation. Guests and staff have reported seeing Mercy Adelaide Grant, the captain’s widow, appearing at the foot of the bed, on the staircase and sometimes with two children. Other reported activity includes a shower curtain repeatedly falling from its rod, televisions switching on and off, unexplained bangs, footsteps, objects disappearing and reappearing and disembodied voices.
Another reported spirit is Deborah Adams, a young girl said to be buried in a nearby cemetery. Stories claim she has been seen inside the inn, particularly in the Adelaide Room, and that investigators have recorded what they believe are children’s voices.
RISEUP investigators Julie Demay and Marlaina Gaboriault spent the night in the Adelaide Room, leaving recorders and cameras running for their entire stay. Two prominent events were documented that appeared to fall in line with prior reports of activity in the guest rooms.
