The first ghost documented the annals of New England history was that of Nellie Hooper Butler. She haunted a house in Machiasport, Maine. The year was 1799. It is said that over 100 people had seen and heard her apparition. Apparently after she died she haunted the cellar of her and her husbands home. Captain Butler had remarried after Nellie's death, and this was a broken promise, as he had told Nellie he would never marry again. Apparently she was going to hold him to his word and her noises made it very uncomfortable for the new Mrs. Butler.

In Salem, Massachusetts we find the House of Seven Gables. This is one of the most prominent houses, not only in New England, but in America. Nathaniel Hawthorne, who made the house famous, thought the property was haunted and so do many of the guides who work there today. The house has secret stairways, hidden closets, and large dark storage areas. The house not only sends out strange sounds, but guides have reported strange events. Toilets flush when no one has been near a bathroom. Door latches have been lifted up, (not down up) and doors have swung open with nobody standing on either side. Faucets have been known to go on when again no one was near a sink. Doors have been closed and key locked when no one was even close to the door, and keys have been taken out of the door, after the locking when no one was present. The sound of a child playing with toys has been heard in the attic area. Many times footsteps are heard that are unaccounted for.

Charles H. Johnson of Salem, a professional photographer, has taken a picture with two distinct images looking out the window. They were not there when the picture was snapped, but they were clear and obvious when the picture was developed. Local authorities think they are ghosts.