Penn Common is said to be the favorite haunting spot of several long-deceased men, soldiers who were executed upon the orders of Anthony Wayne.
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Geographic Information
- Address:
- Penn Common
York, PA
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 39.9561739, -76.72715879999998
- County:
- York County, Pennsylvania
- Nearest Towns:
- York, PA (0.4 mi.)
Grantley, PA (1.1 mi.)
West York, PA (1.3 mi.)
Valley View, PA (1.4 mi.)
North York, PA (1.5 mi.)
East York, PA (2.5 mi.)
Spry, PA (3.4 mi.)
Shiloh, PA (4.0 mi.)
Emigsville, PA (4.5 mi.)
Stonybrook, PA (4.9 mi.)
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You really can’t tell if it really haunted or not. There is a kids playground and waterpark there. You cant go through there at night time, because of the wanna be thugs trying to rob you.
The incident appears on pages 139 and 140 of author Charles H Kessler’s book “Lancaster in the Revolution; Sutter House Press, Lititz. Three different accounts are given. Wayne’s report to HQ; Lt Col., William Livingston Smith’s (of Webb’s Additional Continental Regt.); and one by Samuel Dewees , (a Capt. in Butler’s Regt. AKA the 2nd PA. Battalion). Dewees’ account was written thirty years after the fact and basically just gives the gist of Smith’s report so I’ll skip it.
Wayne’s report was dated May 20 (1781).
This is Smith’s report:
“12 of the soldiers stepped out of ranks and persuaded the line to refuse to march (Wayne says these men were on the right of each regiment). Wayne accused them of disgracing the army and themselves and called on the troops to shoot either him or the mutineers. He then called to such a platoon. They presented at the word, fired and killed six of the villains. (Wayne states that “while tears rolled down their cheeks in showers, these were their friends and messmates, they silently obeyed their orders without hesitation.) One of the others, badly wounded, he ordered to be bayonetted. The soldier whom he called on to do this, recovered his piece, and said he could not for he was a comrade. Wayne drew his pistol and said that he would kill him. The fellow then advanced and bayonetted him. Wayne then marched the Line by divisions around the dead and the remaining fellows were ordered to be hanged. “The Line marched the next day southward, mute as fish.”
So, six men were shot to death, one shot and bayonetted, and five were hanged.