Mercy Brown’s Grave / Chestnut Hill Baptist Cemetery – Haunted Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island

Nestled in the rural countryside of Exeter, Rhode Island, lies a cemetery with a dark secret. Chestnut Hill Baptist Cemetery became the final resting place of Mercy Lena Brown in 1892.

Her grave marks one of America’s last documented cases of vampire exhumation. The story of Mercy Brown inspired countless vampire legends across New England.

This small cemetery continues to draw paranormal investigators and curious visitors from around the world. Many report strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena near Mercy’s weathered headstone.

The cemetery sits along Ten Rod Road in a quiet, unassuming location. Yet its history tells a tale of desperation, disease, and supernatural beliefs.

Historical Background

The Brown family tragedy began in December 1882 when Mary Eliza Brown died. She was the wife of George Brown and mother to their children.

Mary Eliza succumbed to tuberculosis, then known as consumption. This disease ravaged New England families throughout the 19th century.

In 1888, the eldest daughter Mary Olive Brown also died of consumption. She was only 20 years old when the disease claimed her life.

The family’s suffering continued when son Edwin Brown fell ill in 1891. He moved to Colorado Springs hoping the climate would cure his tuberculosis.

Mercy Lena Brown, the youngest daughter, contracted the disease in winter 1891. She died on January 17, 1892, at just 19 years of age.

Desperate neighbors convinced George Brown to exhume his deceased family members in March 1892. They believed one of the dead Browns was feeding on Edwin from beyond the grave.

On March 17, 1892, George Brown agreed to the exhumation. Local physician Dr. Harold Metcalf supervised the grim proceedings.

Mary Eliza and Mary Olive’s bodies had decomposed normally after years of burial. However, Mercy’s body appeared remarkably preserved despite two months in the frozen ground.

When Dr. Metcalf examined Mercy’s heart, he found liquid blood inside. The townspeople interpreted this as proof that Mercy was a vampire.

The doctor removed Mercy’s heart and burned it on a nearby rock. They mixed the ashes with water and gave the concoction to Edwin.

Edwin Brown died two months later on May 2, 1892. The vampire remedy had failed to save his life.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors to Mercy Brown’s grave report overwhelming feelings of sadness and despair. Many experience sudden temperature drops even on warm summer days.

Electronic devices frequently malfunction near her headstone, with cameras refusing to work properly. Cell phones drain their batteries rapidly within the cemetery grounds.

Witnesses describe seeing a young woman in Victorian-era clothing wandering among the headstones. She appears to be searching for something she cannot find.

Strange orbs and mists appear in photographs taken at the cemetery. These anomalies cluster most densely around the Brown family plot.

People hear soft crying and whispered voices when visiting after dusk. The sounds seem to emanate from the earth itself near Mercy’s grave.

Some visitors report physical sensations like being touched or grabbed by unseen hands. Others describe feeling watched by invisible eyes from the surrounding woods.

The cemetery gates have been found open on mornings after being securely locked. No evidence of forced entry or vandalism accompanies these mysterious openings.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Mercy Brown’s spirit is believed to haunt the cemetery where her desecrated body rests. Local legend says she seeks justice for the violation of her grave.

A paranormal investigation team from Providence visited in October 2003. They captured EVP recordings of a young woman saying “Why did they do this?”

One visitor named Sarah Mitchell reported seeing Mercy’s full apparition in 2008. Sarah described a pale young woman in a white burial dress standing beside the headstone.

The ghost reportedly looked directly at Sarah before fading into the evening mist. Sarah fled the cemetery and refused to return for years afterward.

Local resident Tom Carpenter told reporters in 2011 about his childhood experiences at the cemetery. He claimed to have seen blue lights hovering over Mercy’s grave multiple times.

Tom’s grandfather had warned him never to disturb anything at the Brown family plot. The old man believed Mercy’s spirit was restless and vengeful.

A group of college students from URI visited the cemetery on Halloween night 2015. Three of the five students became violently ill near Mercy’s grave.

They reported feeling intense nausea and dizziness that vanished once they left the cemetery. All three sought medical attention but doctors found nothing physically wrong.

Photography enthusiast Maria Santos captured what she believes is Mercy’s face in 2017. The image shows a translucent female face floating above the weathered headstone.

Maria submitted the photograph to paranormal experts who could not explain the anomaly. The image has since been featured in several paranormal documentary programs.

Local folklore warns against taking anything from the cemetery or touching Mercy’s headstone. Those who do supposedly suffer from nightmares and bad luck.

Several visitors have reported dreams of a young woman begging them to clear her name. These dreams begin the same night as their cemetery visit.

Most Haunted Spot

The Brown family plot represents the most active paranormal location within the cemetery. Mercy’s specific grave marker draws the strongest supernatural energy according to sensitive individuals.

Her headstone has been replaced several times over the years due to vandalism. Each replacement marker reportedly develops strange stains that resemble bloodstains within months.

The rock where Mercy’s heart was burned once sat near the cemetery entrance. It was removed in the 1950s but paranormal activity continued at its former location.

Visitors standing directly in front of Mercy’s grave report the strongest physical reactions. These include sudden chills, unexplained emotions, and feelings of being watched.

The area behind her headstone is where most photographic anomalies appear. Multiple photographers have captured the same swirling mist formation in this exact spot.

Can You Visit?

Chestnut Hill Baptist Cemetery is open to the public year-round during daylight hours. The cemetery is an active burial ground that deserves respectful treatment from all visitors.

There is no entry fee to visit this public cemetery. Parking is available along Ten Rod Road near the cemetery entrance.

No official guided tours are offered at this location. Visitors may explore the grounds independently during appropriate hours.

Photography is permitted within the cemetery grounds for personal use. Flash photography is discouraged out of respect for the deceased and other visitors.

The cemetery officially closes at dusk and nighttime visits are not permitted. Local police patrol the area and will remove trespassers found after dark.

The Exeter Historical Association offers occasional historical walking tours of local cemeteries. These tours sometimes include Chestnut Hill Baptist Cemetery during daylight hours.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity reports peak during the winter months of January through March. This period coincides with the anniversary of Mercy Brown’s death and exhumation.

March 17th attracts the most visitors as it marks the date of the 1892 exhumation. Many paranormal enthusiasts gather on this date hoping to witness supernatural phenomena.

Late afternoon hours between 4 PM and dusk produce the most frequent ghost sightings. The fading light seems to create ideal conditions for apparitions to manifest.

Halloween brings crowds of curious visitors despite no special activity reported on this date. Cemetery officials request extra respect during this busy holiday period.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Jennifer Rodriguez documented her 2019 visit in a detailed blog post. She described feeling overwhelming sadness that brought her to tears near Mercy’s grave.

Jennifer’s companion felt nothing unusual during the same visit. This suggests the phenomena may affect individuals differently based on sensitivity levels.

Paranormal investigator David Chen conducted overnight surveillance in 2016 with proper permissions. His team recorded unexplained temperature fluctuations dropping 30 degrees within seconds near the Brown plot.

David’s electromagnetic field detectors showed massive spikes at precise intervals throughout the night. These readings had no conventional explanation according to his equipment analysis.

Local newspaper The Narragansett Times published interviews with cemetery maintenance workers in 2012. Three workers independently reported seeing the same female figure in white near Mercy’s grave.

One maintenance worker named Robert Hayes refused to work alone in the cemetery anymore. He claimed the spirit followed him and appeared in his truck’s rearview mirror.

A documentary film crew from the Travel Channel visited the cemetery in 2018. Their sound engineer recorded unexplained voices that weren’t audible during the actual filming.

The voices appeared to be having a conversation in an old-fashioned dialect. Audio experts confirmed the recordings were not caused by equipment malfunction or radio interference.

Local Legends & Myths

Rhode Island folklore claims that Mercy Brown inspired Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. However, scholars note that Dracula was published in 1897, just five years after Mercy’s exhumation.

The timing makes it possible but not proven that Stoker heard about the case. The Mercy Brown incident did receive newspaper coverage throughout New England and beyond.

Local legend warns that saying Mercy’s name three times at her grave summons her spirit. Teenagers have dared each other to perform this ritual for decades.

Some believers claim that Mercy actually was a vampire and remains undead. They point to continued paranormal activity as evidence of her supernatural nature.

Another legend states that Mercy cursed the town of Exeter before dying. Proponents cite various misfortunes in town history as proof of this supposed curse.

The most persistent myth claims that Mercy’s ghost attacks anyone who defaces her grave. Several vandals have reportedly suffered accidents or illness after damaging cemetery property.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated the cemetery in 2004 for their television show. They captured thermal imaging evidence of a human-shaped cold spot near Mercy’s grave.

Team member Jason Hawes described feeling an oppressive atmosphere that affected his breathing. Fellow investigator Grant Wilson experienced unexplained equipment failures during their investigation.

New England Paranormal conducted a three-night investigation in October 2010. They documented over forty unexplained audio recordings and seventeen photographic anomalies.

Their most compelling evidence showed a full-body apparition captured on infrared camera. The figure matched historical descriptions of Mercy Brown’s appearance and clothing style.

Ghost Adventures considered investigating the location but ultimately chose other New England sites. Producer statements suggested concerns about cemetery access and filming restrictions.

Independent investigator teams visit the cemetery regularly to gather evidence. Many share their findings on paranormal websites and social media platforms.

Spirit box sessions conducted at the cemetery have yielded intelligent responses to questions. The name “Mercy” has been captured multiple times by different investigation groups.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Trespassing in the cemetery after dark is illegal and actively enforced by local police. Violators face fines and potential arrest for criminal trespass charges.

The cemetery is located along a dangerous curve on Ten Rod Road. Visitors must park completely off the roadway to avoid traffic hazards.

Weather conditions can make the cemetery grounds slippery and uneven underfoot. Appropriate footwear is essential for safely navigating between grave markers.

Vandalism and disturbance of graves carry serious legal penalties under Rhode Island law. Touching or removing items from graves may result in criminal charges.

The cemetery contains old grave markers that can be unstable or damaged. Visitors should never lean on or climb on any cemetery monuments.

Cell phone service can be unreliable in this rural area. Visitors should inform someone of their plans before visiting alone.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

The original rock where Mercy’s heart was burned has become legendary in paranormal circles. Though removed from the cemetery decades ago, its current location remains unknown to most.

Some collectors claim to possess fragments of this rock with supposed supernatural properties. These fragments allegedly cause nightmares and unexplained phenomena when kept in homes.

Mercy’s original headstone was stolen in the 1990s and never recovered. Paranormal researchers speculate that whoever took it experienced the curse firsthand.

The current headstone is actually the third replacement marker for Mercy’s grave. Each previous marker developed unexplained dark stains that resembled bloodstains.

Items left at Mercy’s grave by visitors sometimes disappear without explanation. These offerings vanish even when the cemetery has no other visitors present.

Photographs taken at the cemetery reportedly cause strange occurrences when displayed in homes. Multiple visitors have removed such photos after experiencing unexplained phenomena.