The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GHOST STORY

"I COME FROM A VERY OLD TOWN IN NEW JERSEY THAT WAS
SETTLED BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IT WAS ISOLATED
AND THE PEOPLE THERE WERE VERY STRICT. THERE WAS
A CURFEW AND OTHER VERY STRICT LAWS. THERE WAS ALSO A
TRUANT OFFICER THAT EVERYONE CALLED 'OLD NED.' OLD
NED WOULD RIDE AROUND THE STREETS AT NIGHT AT A CERTAIN
TIME OF CURFEW AND COLLECT ALL OF THE LITTLE CHILDREN
THAT WERE STILL OUT PLAYING AND HE WOULD SCOLD THEM
OR TAKE THEM HOME OR TAKE THEM TO JAIL. THE CHILDREN
WOULD GET INTO TROUBLE BY THEIR PARENTS. HE WAS A
ROTTEN, MEAN OLD MAN. AND IT IS SAID THAT AT CERTAIN
TIMES OF THE NIGHT YOU CAN STILL HEAR OLD NED RIDING
AROUND THE STREETS YELLING AT THE KIDS." CN[ CHRISTIAN, SHIRLEY 832917
C1[ 1780 CASGRAIN

Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; CARTERET

Date learned: 00001973CA