The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND OF OCEAN-BORN MARY

THERE IS A HOUSE NEAR HENNIKER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, THAT IS THE SITE OF
THE LEGEND OF OCEAN-BORN MARY. THE STORY GOES THAT A SHIP OF IMMI-
GRANTS FROM ENGLAND WAS STOPPED BY PIRATES OFF THE MASSACHUSETTS
COAST. THE PIRATE CAPTAIN HEARD THE WAIL OF A BABY, AND HE
DEMANDED TO SEE THE CHILD. LEARNING THAT THE CHILD WAS UNNAMED, HE
ASKED IF HE COULD NAME IT, BECAUSE IF HE COULD, THEN NO HARM COULD
BEFALL THE SHIP. IT WAS AGREED, AND THE CHILD WAS NAMED MARY.
MARY WAS BROUGHT UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND HAD FOUR CHILDREN, WHO
LIVED NEAR HER.
THE PIRATE CAPTAIN, IN HIS OLD AGE, CAME BACK TO HENNIKER TO SETTLE
AND TO BE NEAR MARY.
THE LEGEND IS THAT ONE NIGHT, THE CAPTAIN BURIED A TREASURE CHEST
NEAR THE HOUSE. MARY, WHO WAS MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE, NEVER
REVEALED THE SECRET WHEREABOUTS OF THE TREASURE AND DIED OF OLD
AGE. TODAY, PEOPLE SAY THE PLACE IS HAUNTED AND THAT EVERY SPRING
AFTER THE HEAVY RAINS, GOLD PIECES CAN BE FOUND IN THE MUD. BUT
NO ONE HAS FOUND THE CHEST.

Where learned: NEW HAMPSHIRE ; MILFORD