The Sorrel-Weed House is one of the most significant houses in Historic Savannah. It was built in 1837 by Charles
Cluskey, a most highly acclaimed architect of his time. It's 16 thousand square feet makes it the largest house
in Savannah.
One distinguished member of the Sorrel family was Gilbert Moxley Sorrel, known as Moxley. Young Moxley was a bank
clerk in Savannah when the Civil War began. He fought with the Confederates, served as one of Lee's lieutenants,
was wounded three times by age of 26 and was the youngest to hold the rank of brigadier general. Later the house was
owned by the Weed family. The Sorrel-Weed House was designated a state landmark in 1953, the first house in Georgia
to be so honored. The house is also a National Trust Historic Landmark.
Mr. Francis Sorrel was originally from the island of Hispaniola and fled during the slave revolt of 1793. He was
born with the name François which he then changed to the English pronunciation of Francis when he came to America.
He was guilt ridden because he left behind his mother who died shortly after he left. Francis was only a quarter
black so when he came to the Southern states he was able to pass himself off as being white. He didn’t want this to
be known due to the fact of the prejudice against blacks at that time. This was how he married his Virginia blueblood
wife Lucinda and after she died he married her sister Matilda.
It 1861 is thought that Mr. Francis Sorrel was having an affair with one of his slaves named Molly. When his wife
Matilda caught them, she jumped to her death from the second floor porch of the main house. And as the story goes,
two weeks later Molly was found hung from the rafters of her room in the carriage house. This may be the reason
for some of the hauntings on this property.
- 1:30am-5:00am
- Scott and Sprout with guests Jesse and Carrie. Also guest and tour guide Katrina.
- Before starting our evening investigation we had a ghost tour given by Terry and Katrina. We invited Lisa and
Heidi Wyrick from “A haunting in Georgia” and Joyce Cathey author of “The Veil, Heidi Wyrick’s Story”. Also present
was Dave Schrader from “Darkness radio”
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The owner Steve Bader said that for 2 to 3 months his original office was in the basement. During that time in
his office he had felt agitated and uncomfortable. This room was originally the original kitchen ran by the
slaves. It presently represents a recreation of a Voodoo temple room that would have been used in Hispaniola.
This room is set up for the sole purpose of entertainment and conducting ghost tours for
Old Town Trolley Tours.
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Steve reports that in the double parlor on the first floor he has felt hot and cold spots.
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Steve now lives on the second floor and on several occasions he has heard what sounds like a party going on
downstairs. When he checks there is no one there and the sounds stop. Mr. Sorrel was known for having parties
that would start at 4pm and last until the wee hours of the morning.
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Steve has also heard in the middle of the night, what sounded like a marching band and bagpipers. During the
seize of Savannah a battle was fought on this land and during renovations in the courtyard they found part
of a tower.
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Past carriage house resident Chris, had heard the voice of a woman talking. He also had heard his name being called.
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In the Voodoo room people have had the feeling of being woozy and of someone standing right behind them.
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Tour guide Terry said that she had felt someone pulling on her pant leg in the room next to the Voodoo room.
