There is a home in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, that is said to be inhabited by the ghost of a murder victim. According to legend, the spirit belongs to a young woman named Ella M. Cropsey, whose family had moved with her to a plantation home in Elizabeth City from Brooklyn, New York, in 1898. The house came with 65 acres and can be found today at 1901 Riverside Drive.
Witnesses have reported a pale-looking woman moving through the home. Some have stated that they can see her looking through the second-story window. What is going on at the old Cropsey House?
Ella, also known as “Nell” by her family, caught the eyes of many different men through Pasquotank County, but she soon fell for the son of a sheriff named Jim Wilcox. The two were dating for a couple of years before Nell grew impatient with Wilcox, hoping he would finally ask for her hand in marriage. But Wilcox was hesitant. Allegedly, it wasn’t long before Nell decided to take matters into her own hands. She grew tired of waiting. So, Nell began flirting with other men in public, hoping to make Wilcox jealous enough to pop the question.
Unfortunately, the plan backfired. On November 20th, 1901, the couple fought. By 11:00 PM that night, Nell stepped outside with Wilcox, never to be seen again.
Nell’s sister Ollie reported hearing a loud bang against the backside of the house shortly after Wilcox left. Ollie investigated the noise, discovering a broken back door. Shortly after, a neighbor yelled outside about someone attempting to steal the family pig. When the rest of the family rushed downstairs, they discovered the front door was wide open. They noticed an item next to the inside of the door. It was Jim Wilcox’s umbrella, which Nell had gifted to him.
As one could imagine, the Cropsey family panicked. They urged the town to hurry and find Nell. Wilcox was the primary suspect, and as he waited in jail, Nell’s family continued searching for her. Over a month went by, and on December 27th, authorities called off the search. Nell’s mother eventually found her lifeless body floating in the Pasquotank River, not far from the family home. During the discovery, the Cropsey family received a letter giving a detailed account of what happened the night that Nell went missing.
Upon Nell discovering an unidentified man attempting to steal the family pig, he grabbed a large stick and knocked her unconscious. Shortly after, her body was dumped into the Pasquotank River. The letter included a map that showed where Nell was left, not far from where her mother found her.
Wilcox, facing charges of kidnapping and now murder, the community wanted him for themselves. They demanded Wilcox be turned over to them, but the Cropsey family pleaded for the angry mob to cease. They wanted swift justice for their daughter, not vengeance.
After a second trial, Wilcox was found guilty of second-degree murder, and the judge sentenced him to thirty years in prison. In 1920, Governor Thomas Bickett pardoned Wilcox. He continued maintaining his innocence until 1932 – When he passed away.
So, is Nell at rest? Or is she the pale figure people have spotted walking about in the Cropsey house? For the last hundred years, people have reported lights flickering, doors opening and shutting on their own, and have experienced gusts of cold air moving through the house.
Some believe that the deceased wants nothing more than to be remembered. If you visit the Cropsey House, give Nell a little wave. Who knows? She might even wave back or give you a cold shoulder.
Disclaimer: The Lantern does not profit from tourism or any businesses mentioned in our articles.
Written By: Izzy
Photo By: Island Life NC
Sources: https://islandlifenc.com/the-ghost-of-nell-cropsey/
