Reynolds Tavern

Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis is the oldest tavern in town, so it’s not really surprising to learn that it has its fair share of ghostly activity. The most commonly referenced spirit is Mary Reynolds, who inherited the property from her husband, William Reynolds, when he died in 1777. But there may be more.

A Little Family History

William Reynolds leased the land on which he built his tavern in 1747 from St. Anne’s Church and it was here that he probably intended to raise his family. His wife, Deborah Harper, had died the previous year. He also lost his two oldest sons, John and Thomas, in a drowning accident in July 1747. So, there he was, a widower with three young sons to feed. He opened a hat shop and a tavern in his new place to earn a living and soon married again. His next wife was Mary Howell, who was first his housekeeper, and by whom he had a daughter, Margaret.

Mary Reynolds died in 1785 and the running of the tavern fell to her daughter, Margaret trueman. Margaret’s husband Alexander left her a widow in 1792. In 1796, Margaret sold the property to John Davidson and his widow ran a boardinghouse on the property until 1811. Farmers National Bank then bought the former tavern.

Tracking down the family history of William Reynolds, is more than a bit challenging as few online sources agree on some of the basic facts and dates. One of the better sources for information about the tavern’s history is the Tavern’s website.

Reynolds Tavern Modern Manifestations

When Jill and Andrew Petit bought the Reynolds Tavern property in 2002, their renovations stirred things up. A power drill moved on its own, things disappeared only to turn up elsewhere a few days later, and food dishes would float off tables and onto the floor. Glassware sometimes explodes with no one nearby, and people hear singing from an upstairs bedroom. That upstairs bedroom is said to have been Mary Reynolds’ room and the bed in it has to remade often as it seems that Mary still uses the bed from time to time.