John Wesley and “Old Jeffrey”

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS
DAVE HANSON

Did you know that the Wesley family had a very active ghost in the Epworth parsonage? While John Wesley was off at Oxford strange things began to happen back at Epworth. Footsteps were heard in the night coming up the stairs. Loud banging occurred. A noise like a chain being dragged startled everybody in the house. When this would happen their dog, “Jack” would crawl under the bed. Jack was a large Mastiff who was usually fearless.

These noises seemed to get worse whenever the King was mentioned. These events happened so often the children became accustomed to them. They even named the ghost “Old Jeffrey” after a previous occupant of the parsonage who had died there.

All this fascinated John Wesley, who tried his best to explain how these things could happen. John’s father, Samuel, had always said that John wanted to know the reason for everything.