Grancer Harrison
Encyclopedia
William "Grancer" Harrison (1789–1860), aka The Dancing Ghost of Grancer Harrison, is the subject of several ghost stories about his alleged spirit seen dancing at his grave-site near Kinston, Alabama
. The story was featured in the book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey
. Originally covered by a large wood-frame grave shelter, the tomb has been vandalized and rebuilt several times in the last 50 years, with the most recent vandalism at the cemetery in 2010. The tomb itself was last reconstructed in 2005.
sometime in the 1830s and established a large plantation
near the junction of Cripple Creek and Pea River in an area just out outside of what is now Kinston, Alabama. The Harrison's plantation was built on a high bank overlooking Pea River
. Grancer and wife Nancy had several children. They included Elizabeth, Mary, Charlotte, James M., Frances, Sarah, John A., William A., Moses M., & Martha Jane.
The years passed and Grancer was faced with the fact that he would not live forever, so he began to prepare for his final arrangements. Slaves were sent to the nearest brick kiln in Milton, Florida
, and work began on the large above ground tomb he intended to be buried in. Grancer was to be buried in the tomb with his dancing clothes and his clogs on, lying on his feather bed. The burial site was within earshot of his beloved dance hall so that he could still be a part of it in some way. The end for Harrison finally came in 1860 and his burial orders were followed exactly. The Saturday night dances continued for a while but without Harrison it just wasn't the same and the dance hall soon fell into ruin.
Then people began to tell tales of passing the Harrison Cemetery late on a Saturday night and hearing the eerie sounds of fiddling and dancing coming from the cemetery. Other stories had passers-by reported hearing the deep booming voice of a man calling out square dances and being accompanied by a fiddle.
The Harrison Cemetery along with Harrison's Grave was again vandalized on July 30, 2010. Approximately 50 headstones were overturned.
Kinston, Alabama
Kinston is a town in Coffee County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 602. It is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Kinston is located at .According to the U.S...
. The story was featured in the book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey
13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey
13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey is a book first published in 1969 by folklorist Kathryn Tucker Windham and Margaret Gillis Figh. The book contains thirteen ghost stories from the U.S. state of Alabama. The book was the first in a series of seven Jeffrey books, most featuring ghost stories from a...
. Originally covered by a large wood-frame grave shelter, the tomb has been vandalized and rebuilt several times in the last 50 years, with the most recent vandalism at the cemetery in 2010. The tomb itself was last reconstructed in 2005.
Background
Harrison was born in the old Ninety-Six District, Edgefield County, South Carolina circa 1789. He came to Coffee County, AlabamaCoffee County, Alabama
Coffee County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General John Coffee. As of 2010 the population was 49,948. Its county seats are Elba and Enterprise....
sometime in the 1830s and established a large plantation
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
near the junction of Cripple Creek and Pea River in an area just out outside of what is now Kinston, Alabama. The Harrison's plantation was built on a high bank overlooking Pea River
Pea River
The Pea River is a tributary of the Choctawhatchee River near Geneva, Alabama. It is a popular destination for those with canoes and other small boats, as well as fishermen seeking bass, sunfish, or mullet....
. Grancer and wife Nancy had several children. They included Elizabeth, Mary, Charlotte, James M., Frances, Sarah, John A., William A., Moses M., & Martha Jane.
The Ghost Story
Grancer was a successful cotton planter and is said to have owned the largest number of slaves in the county. His slaves dubbed him "Grand-sir", which became shortened over time to Grancer. He hosted barbecues, dances, and horse races every Saturday possible. He loved these things so much that he had his slaves build a large dance hall just for the parties he sponsored. Grancer had a pair of clogs, or dancing shoes, that he wore just for the parties he loved so well.The years passed and Grancer was faced with the fact that he would not live forever, so he began to prepare for his final arrangements. Slaves were sent to the nearest brick kiln in Milton, Florida
Milton, Florida
Milton , or Milltown, because Milton had the largest mill around) is a city in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated in 1844 and is home to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The population was 7,045 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
, and work began on the large above ground tomb he intended to be buried in. Grancer was to be buried in the tomb with his dancing clothes and his clogs on, lying on his feather bed. The burial site was within earshot of his beloved dance hall so that he could still be a part of it in some way. The end for Harrison finally came in 1860 and his burial orders were followed exactly. The Saturday night dances continued for a while but without Harrison it just wasn't the same and the dance hall soon fell into ruin.
Then people began to tell tales of passing the Harrison Cemetery late on a Saturday night and hearing the eerie sounds of fiddling and dancing coming from the cemetery. Other stories had passers-by reported hearing the deep booming voice of a man calling out square dances and being accompanied by a fiddle.
Vandalism
Another tale concerning Harrison's grave claimed that Grancer had a large sum of gold buried with him and still others claimed that he buried gold near the old dance hall. Vandals solved the mystery of the gold in his tomb in 1964 when they blew it open with dynamite. There was no gold and they succeeded only in destroying the tomb and scattering Harrison's skeletal remains.The Harrison Cemetery along with Harrison's Grave was again vandalized on July 30, 2010. Approximately 50 headstones were overturned.