The Headless Wanderer of Peddler Run

Nestled along the western bank of the Susquehanna River, just north of the Conowingo Dam, the story of Peddler Run became a haunting legend in the small community bordering Glen Cove. The stream, meandering through the woods and emptying into the river, carried not just water but also a tale that chilled the bones of those who heard it.

The legend begins over two centuries ago, in 1763, when a peddler known for his travels was found tragically decapitated on the farm of John Bryarly outside of Dublin, Maryland, on a stream called Rock Run. The locals, struck by the brutality of the act, buried his body in a shallow grave close to where he was found, changing the name of the babbling waters to Peddler Run.

Not long after, whispers of a headless ghost walking the creek’s banks began circulating. It was said that the peddler’s spirit roamed restlessly, wandering right down to Glen Cove, gazing forlornly over the vast expanse of the Susquehanna River.

The tale took a twist in 1843 when a local farmer stumbled upon a human skull near the creek. Believing it to be that of the unfortunate peddler, the community decided to bury the skull with the rest of the remains, hoping to give the troubled spirit some semblance of peace. Many thought this act would lay the peddler’s ghost to rest. However, the story was far from over.

As years turned into decades, the legend of Peddler Run refused to fade away, fueled by eerie occurrences that locals and visitors alike couldn’t easily dismiss. Boaters returning to Glen Cove late at night, their minds perhaps already filled with the tales told around campfires, reported seeing a spectral figure near the creek. Some described a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy form, while others spoke of a more distinct apparition – a headless figure dressed in tattered garments of a bygone era, standing silently by the water’s edge.

Every year, as the leaves began to turn and the nights grew longer, the story of Peddler Run was retold with new details and speculations. Some locals theorized that the ghost was searching for justice or perhaps for his lost head. Others suggested that the spirit was a guardian of the creek, watching over the waters that had been his final resting place.

The legend of the peddler’s ghost is a reminder of the mysteries that lurk in the shadows of the familiar. With its whispering waters and rustling trees, Peddler Run stands as a testament to the enduring power of stories, the kind that stay with us long after the campfire has died down.

Peddler Run at Glen Cove

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Read more stories like this in my first full-length book, Uncharted Lancaster’s Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure. This 283-page book is packed with 64 unforgettable stories, all set right here in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

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Resources

• Dublin, Maryland
• A Guide to the Ghosts and Hauntings of the American South
• Ghosthunting Maryland