The Plains of Abraham
Hello, Friends!
Welcome back to our first episode in a 16-part series on Haunted Quebec. Over the next few months, we will explore some of the creepiest ghost stories associated with the Canadian province’s most famous buildings and areas.
First up? The Plains of Abraham.
The Plains of Abraham - A Short History
On September 13, 1759, during the Seven Years’ War, a battle began on a plateau just outside the walls of Quebec City. The land originally belonged to a local farmer, Abraham Martin, hence the name the Plains of Abraham.
Fought between the French Army and the British Navy, the battle culminated in three months of careful planning by the British. The fight included less than 10,000 troops and lasted less than an hour.
Many soldiers died that day, including 658 British and 650 French.
The Generals on both sides also sustained life-threatening injuries. Still, the British General, James Wolfe, refused to die until he heard the news that the French had retreated and begun evacuating the city.
And why is this battle so important in terms of Canadian history?
The resulting loss for the French led to British control of Canada. While The French attempted to regain control of Quebec City in the spring and managed to force the British to retreat behind the walls, they never again retook the city. The battle of the Plains of Abraham also indirectly helped to push the Loyalists North, which impacted the American Revolution.
In the years after the battle, the Plains of Abraham became a dangerous area, where hangings, crimes, and murders took place.
Today the Plains of Abraham make up part of Battlefield Park, a beautiful part of Quebec City where tourists and locals visit year round.
The Haunting of The Plains of Abraham
With such an awful bloody history, is it any wonder that many claim to see ghosts and spirits wandering the Plains of Abraham?
The Soldiers
When walking the Plains of Abraham, many visitors claim to catch the scent of sulfur or gunpowder in the air.
Others seem convinced they hear loud, booming shots reminiscent of cannon fire, especially at night. It’s odd because the city clearly states they’ve never set off a cannon at night.
La Corriveau
The spirit of a woman named Marie-Josephte Corriveau, otherwise known as La Corriveau, is often sighted at the Plains of Abraham.
In 1763 La Corriveau was hung at the gallows there for the murder of her second husband.
But here’s the thing.
There’s no evidence that La Corriveau murdered her husband.
According to those in the know, La Corriveau’s second husband was found dead in his barn, with injuries to his head. After an examination, the doctors stated that a horse likely had kicked him in the head.
However, being 1763, the British courts weren’t kind to La Corriveau. There also happened to be a lot of bad blood between the families. So it didn’t take long for rumors to start that implicated La Corriveau and planted the hatchet in her hand.
She was publicly hung at the Plains of Abraham without a fair trial. Her body was then exposed, put in a cage with chains, and displayed for several weeks.
Here’s where it gets even creepier.
As the Canadian urban legend goes, a traveler passed by the place where the city had displayed La Corrveau’s body. He heard an eerie tick-tock sound and soon realized it came from the wind rattling through La Corriveau’s cage and her bones.
Feeling pity for her, the traveler recited her last rites. And through the darkness, La Corrvaue came alive.
She reached for the traveler and jumped on his back, demanding he take her to Île d’Orléans, just across the St. Lawrence River. She wanted nothing more than to reunite with her fellow witches on the Sabbath.
The traveler woke up the next day with an empty liquor bottle beside him. He deduced that La Corravue drank its contents.
(But I think we can all come up with a more obvious conclusion. 😉)
Visiting the Plains of Abraham
I've visited the Plains of Abraham a few times.
There, you’ll see a few leftover mementos from the war, like, cannons and towers.
When you take in the view, it’s not hard to imagine the terror and brutal way many soldiers died or became injured during the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. While there are a few rolling hills, the land is relatively flat. So escape from gunshots, cannon balls, or the end of a sword seems rather unlikely.
Like other historical and blood-soaked fields I’ve visited, I’ve never experienced anything sinister or creepy at the Plains of Abraham.
I’ve never encountered an injured soldier wandering across the field, smelled gunpowder, or heard anything but the wind rustling through the fall leaves.
I do, however, want to visit the Plains of Abraham at night. Of course, this is when most paranormal activity in the area is recorded, so I think it only fair to give any spirits who’ve remained behind the chance to show themselves.
If you liked this post, feel free to share it with all your paranormal, ghost-loving friends!
And remember to let me know what you think in the comments, or hit that like button for more fun ghoulish content.
As always, thanks for reading! ✌️🖤👻