The Hidden History of Jessop Family Cemetery

A Lifelong Fascination with the Macabre

My fascination with all things creepy started early. By the time I was eight, I had seen almost every cheesy horror movie, devoured ghost stories, and idolized Vincent Price. The Jessop Family Cemetery was just another piece that deepened my love for the unusual. My parents hoped I’d grow out of it, but 26 years later, my passion for the macabre has only grown.

I grew up in Arizona but spend nearly every summer in Maryland and Pennsylvania visiting family. One of my aunts encouraged my obsession with the paranormal, filling my childhood with ghost stories and urban legends from Baltimore County.

A Hidden Cemetery Along Paper Mill Road

One summer, as we drove down Paper Mill Road, I noticed a break in the trees. A narrow path, and an old fence stood just beyond it, beckoning me to explore. I begged my mom to turn around and check it out. Thankfully, she was up for the adventure.

We followed the path* and soon uncovered a small, centuries-old cemetery hidden in the woods. *I know there’s no visible path in the middle picture below, but I swear it’s there!

Returning Year After Year

Every summer in Maryland, we made a point to visit that cemetery at least once. My mother and I wandered through the old graves, even though we had done this numerous times before. As I grew older and my trips to Maryland became less frequent, I found myself wondering about its history. By the time I started seriously researching paranormal sites and cemeteries, I had no idea what it was called or how to find it. I searched for years, with no luck.

Finally, I mentioned it to my aunt who lived nearby. She responded casually, ‘Oh yeah, that’s the old Jessop family cemetery.’ I should have asked her years ago!

The History of the Jessop Family Cemetery

Charles Jessop was known for his ‘remarkable beauty of the manly type.’ (Ladies try using that line with your significant other and see how he responds. Haha) In April 1786, he married Mary Gorsuch, and together they had 15 children, most of whom are buried in the Jessop Family Cemetery.

Jessop was a man of many talents. Throughout his life, he worked as an iron master, road contractor, bridge builder, farmer, and mill operator. He owned at least two mills, including the Beaver Dam Mill.¹https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/Baltimore%20County/BA-93.pdf

Buried Underwater: The Lost Cemeteries of the Reservoir

While researching this cemetery, I discovered that several nearby family plots had been flooded when the reservoir was built. Some remains were relocated, but at least one cemetery may still lie beneath the water.

I’m grateful this one survived. This cemetery will always be my favorite — it sparked my lifelong love and appreciation for cemeteries. Every graveyard holds the stories of those who once lived vibrant lives, and you never know who you’ll find buried within.