local folklore claims that mary ellis came to new brunswick, nj in the 1790's to stay with her yournger sister, margaret. it was during this time, that mary fell in love with a sea captain, who sailed down the scenic raritan river and out to sea, leaving his beloved horse behind for her to care for and vowing that when he returned, they would be wed. mary rode his horse down to the river bank from her sister's house, on what is now livingston avenue to anxiously await her lover's return. in 1813, she purchased a plot of land on the banks of the river from where she could maintain a constant vigil. mary, unfortunately died there 14 years later, never to see her love again. she was buried there and eventually joined by her sister and other family members, and according to locals...the captain's horse. the plot originally lay in a plot of woods surrounded by a wrought iron fence, but over the years the land has changed ownership, becoming the home of everything from a flea market to what is now a movie theather. but through all the seasons of change, one thing has remained the same. mary ellis's constant vigil. still it seems she waits for her love to return and will go on waiting for eternity.
her plot sits about 7 feet above the asphalt, because the parking lot has been graded once or twice, putting her on a high pedastal for everyone to see. kind of. there is still a wrought iron fence protecting her, with no stairway up. if you wish to pay your respects close up, i hope you like to climb. or bring a ladder, which i did not. i resorted to parking my car as close as i could so i could stand on it to get a better view. it appears to have been neglected as of late and the gate was open, to welcome visitors, i guess.
although mary's story is quite sad, there is an interesting side story. it has been suggested that the song 'brandy' written and performed by the band, 'the looking glass' in 1972 was an ode to mary ellis. the band was formed at rutger's university in new brunswisk, but they deny that the song was written about her. but you decide for yourself. according to the song's lyrics, brandy was in love with a sea captain who could not leave his true love, the sea, to marry her. does her tale sound familiar??
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