The Barbados Coffin Enigma
by Jon Blanchard

I do not believe ships full of coal have ever been spirited into the fourth dimension from the Sargasso sea and I feel there is probably as much rum as truth in the postulation that dead French troops patrol Georges Island in Halifax Harbour on cold foggy nights. But every so often a considerable curiosity like the Barbados Coffin Enigma is remembered and I am left wondering.

The Chase Vault is a 16th century cut stone structure carved into a coral ledge some seven miles from Bridgetown Barbados. You don't see them much around here in Nova Scotia, but they were relatively common in the islands amongst Slaver and Planter Classes who correctly feared their dead could become the object of revenge.

Originally built for James Elliot around 1724, Colonel Thomas Chase acquired the vault in the cemetery of the Christ Church Parish following the burial of Mrs. Thomasina Goddard in 1807 when it was discovered that James Elliot's remains and coffin were missing and assumed looted.

Colonel Chase was widely known for his cruelty and was not well liked by local society. However a large number of parishioners where at hand for the burial of the two year old Chase daughter in 1808, Mary Anna Maria.

Four years later in 1812, Mary Anna Maria's older sister Dorcas was buried in the vault following a 'withering sickness'. The last Chase daughter was buried in a lead coffin as was a style at the time and Colonel Chase himself passed away little more than a month later.

When the tomb was opened for the burial of Colonel Chase, the funeral party were shocked to find all three coffins strewn at odd angles around the tomb. It was held that grave robbers or slaves had again found a way into the crypt.

However, as it was common knowledge that nothing in the crypt was of any value and as the vault itself was sealed with a quarried 4x4 marble stone cemented in place - it was finally decided that the gravediggers themselves had some how disturbed the caskets to bury Colonel Chase.

So, finally, the lead coffin of Colonel Chase was placed, the vault resealed and the curiosity largely forgotten.

Four years later in 1816, the vault was reopened for eleven year old Charles Brewster Ames. Those in attendance stood silent as it was clear that all the coffins were again disturbed, including the 200+ pound coffin of Colonel Chase.

A brief investigation was undertaken to establish if the crypt was somehow flooding (despite the fact that lead coffins do not normally float) - or if a secret tunnel or burrow did indeed exist. To everyone's considerable consternation it appeared that the tomb was as secure and water tight as it was engineered to be and young Charles Brewster was installed in the crypt after the Chase/Goddard caskets where returned to their places.

Less than two months later Samuel Brewster passed away and the news of the coming burial lit across the island like a wildfire. Several parishes attended the public funeral, many wondering openly if Lucifer himself was resting at Christ Church cemetery.

It is said that several sturdy men fainted as the tomb was laid open - for the coffins were again in complete disorder - Mrs. Goddard's casket being badly damaged and her turbid remains spread across the tomb.

The Reverend Thomas Oderson, a respected and well trusted clergyman carefully examined the vault. Nothing could be identified that could in any way explain the extraordinary chaos that greeted the mourners. So shortly thereafter, Mrs Goddard having been returned to her hastily repaired coffin - the vault was again put in order and Charles Brewster laid to rest.

The vault was again opened in 1819 for Miss Thomasina Clarke and again found to be in complete disorder - the only coffin remaining untouched this time being that of Mrs. Goddard. The governor of the island, Viscount Combermere ordered a public investigation. Reverend Oderson was again consulted.

Honourable Nathan Lucas spoke to the record: "I examined the walls, the arch, and every part of the Vault, and found every part old and similar. A mason in my presence struck every part of the bottom with his hammer, and all was solid. I confess myself at a loss to account for the movements of these leaden coffins."

Lady Combermere wrote in her journal: "The displaced coffins were rearranged, the new tenant of that dreary abode was deposited, and when the mourners retired with the funeral procession, the floor was sanded with fine white sand in the presence of Lord Combermere and the assembled crowd. The door was slid into its wonted position and, with the utmost care, the new mortar was laid on so as to secure it. When the masons had completed their task, the Governor made several impressions in the mixture with his own seal, and many of those attending added various private marks in the wet mortar."

Finally, in the spring of 1820 the governor and several investigators returned to the vault having been forced to follow up on reports of noises in the crypt. They carefully examined the marble and the seals and they were unbroken. The ground surrounding the site was undisturbed. In short - the vault was as it had been left.

However to the complete stupefaction of the assembled investigators and several hundred curious islanders watching the workmen move the slab aside - the casket of Dorcus Chase was literally standing upside down on the lower steps of the entrance way, jammed between the slab and the entrance wall. Young Mary Anna Maria's lead coffin had been thrown so violently that it had chipped a stone wall. All the caskets were in complete disarray, however, the sand Viscount Combermere had spread had remained undisturbed.

The vault was again proved to retain no water or show any evidence of flooding. Subsidence and animal intrusion were carefully researched and again eliminated. The walls, floor and ceiling where sounded as were the surrounding vaults and graves and no sign of fault or egress could (or can) be found. Speculation regarding earth quakes and storm damage were investigated against the record and no events were found that could explain the movement.

In an effort to maintain public order - all the coffins were finally ordered removed from the vault to be buried separately across the island. James Elliot and his coffin remain missing to this day.

There haven't been any further strange reports since the tomb was emptied nor have the grave sites of any of the occupants been disturbed. The Chase Crypt itself still exists having remained unused since 1820 and can be visited in the company of the pastor at Christ Church parish, Oistins, upon appointment.