Cemeteries are inherently eerie places, often evoking thoughts of mortality and the inevitable end that awaits us all. But these places become even more chilling when associated with supernatural phenomena that defy explanation. One such tale is known as the Mystery of the Moving Coffins. To uncover the details of this story, we must journey to the sun-drenched island of Barbados in the southern Caribbean—a place famous for its stunning landscapes and a peculiar mystery that has puzzled locals and visitors alike since the early 19th century. The Chase Family Vault, located near the village of Oistins on the southern coast of Barbados, has earned a notorious reputation as a site of paranormal activity due to the inexplicable movement of the coffins within. This bizarre phenomenon has made the vault one of the most enduring mysteries not just in Barbados but perhaps in the entire world.
The Chase Family Vault, the center of this supernatural puzzle, is situated on a hill overlooking the Caribbean Sea, near the entrance of Christ Church Parish Cemetery. Constructed partially below ground with coral blocks—typical of Barbados’ geological foundation—and reinforced with concrete, the tomb is accessed via stone steps leading down to a massive blue marble slab that seals its entrance. This heavy slab requires several men to move. Initially built in 1724 for a man named James Elliott, the vault eventually fell into disuse, affected by moisture and the salty sea air. It was purchased in 1808 by the wealthy Chase family, who were known for their peculiar behavior and harsh treatment of their slaves. The original owner, James Elliott, was never buried there; when the Chase family acquired it, the only occupant was a woman named Thomasina Goddard, interred there in 1807. Colonel Thomas Chase, the head of the family, decided to leave her body undisturbed, but it wouldn’t remain alone for long.
The series of strange events known as the Mystery of the Moving Coffins began with the deaths within the Chase family. In 1808, a baby named Mary Anne Maria Chase died and was buried in a heavy lead coffin within the vault. Four years later, in 1812, Mary Anne’s older sister, Dorcas Chase, died under mysterious circumstances. It was said that she had been driven to starvation by the cruelty of her father, Thomas Chase, and ended her life by refusing to eat. Dorcas was also buried in a heavy metal coffin that required several men to lower it into the vault. The family tragedy continued just a month later when Colonel Thomas Chase himself died, allegedly by suicide. His body was placed in an exceptionally heavy metal coffin, weighing about 240 pounds, which reportedly required eight men to carry.
According to most accounts, it was during the burial of Thomas Chase that the vault’s supernatural characteristics first manifested. When the heavy marble slab was removed to inter Thomas Chase’s coffin, it was discovered that Dorcas’s coffin had mysteriously moved and was now standing upright against one of the vault’s walls. Mary Anne’s coffin was also found displaced. No logical explanation could be found for how these heavy metal coffins had been tossed around inside the sealed vault, especially since the entrance had not been disturbed since Dorcas’s burial. Despite suspicions of vandalism, nothing appeared stolen, and the coffins were returned to their original positions. The vault was sealed more securely to prevent future intrusions.
The incident was largely forgotten until 1816, when the vault was reopened to bury an 11-year-old boy named Charles Brewster Ames. Again, upon removing the marble slab, it was found that all the coffins, including the massive one belonging to Thomas Chase, had been thrown about as if they were toys. With no sign of forced entry, the bewildered men replaced the coffins and resealed the tomb.
By now, the story of the Chase Family Vault and its moving coffins had taken root in local folklore. Whispers of black magic and restless spirits surrounded the mystery, and tales of ghostly activity began to emerge. One such story claimed that a woman riding by the tomb heard eerie moans emanating from within. Her horse, allegedly frightened by the strange sounds, became agitated and nearly threw her off. It was also reported that other horses in the nearby village went mad in the days following the incident, plunging into the sea and drowning.
The legend of the moving coffins solidified when the vault was opened twice more—once in 1816 to bury Samuel Brewster and again in 1819 for a woman named Thomasina Clarke. On both occasions, the coffins were found in a state of disarray, significantly moved from their original positions. Notably, the only coffin that remained undisturbed throughout these incidents was the simple wooden casket of Thomasina Goddard, the vault’s first occupant. Despite the chaotic movements of the heavy lead coffins around it, her coffin stayed intact and in place.
The strange occurrences caught the attention of the then-Governor of Barbados, Lord Combermere, who attended Thomasina Clarke’s funeral and witnessed the bizarre events firsthand. Determined to find a logical explanation, he ordered a thorough investigation of the vault. His wife later described the inspection:
“In my husband’s presence, every part of the floor was examined to ensure no hidden passage or underground entrance existed. The walls were also checked, revealing no cracks or weaknesses. The roof and floor were solid, appearing as if made from complete stone slabs.”
Despite the thorough inspection, no logical explanation could be found for the moving coffins. The coffins were once again placed in their proper positions, and Governor Combermere took extra precautions to ensure the tomb was securely sealed. He even spread fine white sand on the vault floor to detect any future disturbances. Eight months later, driven by curiosity, he returned to the vault with a group of men to see if the precautions had worked. To their surprise, the entrance was untouched, with no signs of tampering. However, when they attempted to open the vault, they found the way blocked by Thomas Chase’s coffin, which had seemingly moved to block the door from the inside.
After finally managing to remove the coffin, they were shocked to discover that the vault was once again in chaos. The coffins had been thrown about violently, and Mary Anne’s coffin was reportedly damaged. Yet, the white sand on the floor remained undisturbed, with no footprints or signs of flooding or any other disruption. Everything inside, including the sand, walls, and floor, was completely dry, ruling out water as a possible cause. Nathan Lucas, a member of the Barbados House of Assembly who was present at the time, later remarked:
“I examined the walls, the arch, and every part of the vault. We struck every part of the bottom with a hammer, and all was solid. I admit I am at a loss to understand how these coffins, particularly the heavy lead ones, could move. It is certain no thieves were involved. The idea that the slaves, with their superstitious fear of the dead, had anything to do with it is also out of the question. All I know is that it was a strange event, and I was a witness to its truth.”
Faced with this unexplainable phenomenon, Governor Combermere decided to put an end to it once and for all. He ordered the bodies buried in the Chase Vault to be moved to individual graves throughout Christ Church Parish Cemetery. The vault itself was left empty and remains so to this day, with no further incidents reported since its clearance. Some speculate that the moving coffins were perhaps reacting to each other, resonating from a mysterious realm beyond our understanding into the tangible world we perceive with our eyes and ears. In separating them, perhaps they were finally at peace.
As with other paranormal mysteries, there have been many attempts to explain the Chase Vault’s moving coffins. Theories range from the supernatural, such as ghosts or vampires, to more rational explanations like seismic activity or flooding. However, skeptics of these rational explanations point out that seismic activity would likely have caused similar disturbances in nearby graves, which it did not. Additionally, it seems unlikely that a flood would have caused such heavy coffins to float unless the conditions were extreme, and no signs of such an event were ever found. Even if flooding had occurred, why was the old wooden coffin left undisturbed amid the strange happenings around it? Some skeptics suggest that the entire story might be a fabrication, a local legend, or even a hoax. Whatever the cause, the Mystery of the Moving Coffins remains unresolved to this day, with no explanation fully satisfying all parties. Thus, the enigma of the Chase Vault continues, as mysterious as ever.
