The Curious Case of the Moving Coffins of Barbados

No rest in peace here

In 1807, an eerie phenomenon was reported on the Caribbean island of Barbados. Right from the grave.

The Chase Vault was a burial place built within a small cemetery on the island for the wealthy Chase family.

When coffins stored inside the sealed vault were repeatedly found moved and disturbed over a span of years, wild theories emerged to explain the strange occurrence.

Though numerous examinations and observations were made, the reason behind the restless coffins was never conclusively solved.

The first signs of trouble

The troubles began when Mary Ann Maria Chase, daughter of the owner of the Chase vault, Thomas Chase, died in 1808 at the age of two years old.

Her heavy lead coffin was placed in the family vault built into the wall of the Christ Church cemetery.

A month later, the grieving father opened the vault to lay his infant son to rest and discovered his daughter's coffin had shifted position, now standing upright leaning against the wall.

The crypt door had been locked, so vandali…