Transcript

of

Stephen’s Grave

Eighteenth Report of the Committee on Devonshire Folklore.

In:

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. XXXIII, (1901), pp. 123-126.

by

S. Baring-Gould.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The report was submitted at the Association’s July 1901 Exeter meeting, and the section on Stephen’s Grave is an extract from it. More information about the history and stories associated with this monument may be accessed at Tim Sandle’s, Legendary Dartmoor website. “Cætera desunt” at the extract’s conclusion translates as ‘the rest is missing’. The report is from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal that can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers

Stephen's Grave, - In Peter Tavy parish on the common on the peat-cutters' road above the village, where it rises above Boulter's Tor, a pile of rocks on Smeardun, and unites with Broadmoor, is a point marked on the Ordnance Survey as "Stephen's Grave." There is hardly any distinguishing object there now; but it stands immediately above We’dlake Farm, that lies in the valley of Peter Tavy Brook.

Little or nothing is now remembered relative to Stephen who was buried there, and the following account will therefore be of interest It was written, apparently, by one of the Bray family, and it passed to the hands of Mr. Thomas Collins, who married one of that family, and who says, " It came to my wife with other papers from her father; he had it handed down to him in an old oak chest with other papers." Mr. Collins sent it to the Rev. I. K. Anderson, Rector of Mary Tavy, who has, with Mr. Collins' consent, given it to me to be forwarded to the Folk-lore Committee of the Devonshire Association.

I give a transcript of the "Account'' with all its mistakes. Unfortunately it is incomplete.   S. BARING-GOULD.

"An Account of the Death of John Stephens who Poisoned himself on Account of Mary Bray whom he had been paying his Addresses in October 1762.

"John Stephens lived with Mr. Roger Chubb at the Farm of Godsworthey in the Parish of Peter Tavey A Man of a . . . Appearance and of A Good Character as A Farmer's Servant He had formed some intimacy with one Mary Bray which did not meet with much opposition on her Part the said Mary Bray was the daughter of Andrew and Mary Bray who was farmers at Whedlake in the Parish of Peter Tavy & when the ware brought acquanted with the said Courtship the became all to geather agenst it which the and thare son worked such influence with the Daughter as to very nearly to break off all intercourse between them which proved fatel to the said John Stephens it appeared to have taken such great impression on him so much that he was heard to say about A Week before it took place that he should be down in Peter Tavy Churchyeard before that Day Week and seem Quite lowe in Spirits as well as in maners in the same Week it happened to have been Michaelmas Fair at Tavistock which in the Days it was much keep oup by the Countery People at which the said John Stephens was thare and Mary Bray was thare and her Father and Mother also the said John Stephens endeavoured to have intraduced himself into the Company of the said Mary Bray but was not able as the said Mary Bray was . . , into Another Company and was seen Walking with Another young man which andautetelly in Creased his Jeluesly and Praumpt him to Commit so rash A act which he soon Carried into affect he whent to a Drugesters Shop and Purchest some Paisenas he told them to Paisen Rats it was supposed that he twok some of it before he came out of Town as it was proved at the Inquest he went into Mr. Caunday's house the Barbers and thare he was taken very onwell urgin with vomiting but it pas A way hafcer some time he then left the house and by some means got in the Company of the said Mr. & Mrs. and Mary Bray and Came home with them as far as Bedge whare the all went in to gether and it was tought that he intended thare to have Poisened himself and the said Mary Bray but had not the opportunity of duing it the leaft thare all to geather and went on to geather as far as Yellan Corner whare the Parted Companys.

"Mr & Mrs. an Mary Bray for Whedlake which was abut Three parts of A Mile further on John Stephens for Godsworthey whare he arrived about Ten O'clock at Night soon after he came home he was taken very hill urgen and vomiting at A furious Sight which throwed all the People of the house in A great confusion Mr. Chubb whisht him to give Consent to fetch the Doctor but he would not give Consent for some time but still getting whorse Mr. Chubb Bode hafter the Doctor but before the Doctor came he was dead as soon as he had seen the Bodey he perceived that he had been Paisened as it bard every mark of it swelling and descollaring very much in so much that the was forst to Carrey him out of the house the Next morning the smill was so bad the carried him oup in A corner of A field and put him in A hole that was made for sheep to pass from one feild to another and was called . . . corner ware he remeined before he was buried an Inquest was held on the Bodey and the Jury returned A verdict that the Bodey should be buried at the first four Cross ways and he was fourth with buried near Broadamore Comer on the Peter Tavy Parish Comand ware the Grave is to be seen at this Day. it was reported that the said John Stephens was seen hafter that he was buried that he was seen at Godsworthey and at Whedlake and in the Path leading from each farm to the place where he was buried the People of each farm howse was freckenley alarmed by an yawsel [unusual] noises and ratling of the things of the howse before the Applied to the Rev. Doctor Jago of Tavistock and the heard no more but he appeared to the said Mary Bray hafter she left her Fathers howse and went to service inso much that she received and injury as A Woman Pregnant or as one looking for Child and had A wound to the Day of her Death that she would not make known how she got it nor what she had seen but would not deny but that she had seen some thing. 

"She was never Married nor never nor a have any Sweetheart hafter wards she lived till the 3rd May 1816 when she dropt of her Chair in her Brothers house and Instantly expired in the 72 year of her age her Brother was forst to have an inquest on the bodey and it was hafterwards buried in the. . . ." (Cætera desunt.)