The Story of Stephen's Grave on Dartmoor (as featured on our Podcast Episode 1- Jay's Grave)

Stephen's Grave marks the burial site of a suicide victim most commonly referred to as a George Stephens, but sometime called John Stephens - remember historical accounts are never entirely accurate when it comes to names!

As we have discussed in episode 1 of the podcast, there are always several historical accounts from past events that seem to vary in their detail and narrative. Again though, I have endeavoured to put together the most plausible and frequently told account as follows.

George Stephens lived in the parish of Peter Tavy on the western edges of the Dartmoor National Park in the South West of the United Kingdom. It is reported that he lived at Godsworthy Farm (mentioned in podcast Ep.1) and was a farm servant and 'man of good character and appearance'. It was in this setting that George fell in love with a local girl called Mary Bray - a daughter of a local farming family. George planned to marry Mary but sadly this did not happen. There are a few versions of what happened next, but either Mary declined a marriage proposal from George, she met somebody else or her parents did not approve of the match - remember in our historical past one sure way of climbing the social and economic ladder was to 'marry well'. In other words, the parents of a young lady would most likely need to approve of the match or arrange a match with the willing parents of a young man. It almost seems like it was often more like a business transaction rather than a true love story!

The location of Stephen's Grave at the intersection of two tracks or 'four crossways'.

Either way, poor George is left heartbroken and made the sad decision to end his life. One account describes how he poisoned himself by eating deadly nightshade, and he died in October 1762 at Godsworthy Farm. Another account says that George Stephens went to a local chemist to purchase poison that he said he wanted to kill rats with. George Stephens was found dead at his home and the local doctor describes George's body as being 'swollen and discoloured' and that 'he had no hesitation in diagnosing death by poisoning'.

It is at this point that events become quite unbelievable - due to the stench of the corpse, George's body was 'taken to the corner of the field and put in a hole..'. It is only after the official inquest is held into George's death and a verdict of suicide is recorded that he is....yes, you've guessed it... 'buried at the first four crossways near Broadway Corner'. It is here today that a marker stone can be seen inscribed with the letter 'S'.

There have been many sightings of the ghost of George Stephens both at Godsworthy Farm and nearby tracks. His ghost has also been seen at the gravesite as well. Local people, being as superstitious as they were, would avoid these areas as much as possible. It became so stressful for them that they called in the Rev. Dr Jago of Tavistock to carry out a blessing of the area.

The site of Stephen's Grave. Notice the votive offerings of rocks and pebbles.