Legend Hunting: Little Mary's Grave
Plus, some exciting news.
WHAT ARE WE DISCOVERING THIS MONTH?
A big purchase.
FYI to my writing friends.
This legend got to me. 😱
Vote in the poll.
I have a big announcement.
Hubby and I bought a house! We took the plunge and are giving up the renter life for home ownership. The number of zeros on the mortgage makes me feel a little sick, but I’m excited to have my very own craft/writing room. I will share pics when it’s done.
This second announcement is for my writing friends who follow me here. I decided to separate my IWSG stuff and post it solely on Blogger. I know, I know, I’m wishy-washy. I’m aware, and I’m trying to be better about it.
Are you a first time visitor to Twisting the Myths? Subscribe to discover more mysteries and monsters like the one below, enjoy a quick tale, or get inspired.
I have to start with a warning. This one is chilling and got to me. File it under Reasons why I’m conflicted about how I want to be buried after I die.
LITTLE MARY’S GRAVE
The tale of Little Mary is a fascinating and horrifying one. It is a mixture of real history and urban legend. The stuff of nightmares.
It is a known fact that Mary was a real girl. She was born to a prominent Jackson family, The McNaughtons. Her grandfather, Moses, was a former state senator and mayor of Jackson.
We also know that in 1892, Mary and her mother and sisters fled to Brighton. A deadly outbreak of diphtheria and typhoid fever was ravaging Jackson. While it seems Mary avoided those, a possible ruptured appendix caused peritonitis and she died on July 18th. Her family took her back to Jackson to be buried in what is now Hillcrest Memorial Park.
WHERE HISTORY AND LEGEND MEET
One night, Mary’s mother awoke from a terrifying nightmare. In it, her daughter was streaming and trapped. Mary’s mother was convinced there had been a mistake. Her daughter wasn’t dead and had been buried alive!
In order to calm Mary’s mother’s nerves, the coffin was exhumed. But when the lid was removed, to the family’s horror, scratch marks were on the inside. Mary’s face was frozen in agony and her hands bloodied.
Since then, people have reported seeing the spirit of Mary hovering around her grave. Scratches and screams can be heard coming from the plot.
HERE LIES THE TRUTH
So, was Mary actually buried alive? There are no records that indicate she had been exhumed. Her family left the area in 1906 because her father was annoyed by the failure of the citizens to support and finance the manufacturing of Buick cars.
In 1974, a still-living sibling of Mary, Donald McNaughton, was tracked down by the Citizen Patriot. Donald claimed the legend was ridiculous. Despite his insistence there is no truth to the tale, Mary’s grave was a popular haunt for kids looking for excitement. Due to trespassers and vandals, Mary’s body was removed to an undisclosed location. The gravestone remains, but access is limited.
But there is a grain of truth to Mary’s grisly legend. There are real, confirmed reports of people being buried alive. It wasn’t until 1896 that an invention would help curb accidental burials of the living.
Count Karnice Kirnicki, a Russian, came up with a contraption that had a spring-loaded tube that passed from the lid of the coffin to the surface and an airtight box. The tube lay on the person’s chest and at the smallest movement would trigger the box on the surface. The lid would fly open, release a flag, and sound a loud bell to draw attention. While there is no record of success rate, I can imagine people breathed easier knowing if they were buried alive, rescue was possible.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MARY’S FATE?
How much of her terrifying tale is truth and how much is legend? I don’t even want to think about accidentally being buried alive. Nor do I want to think about cremation. Both options give me the willies. What about you?
My next email will drop into your inbox on February 28th. Keep your eyes peeled because there will be a cuteness overload coming your way!
Twisting the Myths exists because of YOU!
If you were inspired, please hit like 🩷and share Twisting the Myths with someone you know would love to join the fun. 👻
Thank you for reading.
Until next time, stay spooked!
I feel awful for any parent who has to bury a child. My guess is her poor mom was haunted by nightmares.
Congrats! That's very exciting news.