Kitty Jays Grave - Dartmoor

Following an appeal on the forum members of Haunted Devon set off to carry out their first investigation of possibly the most well known of the legends of Dartmoor - Kitty Jays grave.  The majority of the members met at the Ring of Bells in N Bovey before travelling the 3 miles to the grave site.  One arrival the team split into smaller groups and began to settle down for an evening on the moor.

Moon State

Jul 14, 2006 2:00 AM
Name: Waning Gibbous
Percent of Full: 88%
Age: 61%
Rise: 11:26 PM
Set: 9:24 AM

Temperature On arrival: 18° C at the grave - Dropping 9.3° by 0001 hrs

Environment: Weather Conditions: Dry and sunny - light wind

EMF Meter Readings: Normal

Team Members
Byron, Brian, Paul (I), Tracy (I), Sam, Bridget, Paul (S), Lucy (P), Dave (L), Mo, Sue, Sue

Medium: Phil Simpson

Investigation

On arrival baseline was carried out with negative results.  The group were briefed and the investigation begun with a medium walk around by Phil.  The following key points were noted:
Phil indicated that the remains of the body lay more to the left of the grave and that the grave was not original it would have been positioned more to the centre of the road.

The presence of Kitty Jay was not sensed at the grave at the time 2330 hrs.

The presence of a highwayman was sensed who when passing the grave would spit upon it.

A lady named "May" came forward who apparently may have held a  link to Kitty Jay.

Phil claimed that Kitty may have been struck across the head and that the suicide may have been fabricated to protect the landowner.

Two males wearing large hats and cloaks are often walking the road towards N Bovey.

Kitty was believed to b in her mid "20s".

Phil then moved down the track to the rear of the grave where he picked up on the energy of 3 children:

Joshua fell from a tree aged 19 broke his neck.

Lucy 1870s

Luke 1625

All 3 children were said to be present on the track and are often felt or sensed by people. All 3 children would be in visitation.  Phil stated that the energy of the 3 children was further back along the track - This was later verified by Paul (I) as an area that picked up upon by Sam and Bridget on an earlier walk through that area.
An additional male was sensed by Phil who could have been a robber - the male was quite rough and would hide and catch people walking through on the track.

Final Experiments

On return to the grave the group carried out a number of experiments including EVP which met with negative results.  A later group energy building exercise  saw Bridget becoming overwhelmed with sadness and tears - on later speaking with Bridget she admitted that she believed the tears and sadness to be that of Kitty Jay.
Phil attempts an overshadowing exercise (see below for explanation) and several members of the group claimed to see some transformation.  We are awaiting video footage to confirm the results however this was a very powerful demonstration from Phil. Several orbs including one that appears to look like a bird were captured.  We await the teams submission of photographs that will be posted here and on the photo board on the next few days.

Conclusion

The remoteness of Kitty Jays grave certainly added to the atmosphere of this rather spur of the moment investigation.  There were several very strange incidents however as at this time no real tangible evidence to suggest that the grave is haunted.  The area definitely warrants further investigation and we hope that we may be able to carry out an additional investigation later this year.  We await video evidence and once to hand this report will be updated. My thanks to all who attended. BJ

History

It is said that in the late eighteenth century a baby was taken into the Poor House at Newton Abbott - her surname (as was usual at the time) began with whatever the poorhouse records had progressed through at that time in this case "J" although as the word Jay was also the slang word for a "lady of the night" the name Mary was also added. It was common in those days for poor house occupants to be apprenticed to a local farm or workplace and in return for extremely hard labour the apprentice would receive food and shelter but little more.
Mary was allegedly employed at Canna Farm where she began to attract the eyes of the farmers son she may also have been nicknamed "Kitty" at that time. It was here that she fell pregnant to the young son and was later released from her apprenticeship and pronounced a "slut".
Her reputation in tatters Kitty had a choice between the poor house or as she finally chose - suicide.  Kitty was found hanging in a barn at Canna and was buried as was custom at a crossroads.

Overshadowing

Overshadowing is when the other side or a higher guide actually steps into part of the Medium's Aura. The Medium actually gives permission to let the other side do this. When this happens, the medium can actually sense where the spirit is. The medium doesn’t go into a full trance but does give permission to the other side to come closer to them. This technique is sometimes used in Spiritual churches, development circles or the traditional séance. When a Medium gives permission to a higher guide to overshadow them the guide can speak through the Medium. The Medium speaks in their voice but in first person of the guide. To those observing overshadowing they can get the feeling that the higher guide is speaking directly to them! In development circles, a student might talk to a medium using this technique to ask for guidance.