Chincoteague Maps and Other Information - Chincoteague History Notes

The legends handed down from generation to generation have greatly affected the lives and daily routines of the people. Most of these tales were passed along by word of mouth because the inhabitants knew very little about writing. Still, we have no definite way of proving whether or not all of these tales are valid. For this reason, they are called legends. These legends which have been handed down through the centuries have in a sense molded the lives of the people living in our generation. That which we do today creates a world for tomorrow.

Let me share with you some of the rich heritage of Chincoteague Island, as perpetuated by these legends.

When people needed shoes or boots, they would take a stick and break it at correct length of the foot and start across the bay to Horntown where they could purchase them, since there were no shoemakers or bootmakers on the island.

It was necessary to grind all the corn on the mainland, except what was used for feeding the stock. The story is told about Mr. "Ike" Jester's great-great-grandfather, who had the reputation of being the strong man of the island. When taking corn to the mill, he simply filled a featherbed with corn, threw it over his shoulder and carried it down to his boat. One day upon his arrival at the mainland dock, he heaved his ticking of corn over his shoulder and started to the mill, over roads which were extremely narrow. On this particular day, he met a mainlander driving in his cart. Each one refused to give way to the other, until Grandfather, losing his temper, carefully placed his ticking of corn on the ground and then proceeded to tear the wheels off the cart belonging to his opponent. These, he tossed in one direction and the body in another; once this task was finished, he picked up his corn and continued merrilyy on his way to the mill.

Several interesting legends have been handed down through the years regarding the ways in which a young girl could recognize her future husband.

One way was by finding a snail and placing it in a plate containing meal. The plate was then set aside until after sundown. By this time the snail would have carved in the meal the initials of the man the young girl would someday marry.

A second way was by cooking an egg in the coals of the old cookstove. The egg was then cut in half and the yolk eaten. Salt was used to fill the opening made by the removal of the yolk. The white portion of the egg containing the salt was then eaten. Sometime during the night the girl would become extremely thirsty, and a man would bring her a glass of water. This would be the man who was to become her husband. From the time the egg began to cook until the following morning, not a word could be spoken; or else, all efforts would be in vain.

The last way is perhaps the most interesting one. On the first day of May at exactly twelve O'clock noon, when the sun was at its highest point in the sky, a young girl was to walk backward to the nearest well; but she must be careful not to speak a single word. A mirror was to be placed face down over the well. The water would begin to bubble, but then it would suddenly become very calm. It was at this instant that she would see the face of her future husband. If by chance she saw a coffin instead of a man's face, it meant that she would never be married.