Over the course of the research I did for the Chase Vault Homepage, I noticed a few things that had much bearing on the content of my material here. First of all, sources are quite plentiful, but they are all third- or fourth-hand accounts that differ on many small but frustrating details. Secondly, many of them come from juvenile / adolescent ghost story compilations, not exactly the most reliable source for historical information. Below are a few of the discrepancies I noticed:
The differences between the coffin positions in the "after" sketch of Nathan Lucas vs. their positions in the compilation diagram (see the history section) have many fundamental differences.
Some of the sources I have read say that Mrs. Goddard's coffin never moved, perhaps aiding (or, more dubiously, coming from) the assumption that the activity was due to a supernatural "unwelcomed guests" motive.
There is a discrepancy among my sources as to who ordered the Vault emptied of its contents in 1820, Lord Combermere or "Mrs. Chase."
From the "if I could do it again" department:
Visit the Bridgetown Public Library for research.
Search the cemetary for the present-day graves of the Chase Vault occupants.
Get rubbings of the Vault inscription and family crest bas-relief.
Get video of the Vault interior (with night vision for good measure).
Talk to locals about the Vault.