pendle.

• Who is Thomas Potts?

  potts became a clerk of the courts after his career as a civil servant. he wrote the 'wonderful discoverie of witches in the countie of Lancaster' 1613. in 1616, his account/evidence of Jennet Device was included in his new guidebook called 'country justice' - used by all subsequent magistrates to allow children testimonies. it was even used in Salem too.
• How did politics impact Pendle?

  before 1604, courts needed tangible proof of maleficium such as injury or death. by James vi being changed to be on the throne, this led to reform on witches. the 1604 act made the conjuring of spirits a capital offence, and trials being transferred from churches to courts. additionally, tangible evidence is no longer needed - vital because without, nowell would not have been allowed!
• How was the economy of Pendle?

  • cows could fetch nearly £3 at market - skilled manual worker could expect to earn in around 6 months. but through the introduction of entry fines in 1507, rent had increased by 39% alongside general inflation. meant a constant risk of eviction. pendle was a typical area that relied on a pastoral economy (livestock) and was far from the state of prosperous areas in southern England - in colne, less than 6 miles away from Pendle hill, they held cattle markets 3 times a year.
• What had happened to population in Pendle?

  by the 1520s, post Black Death, the population was around 2.5 million and was rapidly growing. by 1527, there was 100 tenants in Pendle forest. although mortality rates had dropped due to a decline of plagues, in 1665 there was an epidemic, although it mainly hit london!
• How was it difficult for those holding property?

  copyholders were fairly wealthy but had difficult lives - in 1609 they had to pay a lump sum of 12 years rent to confirm their rights. subtenants had to pay even more, with an average 25% higher than the rent paid by copyholders (in first decade of 1600).
• How did the church impact Pendle?

  after Henry viii dissolution of the monasteries, whalley abbey was closed down. this abbey in particular provided a lot of charitable support for many and for education, causing Pendle forest to lose a huge resource. as the abbey was so wealthy, it was providing grain, cloth and money to much of the poor people in the forest. with their absence, a group of puritan clergy replaced them, they were extremely protestant.
• Who are the main witches and what happened between them?

  Alizon device and John law - in 1612, John, a Pedler from Halifax refused Alizon pins when she begged him. she reacts angrily and curses him, causing paralysis and inability to speak. John recounts seeing her familiar, a black dog (Ball) beside her, which Alison blamed to have appeared when John said no and the curse miraculously worked. Abraham, his son, searched for her until she begged for forgiveness but John forgave her.
• What is demdikes family tree?

  old demdike (liz southerns) has two sons - Chris howgate and John device. Chris was said to be at malkin tower. John died fairly young and left Elizabeth device, his wife, as a widow. Elizabeth had 3 kids - James, Alizon and Jennet device.
• What is chattox's family tree?

  chattox (anne redferne) had two daughters, Bessie whittle and Anne redferne, who married Thomas. they had a daughter, Marie redferne.
• What was the rivalry on?

  in 1601, demdike and chattox fall out. this was from alizon seeing Anne Redferne stealing some clothes and grain, in which she wore some of the clothes. they began trading insults, but John device (the father) agreed to pay a yearly tribute of grain until his death.
• How did chattox have a bad reputation?

  in 1595, Chris nutter and his sons Robert and John nutter returned to their home in greenhead - impressive area on the edge of the forest. during this time, chattox was living on THEIR land as a tenant with her daughter and son in law (+ others.) in Pott's account, he says Robert was unwell and that chattox and her daughter did this although the dad did not believe this - Robert threatened he would remove Thomas before leaving again. Robert died once he had returned, and his dad soon was ill, dying 3 months later. John nutter gave evidence on chattox.
• Who was Roger nowell?

  a high status figure who had been a high sheriff in Lancashire, and by 1612 was age 62. he had connections with high profile protestants, this was due to family connections such as Alexander nowell (grandad's half brother) being the dean of st Pauls cathedral.
• How did investigations begin?

  Abraham law - he instigated alizon and she was interrogated, admitting she had hurt John law, with her describing the dog that triggered the curse. this was enough but Alizon continued - demdike (grandma) had persuaded her to take a familiar with her when they both went begging. demdike said it would give her anything if she allowed it to suckle on her.
• What happens after Alizon is investigated?

  demdike, chattox and anne redferne are taken in 3 days later.
• Why did Alizon suspect demdike?

  along with her convincing her take a familiar, demdike also - had supposedly killed John nutter's cow after he asked her to heal it, seen by Alizon. she had changed milk left by alizon which she had gained by begging into butter. she said she also overheard demdike using a curse to make a farmer (who she had feuds with) daughter fall ill and die soon after.
• What did demdike confess to?

  confessed to having a familiar called tibb. she confessed to not being able to revoke the name Jesus. she confessed to making effigy ir order to bewitch them (like a voodoo doll). she said tibb even suggested helping her, and when she rejected the offer tibb pushed her down a ditch.
• What was chattox accused of?

  murder - cursed anne nutter for laughing at her - died 3 weeks later. said to have made John Moore's son ill and die, after John and her argued over her souring his ale. Hugh Moore died after accusing her of bewitching cattle.
• What did chattox confess to?

  confessed that 15 years earlier she had sold her soul to a man and was promised in exchange she can get revenge. she said she had a familiar called Nancie. BUT, although chattox confesses, her daughter anne never does!
• Who was a witness?

  James Robinson gave evidence on chattox and anne being witches (he was the nutter family servant).
• What are the causes of the hunt/trials?

  religion, economy, politics, nowell, alizon and John or rivalry.
• What happened between the wait for trial?

  alizon, anne, chattox and demdike are held at lancaster catsle to await the assizes in august.
• How was a coven found?

  news spread on a meeting, and so Newell began investigating alongside another JP, Henry Hargreaves. they both visited malkin tower in April, where James device helped him locate a clay image and teeth from a graveyard in newchurch. they also visited another suspect, jennet Preston in Yorkshire so James could identify her as being at the meeting.
• Who examines the device family?

  nowell and Nicholas bannister (magistrate) investigate Elizabeth and her kids James and jennet April 27th to understand the acts of malkin tower.
• What happened at the meeting?

  jennet said that James had killed a sheep to eat at the meeting. she said around 20 witches were present but she could only name 6 - James could help though.
• Who did jennet and James name?

  their mum Elizabeth, dad John, Chris howgate (demdike's son), Elizabeth howgate (his wife), jennet Hargreaves (wife to Hugh).
• What was the purpose of the meeting?

  they planned to help the release of 4 women imprisoned in the castle by blowing it up and murdering the gaoler. they planned to carry out a ritual that would name Alison's spirit and they intended to provide protection to jennet Preston - accused by lister family.
• What did James admit to?

  took on familiar of black dog dandie, and admitted to murdering 2 people who randomly died within weeks of meeting him.
• What did their mum admit to?

  admitted to murdering John Robinson and his brother too, after he accused her of having an illegitimate child.
• How many were detailed from the investigation?

  11 people.
• What happens to demdike?

  dies soon after arrival to the castle, causing chattox to blame her.
• Who were the judges on the trial?

  Sir Bromley and Sir Altham.
• Who was bromley?

  he became a baron and grew up in an educated calvinist tradition. his dad was a high profile lawyer giving him free legal training. he returned as an MP for Bridgnorth 6 times between 1586 to 1604. king James gave him role of mediator in the House of Lords (when uk and Scotland united).
• Who was Altham?

  an educated man from an established family, with his father being a London and Essex sheriff. he was educated at Cambridge university and was appointed to be an mp for bramber in 1589. he was knighted by king James in 1605. became a baron too in 1606 and had close connections with James. very orthodox.
• What was the structure of the trial?

  the main trial was august 18th/19th in 1612. a jury was used however defendants could not prepare a defence and likely to not know the charges either. even though they were educated, judges allowed dubious evidence. nowell acted as a prosecutor and all the JPs/witnesses were asked by bromley to attend.
• What was the outcome of the trials?

  Potts released his account 3 months after trial in nov 1612, which was asked of by both judges to do. the account justified the trials while protection Potts and both judges reputation.
• What are some additional accusations?

  anne redferne - never confesses but is accused of Chris nutter and Robert nutters illness and death - not guilty for Roberts as a lack of evidence. Alice nutter - picked out by jennet in a line of people, she was found guilty of Henry Mitton's murder and being at malkin. Katherine hewitt - found guilty of killing a child and being at malkin.