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Doc
Keeper of the Scrolls


2010 Posts
Posted -  20/04/2004  :  01:29
I found this interesting article which sheds new light on the Lancashire Witches trial at Lancaster. In it, it mentions "Malkin Tower" at Blacko, but I am sure I have read somewhere that this (Current) Malkin Tower is not the original one mentioned. Anyway here's the article.

The Clerk of the Assizes Court at Lancaster was Thomas Potts and he left a full account of the proceedings. These reveal that Alison Device and Anne Redfern, the daughters of Mothers Demdike and Chattox, were also committed along with their mothers.


Potts then relates that the four women had not been in Lancaster Castle more than a week, "....when their children and friends being abroad at liberties, laboured a special meeting at Malkin Tower in the Forest of Pendle, upon a good-fryday within a week after they were committed, of all the most dangerous, wicked and damnable witches in the country, far and near. Upon a good-fryday they met, according to solemn appointment, solemnised this great festival day according to their former order, with great cheer, merry company and much conference. In the end, in their great assemble it was decreed that M.Covell (the gaoler at Lancaster Castle) by reason of his office shall be slain before the next Assizes, the Castle at Lancaster to be blown up."


The evidence of the Malkin Tower meeting and its outcome having taken place, was based solely on the words of, Jennet Device, the granddaughter of Mother Demdike and she was then only nine years of age.


Malkin Towers was allegedly the home of Old Demdike and this is located on the Ordnace Survey Map Number 41 of the Outdoor Leaisue series at Map Reference 867422 just east of Blacko Hill and just over threequarters of a mile east of Lower Aedmergill.


Intensive research via the 1:50000 scale maps of Britain between the Glasgow - Edinburgh line and the south coast of England, show that the place-name, "Aedmer", only occurs just north of Blacko village. Namely, Lower Aedmergill, Aedmergill Water and Higher Aedmer 500 yards north of them. In fact, the top of Blacko Hill is only 650 yards from Lower Admergill.


The significance of Old Mother Demdike alleged home being within 650 yards of a unique Aedmer place-name, is when one realise that, "Aedmer", was allegedly the founding father of Druids.


As this association has not previously been discussed, it is information not disclosed until now that may reveal a specific area of research into pre-Christian Pagan practices or offer clues as to why, "Aedmer" was considered the founder of the Druids.


So although the story of the Lancashire Witches is certainly the most intriguing of it type in Britain, the presence of Aedmer in the area would certainly take the Lancashire Witches story into orbit. Especially for those who desire to know exactly how our real down to earth ancestors behaved.


Why the 9 year old Jennet Devices decided to impart her alleged knowledge of the Malkin Tower meeting is not known. Once she did tell the tale, some of those alleged to have been at Malkin Towers on that Good Friday, were also collected together and taken to the dungeons of Lancaster Castle.


Hence, as a result of the so-called evidence of Jennet Device, Justice Nowell sent nine other members of his community to Lancaster, on the accusation of: "...the most barbarous and damnable Practices, Murthers wicked and devilish conspiracies."


Therefore, to the original four alleged witches:
Elizabeth Southern (The so-called Old Mother Demdike): Anne Whittle (The so-called Old Mother Chattox): Alison Device, daughter of Elizabeth Southern and Anne Redfern, daughter of Anne Whittle, Justice Nowell added, Elizabeth Device, yet another daughter of Old Demdike and also, James Device, the son of Elizabeth Device and grandson of Old Demdike.

Others alleged to have been involved in the Good Friday Malkin Tower meeting were, Catherine Hewitt, Isabel Robey, Margaret Pearson, Alice Nutter and Jane Bulrock and her son John Bulrock. All of them sent for tial to Lancaster.


The significant one of this group was, Alice Nutter, a lady who possessed property and an estate at Roughlee; a village just less than 2 miles from the top of Blacko Hill.

However, someone who has been described as Alice Nutter's, " bitterest enemy", was in fact, the local Justice, Roger Nowell. Roger Nowell having lost a lawsuit against Alice Nutter over land boundaries of their respective properties. A connection that has led to the belief that witchcraft was not the only reason for this trial.


Thomas Potts, Clerk of the Assizes Court said of Elizabeth Southern, Old Mother Demdike, that she was a, "...very old woman, about the age of fours score yeares and had been a witch for 50 years."

Whilst Thomas Potts said of Anne Whittle, Old Mother Chattox, that she was, "...a very old, withered, spent and decrepit creature, her sight almost gone."


The scene for British justice to operate in the 17th. century is now set. Two old women with nothing to loose, one about 80 years of age and the other almost blind and recorded as a beggar. To these they attached a wealth woman in series conflict with the local Justicewho sent her for trial. The scenario, a male dominated society with all the usual prejudices living in a period of religious and political intolerance that can usually be conjure up out of thin air even today.

Cynics will say that this is almost like today really, if your black or Asian but as all those who study British history will know, you could in the past have also been Jewish, Welsh or even white if you were not the same as the religion or politics in power.


However, although there are in fact many differences between then and now, there is one important difference, in that torture was frequently used by the Justice system to extract confessions in prisons elsewhere in Britain at that time and to believe torture did not occur at Lancaster, especially to James Device, seems naive.


However, knowing this now, did not stop people writing about the Lancashire Witches at the beginning of the 20 th. century including the comment: "James Device certainly deserved his fate, for, in addition to testifying against his mother, Elizabeth Device and his sister Alison, he was instrumental in sending three absolutely innocent women to their death (namely) Catherine Hewitt, Anne Redfern and Alice Nutter."


Elizabeth Southern (Old Mother Demdike), having already confessed to practising witchcraft at the outset on the 2nd. of April to Roger Nowell, died in prison there before the Assize Court could assemble. Whilst the description made by Thomas Potts of the appearance of James Device when he was brought into court, suggests that torture had indeed been applied to him.


We will see that confessing or not confessing would make no difference and if the 20th. century has revealed anything at all, it is that practically everyone on earth can be made to confess anything desired via torture. So much then, for the poor decrepit James Device confession. He was still hanged along with eight others including the wealthy Alice Nutter who, it was alleged, could have brought convincing proof she was 50 miles away from Malkin Towers on that fateful Good Friday but as witches could fly, even that would not save her.
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andydiamond
Hairy Horologist


424 Posts
Posted - 29/11/2005 : 12:47

Tread warily and with great caution and respect here chaps and chapesses - - - - -

You could be turned into Wormmyes or Froggyes or Toades - - - - - -or even a Blairye !!

Andy.  "by the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes - - - -"




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gerry
New Member


1 Posts
Posted - 04/01/2006 : 17:02

Hello everyone

This is my first posting on this site and first of all can I say how much I have enjoyed reading the various contributions about Alice Nutter.   Like many before me, my family folklore includes a story of a relationship to Alice - can I hear someone groaning - not another one!    Bear with me while I add mine.

William Nutter was born about 1843 in Accrington, the only child  of William Nutter born about 1808 in Accrington and Elizabeth born about 1811 in Accrington, who married in 1842.   The family lived at Rough Lee House Accrington in the mid/late 1800s and "family notes'"say William (snr) was a descendant of Alice Nutter and the house was built and  named after its more illustrious predecessor.    I know William Nutter (jnr) married Elizabeth Alice Slinger but no record of the marriage has been found.    The 1871 census records William, age 28,  at Rough Lee House and  is described as "Retired from the 89th Fusiliers "(Royal Irish Fusiliers).   William died in 1900.   William and Elizabeth cannot be found in the census of 1881 and 1891, possibly William rejoined the RIF and took Elizabeth to foreign shores where they were married?     Elizabeth, widow, is found in the 1901 census.    I am trying to track Major William Nutter's military records through the RIF Regimental Museum but  doubt this will bring me any nearer to his link with Alice Nutter.

Gerry

 

 




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moh
Silver Surfer


6860 Posts
Posted - 04/01/2006 : 20:36

In a book on the history of Burnley I have states following:

Nutters of New Laund

John Nutter attended Burnley Grammar School the St John's College, Cambridge in 1577 - was hung, drawn and quartered 7/2/1584

Robert Nutter attended Burnley Grammar School, then Brasenose College, Oxford in 1564 - he was executed Lancaster Castle 26/7/1600

Both became catholic priests, fled to France and on their return were killed for their faith.

In 1628 Mary Nutter, Elizabeth Nutter and Anne Nutter were fined for being catholics.

1548 Henry Nutter of New Laund took 20 loads of turf.

Other Nutters mentioned are John Nutter 26/3/1563; Miles Nutter 4/11/1567; Robert Nutter 28/10/1571; Richard Nutter 6/1/1574 - Father Richard Nutter born c. 1543

Unfortunately they are not my Nutters they were from Colne & Trawden



Edited by - moh on 05 January 2006 09:38:53


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Sue
Senior Member


4201 Posts
Posted - 21/02/2006 : 23:25

Well there I was doing a Google search on Elis Nutter when which site should come up. So this is the line James Proctor ( 1777) of Saxifield married Amy Nutter (1779) daughter of Ellis Nutter of Briercliffe. Now I haven't got any further back yet, but i am beginning to get worried now, I don't want anyone saying anything about my personality......, or background......... Saifield is very near Reedley Hallows

Sue




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Shane
Regular Member


170 Posts
Posted - 22/02/2006 : 07:22

I also have a few Nutter's in my family line but very hard to define (hmmm . . . who doesn't). 

Any way I have a book called Dictionary of Phase and Fable published in 1895 - it has 1440 pages (the height of a good sized teapot including the lid).  And forgive me if BJ has not already published the meaning of Malkin but this is what it says:

Malkin.  The nickname of Mary, now called Molly.  Hence the Maid marion is so termed. Malkin. A kitchen wench, now called a Molly, is by Shakespeare termed "the kitchen Malkin (Coiolanus, ii. 1.)   Malkin. A Moll or female cat, the male being a "Tom".  When the cat mews, the witch in Macbeth calls out, "I come, Grimalkin." (i. 1).

Shane

                                                                                                               

 




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BarrowfordJohn
Regular Member


706 Posts
Posted - 22/02/2006 : 16:28
Shane, that is a correct version of the Malkin term within the early Modern period. However, when it comes to the name of  Malkin Tower I am convinced that we are in totally different etymological territory. A small number of reasonable versions become apparent - all of them fascinating and some point to an ancient useage of the site, as yet there no firm evidence to allow any particular one to be accepted.


Never trust an electrician with no eyebrows!

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She
New Member


1 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2011 : 18:51
Hi to everyone.I hope you don't mind but I have posted my message here because I am a researcher for a TV programme which will be reviewing the story of the Pendle Witches in the UK. The producer of this programme is Mark Olly, who is a archaeologist, historian and TV presenter. You may have seen his TV series "Lost Treasures" - http://www.lost-treasures.co.uk/ As a genealogist I have been asked to try and make contact with any living descendants of the Pendle Witches, with a view to them being interviewed by Mark on the forthcoming TV series.
It seems that may members o fthis site have a possible connection with the Pendle Witches or know a great deal about the history.
 I use the term "possible connection" very openly because I am trying to find living descendants who had ancestors who were living in Lancashire (with associated surnames) in and around the 16th century.
 

My email is She_mughal@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to take part or have some  history you would like to contribute to our research and/or have an opportunity to chat with Mark in more detail.

Hope thats okay with everyone and sorry for intruding on your very interesting thread.



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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob


3044 Posts
Posted - 29/06/2011 : 21:46
Hi She -I hope you get a good response from the various people on here who may have connections with those involved in the trial.

In the 1990s my then business partner's husband turned out to be a direct descendent of Roger Nowell.


=================== 
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 30/06/2011 : 07:00
The man you should be talking to is John Clayton. You could also with profit get his book 'The Lancashire Witch Conspiracy'. ISBN 978-0-9553821-1-6. It is a very well researched and completely new view of the subject based on years of research. Look for Sylvia Clayton, Barrowford in the telephone book.


Stanley Challenger Graham




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