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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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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob


3044 Posts
Posted - 06/05/2004 : 17:55
Just a little note about pronunciation which might interest some: "Malkin" rhymes with "walking" and "talking" not Mal (rhymes with "pal") kin.


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 06/05/2004 : 18:37
I used to haytime with Abel Taylor at Greenbank Farm just above the site of Malkin Tower. I know that it would have taken a lot to persuade Abel to go down into the hollow where the tower used to stand. He said he never felt comfortable about it. He was related by marriage to the Hargreaves at Wheathead Farm at Blacko and we used to help them in haytime as well. They believed firmly in witches and told me stories about happening there which I'm afraid I've forgotten. However, they were very serious about it.


Stanley Challenger Graham




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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 21/10/2004 : 10:56
Much later..... Heather is quite right, alternative spellings of Malkin are Maulkin and Mowkin.



Stanley Challenger Graham




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sbarrett
New Member


3 Posts
Posted - 22/12/2004 : 11:31
The name of the last two witches Doc mentions is Bulcock, not Bulrock. I know this because Jane is my great-aunt x 10 generations. Annoyingly, there doesn't seem to be any record of what she and son John actually did in the witching line. John turned the spit for the meat they were roasting at Malkin Tower but that surely wasn't a hanging offence, even in those days..



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Margaret
New Member


49 Posts
Posted - 22/12/2004 : 15:02
I am aquainted with some direct descendants of Alice Nutter, and their family legend has it that she had six fingers on each hand. A friend of mine married into this family and only recently both her daughters were born with this particular genetic defect.

Margaret


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 22/12/2004 : 16:03
Now that is very impressive evidence!


Stanley Challenger Graham




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SueR
New Member


25 Posts
Posted - 21/08/2005 : 22:31
Hello Margaret

I am very interested to hear that the direct line from Alice Nutter is known. I am currently trying to trace her line myself and I'm not getting very far! Would the direct descendants you speak of be willing to share some of their information? It would be such a help, as you can imagine!

Thanks



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SueR
New Member


25 Posts
Posted - 21/08/2005 : 22:36

I have heard before of this lawsuit between Alice and Roger Nowell. Do you know anyone who has the details of this lawsuit or can tell me how I can get hold of it?

Many thanks
quote:
Doc wrote:
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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Stevie
Mad Woman of Thornton


834 Posts
Posted - 22/08/2005 : 01:57

I am aware that 'Nutter' appears to be quite a common name up here, but would it be too much to hope that there could be a connection to Nutter Cote here?

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Ringo
Site Administrator


3793 Posts
Posted - 22/08/2005 : 07:49
Witches  living in Nutter Cote ! Thats got to be worth a bit of research


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 22/08/2005 : 07:57
Only recently.......  Nutter is a corruption of 'neatherd', a person who looked after deer in the royal forest....


Stanley Challenger Graham




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BarrowfordJohn
Regular Member


706 Posts
Posted - 22/08/2005 : 10:21

A couple of points - John Bulcock and his mother, Jane, were prosecuted on the evidence of James Device who said that  "he heard them confesse that they had bewitched, at the new-field Edge in Yorkshire, a woman called Jennet, wife of John Deyne, besides her Reason and the said Womans name so bewitched, he did not hear them speak of"  Newfield Edge is in Middop on the lower slopes of Weets.

The alleged land dispute between Alice Nutter and Roger Nowell is pure folklore - there is no evidence for this whatsoever. I think that the story grew out of land transactions that Nowell had with Alice Nutter's distant relatives in the Simonstone area.

If Alice Nutter were to have had 6 fingers then I am sure that the prosecution would have seized upon this with great glee - what better proof of a witch could they have had?- even a mole, or small blemish, was accepted proof of guilt. I would love to see a verified family tree of Alice's descendants, many people claim her as an ancestor through family legend but the line is notoriously difficult to trace.

I am reasonably sure that one of Elizabeth Southern's descendants walks the streets of Barrowford today and, for reasons I cannot state here, he is living proof of certain factors within the Malkin family.




Never trust an electrician with no eyebrows!

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melteaser
Genealogist


4819 Posts
Posted - 22/08/2005 : 10:37
I'm intrigued now BJ! Are you able to state them in a PM?


Mel


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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart


36804 Posts
Posted - 22/08/2005 : 17:59
It's the broomstick and pointy hat that gives him away.......


Stanley Challenger Graham




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SueR
New Member


25 Posts
Posted - 24/08/2005 : 21:19


quote:
melteaser wrote:
I'm intrigued now BJ! Are you able to state them in a PM?

Sorry for the delay in replying: I haven't been able to access my computer for the past couple of days. I am not surprised that the Nutter-Nowell affair is a myth. I felt sure I would have come across documentary evidence somewhere by now. I have data on nearly all the early parish registers for Newchurch, Burnley, Colne, Downham et al and I plan to compare it were possible to the dozens of land documents of that period available at the LRO. If in the meantime anybody knows or hears of real documentary evidence identifying the various Nutter families around Pendle and Briercliffe during the witch trial period, I would be delighted to learn of it. If I come up with any concrete information myself, I will of course post it here first!

Thanks again and do keep me in mind regarding any new information on early Nutters (1500-1650)


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