Chelmsford Witch Trials

In Chelmsford, Essex, England in 1566, charges were brought against Elizabeth Francis, Agnes Waterhouse, and her daughter Joan. All three were from a little village in Essex called Hatfield Peverell. Elizabeth was charged with bewitching the infant son of William Auger as well as Alice Poole, "who languished until she died." Elizabeth was convicted and hanged.

Agnes, a sixty-three-year-old widow, was charged with bewitching William Fynee, "who languished until he died." Mother Waterhouse confessed to attempted murder of another neighbor and numerous petty acts of vindictiveness to livestock. She was found guilty and hanged on July 29, 1566.

The third defendant was Joan Waterhouse, aged eighteen, who was charged with bewitching the twelve-year-old Agnes Brown, "who on July 21 became decrepit in her right leg and in her right arm." Joan was found Not Guilty by the court.

The second major trial came in 1579. Ellen Smith was charged with bewitching a four-year-old child. As the child died, she screamed, "Away with the witch." Ellen was convicted and executed. A similar indictment and verdict met Alice Nokes. Margery Stanton was accused of bewitching to death, "one white gelding valued at three pounds and one cow valued at forty shillings." The courts ruled in her favor and set her free.

The third major trial at Chelmsford was in 1589 and involved one man and nine women. They were charged with bewitching to death: four were convicted and hanged; three found Not Guilty on lesser charges of bewitching persons and goods. Children gave much of the evidence, and two boys were praised by the judges for condemning heir unwed mother (Avice Cony) and their grandmother (Joan Cony). Three of the witches (Joan Cony, Joan Upney, and Joan Prentice) were executed within two hours of sentencing, confessing their crimes on the scaffold.