As part of a new potential project for Hatfield Peverel Parish Council I have been undertaking research into the Essex Witchcraft Trials that took place in the 1500s and 1600s. Agnes Waterhouse of Hatfield Peverel is often said to be the first person executed for witchcraft in England. In fact, ‘witches’ had been killed for centuries, but Agnes was among the first victims to be hung after the passing of the new Witchcraft Act of 1563.
Given all the current discussion of the role and responsibilities of the press, especially in relation to the royal family, it seems very relevant that one of the many sad aspects of Agnes’ story is how she was covered in the press of her day. The image that was used to accompany the news pamphlet of 1566 [see right] looks almost like a nun rather than a local villager accused of witchcraft. The image is in fact just a standard woodcut that the publisher had of a ‘woman’, and the publisher obviously thought this ‘good enough’. For centuries it would have been thought this is what Agnes looked like, and today it is the only record we have.
The pamphlet also describes her trial and what she confessed to, mostly to try and save her daughter who was also on trial. The sensationalist accusations and confessions of Agnes’ and many other witch trials, covered with relish in the pamphlets, fed and stirred up the witch persecutions.
Agnes Waterhouse’s Story
Agnes was putt on trial along with her sister Elizabeth France and daughter Joan. She was accused of murdering her neighbour William Fynee, as well as possessing a demonic cat and other crimes. She and her daughter were also accused of sending a demonic dog with the face of a monkey to torment their neighbour, Agnes Browne. Agnes pleaded guilty and took the blame for all the alleged crimes to save her daughter. She was hung at the Chelmsford gallows on 29 July 1566. Her daughter was acquitted.
Information
Over the last few months there has been an excellent exhibition at Colchester Castle about witchcraft in Essex and the stories of some of the victims that were held at the castle while they awaited trial. For more information on ‘Wicked Spirits’ you can visit Wicked Spirits
Two memorials to the Essex Witchcraft trials have already been established, two projects led by long-term researcher John Worland. The Colchester memorial remembers the victims who were held in Colchester castle, and a new memorial has been unveiled in Chelmsford, to remember those tried at the assize courts in Chelmsford and hung at the gallows.
For a detailed study on Essex Witchcraft Stuart MacFarlane’s anthropological and historical study of the witchcraft trials in Essex is still an invaluable resource.
There is also an excellent blog post on Agnes Waterhouse from the Essex Record Office – The Trial of Agnes Waterhouse
For getting into the atmosphere of the witchcraft persecutions, this novel by Beth Underdown is a very compelling and dark read. Written from the perspective of Matthew Hopkins’ sister, the novel writers aims to bring to life the atmosphere of the witch hunts of the 1600s and the mind-set of this infamous Essex witchfinder.
Jennifer Rowland 