The Lancashire Witches, 1604-13
• 1595 – Christopher Nutter was travelling home to Pendle with his two sons Robert and John. Old Chattox was
living on their land as a tenant and allegedly bewitched Robert and Christopher to death. John Nutter would give
evidence against Old Chattox later on.
• ‘Around 1601’ - Two women in rival senior families (Anne whittle aka Old Chattox vs Elizabeth Southerns
aka Old Demdike) fall out because someone had stolen old Demdike’s granddaughter’s clothing and grain. The
granddaughter? – Alizon Device! Alizon accused a woman called Anne Redferne (Old Chattox’s granddaughter) of
being the thief and it all escalated. The matter was resolved by Alizon’s father John Device who promised to pay
Old Chattox a yearly tribute of grain.
• 18th March 1612 – Pedlar John Law is bewitched by Alizon Device, who allegedly uses Maleficium against him
causing a stroke.
• 21st March 1612 – Alexander Nowell interrogates Alizon Device
• 29th March 1612 – Abraham Law seeks out Alizon Device and brings her before his father before reporting the
matter to a local magistrate
• March/April 1612 – Alizon Device’s confession – She confessed to laming Law senior through the use of a familiar
and described how her grandmother Old Demdike had persuaded her to take a familiar. She also recounted three
further examples of Demdike’s witchcraft 1) The she had bewitched John Nutter’s sick cow, 2) that she turned
milk into butter without moving from her seat, and 3) that she had cursed to death local farmer Richard
Baldwin’s daughter. She also explained Old Chattox’s actions of witchcraft 1) that she had murdered through
witchcraft Anne Nutter for laughing at her, 2) that she had turned a man called John Moore’s ale sour as well as
murdering his son through witchcraft, 3) Another man, Hugh Moore, died after accusing Chattox of bewitching his
cattle, 4) John Nutter’s cow died after an altercation with Chattox.
• 2nd April 1612 – Chattox, Demdike and Anne Redferne (daughter of Chattox) were bought in for questioning.
Demdike was tortured into making a confession, but it is said that Chattox confessed voluntarily. Anne Redferne
was implicated by witness statements.
• Mid or late April 1612 – A JP visited Malkin Tower, and with the help of James Device, discovered a clay image
and some teeth
• 27th April 1612 – Jennet Device, Alizon’s 9-year-old sister, implicates her entire family in the trial, becoming JP
Nowell’s star witness.
• End of April 1612 – 19 people were in custody awaiting an august trial for witchcraft
• 19th May 1612 – By this date, Old Demdike has died. Chattox changes much her story at this examination, blaming
most of it on Demdike.
• 16th August 1612 – Judges arrive to Lancashire
• 18-19th August 1612 – The trial of the accused took place
Why did this witch-trial start?
• The economy of Pendle – Most people survived on farming animals including sheep and cattle, and a few people
farmed crops like oats. There was also a thriving cloth industry. Most people had to make textiles alongside
farmwork as agriculture was very unpredictable. This could have made the witch-hunt more likely as people
would have hoped to find reasons or a scapegoat to blame for the unpredictability of their industry which could
be ruined for a huge range of reasons. Furthermore, most people probably lived in quite entrenched poverty and
thus existed in competition with others.
• Cattle and the witch trials – Suspects of the witch hunts were often accused of harming cattle as well as people
illustrating their importance to the people of Pendle. Cows were worth up to £3 at a market – about 6 months of
a manual workers wages. Thus, the death of livestock would be a huge blow to the people of Pendle which in
their eyes, could be something done out of malice, or at the very least, often demanded a comprehensive
explanation, which may have been witchcraft.
• Inflation – Rents in Pendle increased by 39% in 1507 as a result of changing arrangements – the crown formalized
rental agreements. Those who did not have “copyholder” status had to pay increasing rents. Furthermore, there
was general huge inflation in the 16th century, especially for agricultural goods, and huge extension to enclosure.
This made the witch-hunt more likely as people were in great poverty and competition with one another, as well
as the fact that it facilitated long-term conflict between rival families over issues of land and property
• Population growth – mortality rates were declining mostly due to a reduction in the severity and spread of
plagues and epidemics. From just 24 tenants in 1443 to around 1620 in 1650, Pendle is a good example of the
, growth of a typical village of the period. This led to food shortages and inflation, with this uncertainty increasing
the number of vagrants and those who lived on the peripheries of society.
• Copyholders, subtenants and squatters – Copyholders were relatively well-off whereas subtenants lived an often-
unstable life, paying high rents and living on short leases which prevented them from making strong community
ties. It is also likely that many witches lived as illegal sub-tenants or even squatted on land.
• The Reformation – Overall, it seems that the reformation had little effect on the small village of Pendle, with very
few cases of the church courts being used, and only a couple of examples of Catholic recusancy. The main impact
of the reformation was the closure of the local Whalley Abbey – which had provided the bulk of care for the poor
and infirm populations, providing grain, cloth and money to those who needed it in Pendle. Overall, this lack of
support for the destitute may have made the witch hunt more likely as it would have led to resources being far
scarcer and for the sufferers to seek a scapegoat.
• White Magic – for the people of Lancashire, white magic was a part of everyday life. It was said that Old Demdike
and Old Chattox probably practiced white, useful magic as well as Maleficium. This firm belief in the presence of
magic would have made the witch hunts more likely, as if you believe in good magic, you are also highly likely to
have a firm and unwavering belief in the existence of Maleficium.
• The witchcraft statute of 1604 – until 1604, courts required tangible evidence of witchcraft, however James’
witchcraft act made conjuring spirits a capital offence. This meant that it was much easier for the courts to charge
a person with witchcraft, and thus made the witch hunt accelerate very, very quickly.
• Personal grudges – Family drama between the families of Old Demdike and Old Chattox meant that almost both
of their entire families were dragged into the Pendle witch hunt. Furthermore, grudges from the Nutter family
towards old Chattox came up later in trial. Overall, personal grudges played a large part in kicking off the Pendle
witch hunt.
Who were the individuals involved?
• Alizon Device
o The teenager whose involvement initiated the Pendle witch craze. As Old Demdike’s granddaughter, her
accusation of witchcraft spiraled into something which involved the majority of her family members and
many other locals.
• John Law
o The man who was allegedly lamed by Alizon Device. It is likely that he suffered a stroke.
• Thomas Potts
o The local clerk who made an account of the Pendle witch trials called The Wonderfull Discoverie of
Witches in the Countie of Lancaster.
• Abraham Law
o Son of John Law. Strongly pushed for the prosecution of Alizon.
• Annie Whittle (Old Chattox)
o Anne Redferne’s mother. Willingly confessed to being a witch.
• Elizabeth Southerns (Old Demdike)
o Alizon, Jennet and James Devices’ grandmother. Tortured into making a confession of witchcraft.
• Anne Redferne
o Chattox’s granddaughter. Implicated as a witch by witness’ statements.
• Christopher Nutter
o John and Robert Nutter’s father. Bewitched to death by Old Chattox who was a tenant on their land.
• Roger Nowell
o Local JP who interrogates Alizon and the other witches.
• John Nutter
o Christopher Nutter. Later gave evidence against Old Chattox. His cow died after an altercation with
Chattox. His cow was bewitched by Demdike.
• Richard Baldwin
o Old Demdike allegedly bewitched his daughter to death.
• Tibb
o Old Demdike’s familiar.
• Margaret Crook
o Robert Nutter’s sister. Gave evidence against Anne Redferne, alleging that she had bewitched Robert.
• James Robinson
o Probably a servant of the Nutter family. Gave evidence against Anne Redferne and Old Chattox claiming
that they were well-known witches. Alleged that when he hired Old Chattox to card some wool in his
