More Myths and Legends..

The Pendle Witches

Malkin Tower in the forest of Pendle was home to Mother Demdike her widowed daughter Elizabeth and Elizabeths three children Alizon,James and Jennet. Close by in the village of Fence lived another poor family who hated the Demdikes the Chadwicks othewise known has Mother Chattox her daughters Bessie Whittle and Anne Redfearne, and husband Thomas.

On the 18th March 1862 Alizon while out begging and making her way to Trawden came across a peddlar she asksed him for some pins and when he refused she cursed him, he then fell ill with what would appear to be these days a stroke.
The peddlars son accused Alizon of witchcraft and she was taken to the local magistrate's house at Read Hall there she tells the magistrate that her grandmother Mother Demdike and the Chattox's are also witches. Alizon , Mother Demdike, Chattox and Anne Redfearne were all sent for trial to Lancaster Castle after Mother Demdike confessed that the devil came into her and sucked out her blood.

Within a week of thier imprisoment Elizabeth Demdike called the Chattox family to a meeting at Malkin Tower to plan a way of getting the women free from the Castle. All in all about 21 people attended the meeting followed by a feast of stolen meats, and poultry. Hearing of the meeting the magistrate sent a further 9 people to Lancaster accusing them of witchcraft also.
Elizabeth Device and her son, James Device; Anne Redfearne, daughter of Old Chattox; Alice Nutter; Katharine Hewit; Jane and John Bulcock, mother and son; Isabel Robey; and Margaret Pearson. The principal witnesses were Elizabeth Device's children, Alison, James, who was in his twenties, and Jennet (also given as Jannet). Jennet said that Elizabeth had an imp named Ball, which she dispatched to murder anyone who displeased her. James said he had seen Ball in the shape of a brown dog and also had seen his mother making clay images.

With the testimony of her children, Elizabeth then confessed. Jennet then implicated James, saying he used another imp in the shape of a dog, Dandy, to bewitch persons to death. James confessed. Redfearne was tried and convicted for bewitching Nutter's father, Christopher Nutter, to death. Alice Nutter, Christopher's wife, was charged with killing one Henry Mytton and was named by the three Devices. Old Chattox, Elizabeth, James, and Alison Device; Anne Redfearne; Katharine Hewit; Jane and John Bulcock; and Isabel Robey. Where all sentenced to hang, Mother Demdike died in jail before she could be tried.