August 19th, 2009
Southend, Essex and Witch Trials
Southend is an area in Essex England that is incredibly attractive to tourists, and for good reason. There is a great deal to do and see in this historic area and it is full of historic landmarks, cultural attractions and beautiful scenery. Something that many tourists staying in a Southend hotel may not realize is that the region of Essex also played a major role in the witchcraft trials that occurred during the reign of Elizabeth the First.
Chelmsford Essex was where the first secular witch trial took place. This precedent created a series of secular trials to follow, both in Chelmsford and other areas in Essex as well as throughout England. Elizabeth Frances was the first of those accused to be tried. She was an easy target for suspicion due to her perceived status as a bizarre old lady. During the trial Frances confessed to using a cat as a familiar and told the court that she gave it to another woman, Agnes Waterhouse. This led to Waterhouse’s arrest. Frances received a year in prison for the offense, though Waterhouse was hung. Unfortunately for Frances, she would be accused again and this time she also would be hung.
Some interesting aspects of the witch trials in Essex also relate or correspond with witch panics in other areas. In the 1580s, approximately 13 percent of the trials brought to court were for witchcraft. There were 64 cases heard and of those 53 were found to be guilty. It was extremely common for accused witches to confess, this is partly due to the fact that punishment for persons who confess to the crime are usually lighter than those that profess their innocence. It is also standard to demand names of other witches from those accused and they often end up citing a long list of additional witches, who are then brought to trial and pressed to name others.
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