The Pendle Witch Trial of 1612

At the assizes at Lancaster in the autumn of 1612, twenty persons, of whom sixteen were women of various ages, were committed for trial, and most of them tried for witchcraft.

Their names were:

Elizabeth Southerns , alias Demdike

, alias Demdike Elizabeth Device daughter of Demdike

daughter of Demdike James Device son of Elizabeth Device

son of Elizabeth Device Alison Device daughter of Elizabeth Device

daughter of Elizabeth Device Anne Whittle alias Chattox

alias Chattox Anne Redferne daughter of Chattox

daughter of Chattox Alice Nutter

Jane Bulcock

John Bulcock son of Jane Bulcock

son of Jane Bulcock Katherine Hewitt alias Mould-heels

alias Mould-heels Isabel Robey

Margaret Pearson

Margaret Pearson was tried 1st for murder by witchcraft; 2nd for bewitching a neighbour; 3rd for bewitching a horse; and, being acquitted of the two former charges, was sentenced for the last to stand upon the pillory in the markets of Clitheroe, Padiham, Colne, and Lancaster for four successive market days, with a printed paper upon her head, stating her offence.

The twelve persons already named were styled Witches of Pendle Forest.

The following eight were called

Witches of Samlesbury:

Jennet Bierley

Ellen Bierley Daughter of Jennet Bierley

Daughter of Jennet Bierley Jane Southworth

John Ramsden

Elizabeth Astley

Alice Gray

Isabel Sidegraves

Lawrence Haye

The last four were discharged without trial.

The sensation produced by these trials was immense, not only in this, but throughout neighbouring counties, and Thomas Potts, the clerk of the court, was directed by the judges of assize, Sir Edward Bromley and Sir James Altham to collect and publish the evidence and other documents connected with the trial, under the revision of the judges themselves.

From Lancashire Folklore, 1882

John Harland and T.T. Wilkinson.