Fraudulent cases Flashcards
When was the Jane Wenham case?
1712
Who was the main accused in the Jane Wenham case?
Jane Wenham
Who accused Jane Wenham?
Her village
Who was Jane Wenham protected by?
By the judge, John Powell
How did the Judge in the Jane Wenham case cause a clash?
He ridiculed most of the evidence from the neighbours - created a well-publicised clash between the law & popular belief
Also created clash between the educated class & popular masses
What happened to Jane Wenham even though she was found guilty?
The judge released her - showed the willingness of the law to embrace reason in the face of mob hysteria
Which book was written on the Jane Wenham case?
A celebrated sceptical book by Francis Hutchinson in 1718: An Historical Essay Concerning Witchcraft
Why was the Jane Wenham case particularly significant?
It was the last guilty verdict on a charge of witchcraft in England
Why can the Jane Wenham case not be seen as a key turning point in attitudes towards witchcraft?
Witchcraft prosecutions had been in decline since 1660
It is arguable that is cannot be seen as a turning point but as part of a changing attitude that changed more rapidly in recent years
How did the Jane Wenham case show that the people of England still believed in witchcraft?
The jury still condemned her - shows that the scepticism of the Intelligentsia had not yet been adopted by small, rural communities like Wenham’s
Ordinary, illiterate people still believed in witchcraft even if the educated elites were willing to challenge it
After Jane Wenham’s case were there many more publications supporting witchcraft?
Yes - several writers after 1712 still wrote supporting belief in witchcraft
e.g. John Wesley
Evidence for the Jane Wenham case?
- Wise woman –> reputation of being a witch “wise woman of Walkern”
- Falsely accused of bewitching Matthew Gilson - when compensation wasn’t enough, she cast a curse
- Judge Powell is sceptical & secures her a Royal Pardon (despite being found guilty by jury)
How many people supported different accusations?
16
