Bideford is a small market town along the River Torridge in North Devon. In the 16th century Bideford was home to Britain’s third largest port and has a busy port to this day. The rise in trade bought and economic growth to the area and also a growth in non-conformity and Puritanism. There was a great deal of poverty in the area and food shortage was a big problem.
Devon has a long and varied history of Pirates and Witches some dating back to the 12th century. But in 1682 it was home to the trial and the last execution by hanging of witches in Britain. It is said that the last person hanged was Alice Molland in 1685 but there is no evidence of the hanging being carried out although she was sentenced to death.
The story of the trial is luckily preserved for us in the Book of Bideford, written in 1792 by a local historian named John Watkins. Watkins believed that the women were the victims of hatred and ignorance, writing that 'there was always some poor devil, either on account of an unlucky visage, sour temper, or wretched poverty, set up as the object of terror and universal hatred'. It is certain that most of the evidence that condemned the women consisted of malicious rumour and hearsay.
Temperance was arrested for practicing witchcraft after a local shopkeeper reported her the charge bought was ‘upon suspicion of having used some magical art, sorcery or witchcraft upon the body of Grace Thomas and to have had discourse or familiarity with the devil in the shape of a black man.’ The general consensus was that a man, probably the devil, disguised as a black bird had flown into a Grace Thomas’ home and made her ill. That Temperance had used a pricking doll (modern day voodoo doll) to carry out this act. Temperance actually admitted this and was despatched to Exeter gaol to await sentencing. Whilst in gaol she admitted to killing three other people and blinding another, at her death she blamed the devil for her actions.
Mary trembles and Susanna Edwards was sentenced by evidence of their neighbours and they had been seen with Temperance whilst out begging for food. Mary had been seen outside of the house of a Grace Barnes who had experienced fits, Barnes then accused Mary of being a witch. They were sent to Exeter with temperance where the townsfolk came to visit and heckle at the three townswomen.
They were put on trial in August 1682, the three were described as ‘very old, decrepit and impotent’ all pleaded not guilty. Unfortunately, and possibly due to senility, all three seemed to have freely confessed to their ‘crimes’ during cross-examination. Given this behaviour it is unsurprising that all three were found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. The sentence was carried out on Friday 25 August 1682 at Heavitree near Exeter before a large crowd. On the gallows all three became lucid and denied all of their charges, unfortunately it was too late.