But who was Ann Izzard and why were farm hands carrying protection against her as late as the 19th century?
Witches in England
The peak of witch executions in England was in the 17th Century. About 500 people in total are thought to have been executed for witchcraft, with the last known witch execution in this country took place in 1685. However, fear runs deep, and is only perpetuated by prejudice.
Who was Ann Izzard?
Ann Izzard was born Ann Rowe in 1764 and worked as a live-in servant to a local farmer before meeting her husband Wright Izzard.
In 1808 she was involved in a violent incident in her hometown of Great Paxton in Cambridgeshire. She was dragged from her bed by neighbours who believed her to be a witch.
What was it like to live in Great Paxton?
The early 19th century was not a very prosperous time for the residents of Great Paxton. At the time there were only about 200 people living in the village. There was a high death rate, poor housing, and the ongoing Napoleonic wars saw higher taxes levied on the people of Britain.
These poor economic times saw Ann and her family struggling – and they saw the people of Great Paxton looking for someone to blame for their misfortune.
Ann and her family sought parish relief, which was the benefit system available at the time. When one of Ann’s sons got a job, the subsequent withdrawal of parish relief meant Ann was forced to do things like ask the grocer for credit.
The blame game
After Ann was refused credit the grocer’s wife reportedly experienced a fit that saw her dancing on the table whilst hosting guests for tea. It was believed that she had been bewitched, and bewitched by Ann.
Other misfortunes in the village began to be attributed to Ann, like milk not churning into butter, or children experiencing convulsions.
As the rumours grew the local reverend, Isaac Nicolson, tried to calm his parishioners, reminding them that there was no such thing as witches.
However, all of this came to a head when Ann was reported to have toppled an apple cart with a mere glance.
The night in question
One night soon after the toppling of the cart Ann was pulled from her bed by nine members of the village, stripped, and scratched with pins – it was believed that drawing blood from a witch would break their enchantments. She sought safety in a neighbour, and with Reverend Nicolson, whose account is the reason we know so much of this tale.
The next night the villagers did the same, making plans for a ‘ducking’. This was a ‘test’ for people thought to be witches which involved drowning. Ann was forced to flee to the next village with her family. They began legal proceedings and the nine villagers who attacked Ann were eventually sent to prison.
Why Ann?
The poor living and economic conditions most likely caused the villagers to look for a scapegoat, and someone to blame their troubles on. If Ann was a witch, like they thought, it was a quick and easy solution. Plus, Ann was a herbalist, and would make ointments out of natural ingredients. All of this would have culminated in her being seen as an outsider.
Although the villagers who attacked Ann were sent to prison she continued to be harassed and the family eventually moved to St Neot’s – the home of Alfred William Rowlett, who lots of our English folklore collection comes from.
Lead image by Matt Briney on Unsplash