Former MP to shed light on notorious Denby witchcraft case
Former Wakefield MP David Hinchliffe is the guest speaker at this Saturday’s Wakefield & District Family History Society meeting at Outwood Memorial Hall.
He will be discussing his family’s possible connection to the Denby witchcraft case of 1674.
He said: “I came across this case while researching my Hinchliffe family history. I have not proved a direct family link to the accused but my Hinchliffe ancestors were living on the other side of the Dearne Valley in Cumberworth in the late 1700s.”
He subsequently wrote a book, A Most Gross and Groundless Prosecution, which was was published to tie in with the 350th anniversary of the case.
Happening not long after the restoration of the monarchy, it bitterly divided the local community, with a petition in support of the accused gaining signatures mainly from those who had supported Parliament in the civil wars and were religious dissenters.
He said: “The accused were Susannah Hinchliffe and her married daughter, Anne Shillitoe.
“The accuser was a 16-year-old girl, Mary Moor, who lived in Clayton West, near Wakefield.
“Her allegations were wide-ranging but were mainly concerned with what she said she had overheard in conversations between the two women, where they were discussing their powers’ over other people
“She alleged that Susannah and Anne had been behind the deaths of some pigs and the illness of a child, among other things.”
Of particular interest is the petition Mr Hinchliffe has found signed by 50 prominent local people in support of the accused women.
He added: “I have come across several connections between people involved in the case and the Wakefield area - the Warmfield-cum-Heath parish in particular - which are not easily understood.
“The person whose signature is first on the petition - George Sedascue - died in Heath Old Hall, Wakefield, in 1688 and is buried in Normanton.” Heath Old Hall was demolished in 1961.
The meeting, is free to attend and open to all. Doors open at 10am for a 10.30am start.
Wakefield & District Family History Society was formed in 1997 in order to advance public education in family history and genealogy for the benefit of anyone living in the Wakefield district
More information can be found at https://wdfhs.co.uk/