Wakefield Witches

The most famous Yorkshire witch is undoubtedly Mother Shipton, who was born in a cave in Knarsborough during a thunderstorm in 1488.

Wakefield has also had its fair share of witches, with the most notable being the story of old Margaret Morton of the sleepy little hamlet of Kirkthorpe.

On the 10th January 1650 Margaret Morton stood before 5 stern men of the court charged with being a witch.

The locals had long since accused Margaret of being a witch and her own mother and sister, both long dead, had also been charged with the same for it was said that the Morton’s were descended from the devil himself…..

The first witness called was Mrs Joanne Booth of Walmfield, who said that Morton came to her house and offered her son a piece of bread, soon after eating the bread the son began to vomit, his whole body swelled and he could barely stand. Morton then begged forgiveness from the son and offered a outstretched finger to Mrs Booth so she could prick to draw blood. As soon as the blood began to flow the boys condition returned to his previous good health. Booth concluded Morton had bewitched her son and since that day Booth said she hadn’t be able to get butter when she churned or make cheese.

Another witness against Morton was her neighbour Mrs Frances Ward, who searched Morton before thd trial and found 2 black spots between her thighs, this she deduced was a clear sign the woman was a witch. Mrs Ward explained that they looked like warts but were more sinister and were the marks of the devil….. Mrs Wards 2 younger children had died mysterious some two years ago, their deaths being tormented and slow Ward said all the evidence of their illness was pointed towards Morton and her evil doings as Morton was present until both children drew their final breathes.

Margaret Morton was sent to trial at York Assizes but the locals hope for justice were dashed as Morton was acquitted.

But that wasnt where it ended…..

Some years later Jennet Benton and her son George both of Wakefield, stood accused of trespassing and witchcraft before the courts.

The account tells that Benton and her son were crossing the land of Bunny Hill Farm and were trespassing on the land of Richard Jackson. Jackson sent his servant Craven to deal with the matter but before any words could be muttered, George Benton hurled a stone at Craven and left a jagged cut across Cravens mouth and broke 2 of his teeth.

Jennet Benton then shrieked ” Your master and his family will be ruined before the year is out’

Craven returned to Jackson, but Jackson laughed off the threat, until later that was, until the year was almost out and Jackson’s wife suddenly went quite deaf followed days later by their only child suffering violent seizures during the night. Jackson himself who was usually quite well suddenly was struck down with pains in his back, chest and shoulders. Jackson soon began to hear things which weren’t there, he could hear music and dancing all around him but when looking there was nothing nor nobody there and it soon became apprant that he was the only person that could hear this noise… but that wasnt the worse of it… suddenly a low blood curdling groan came from somewhere in the darkness ourside, such was the noise that Jacksons hounds soon began to bark and howl at the windows and Jacksons pigs outside in their pens were so greatly disturbed that they broke free from their pens.

But Jackson reported that the worse was yet to come….he said that all the windows and doors in the house began to rattle and bang and slam open and shut… All the trunks and boxes in the house suddenly disappeared and soon after apparitions of little black dogs and cats roamed the house, creeping up and down the corridors like shadows. Jackson concluded ” how could this not have been some kind of dark bewitchment? these Bentons have put a terrible curse on me”

Whatever the outcome of the trail is not known as the records from the York Assizes do not survive until a much later date, but what is known is that both Jennet Benton and her son were both set free with nothing but a charge of trespass……