A series of witch-hunts occurred in politically and religiously divided puritan towns across East Anglia between 1645 and 1647. Over the summer of 1645 sixteen people were accused of witchcraft in Great Yarmouth, and six convicted with help from the witchfinder Matthew Hopkins. What were the town’s residents afraid of? Why were the town’s authorities keen to investigate those alleged to have consorted the Devil?

This talk puts the witch-hunt in context, explaining how war exhaustion and the growth of nonconformity challenged puritan control in town and led members of the corporation to support the witch-hunt as part of a wider attempt to unite the town’s puritans against division by uniting against the threat of witchcraft!

Although this presentation is not Berkshire based, it can be related to our county as in Reading and other towns witch-hunts and trials were held. Learn about the thought processes of townspeople when faced with activities they did not understand.

This talk is free to members of Berkshire Family History Society and we request a donation of £5 from non-members. Pre-booking is required because the meeting link will be e-mailed in advance. Booking ends one day before the event. 

To join this meeting you will need a computer device which has a microphone and speakers. Ideally, also a webcam.  You also need to be able to access e-mails from this device. First time users will be asked to download a small piece of software to join the meeting. The meeting link will be e-mailed to you in advance.  Technical help is available for those who need further assistance, please contact booking@berksfhs.org.uk.

Image: W. Perkins, A discourse of the Damned Art of Witchcraft Wellcome image no. M0013813 CC-BY-4.0