Mrs. Eves the Witch of Hadleigh, Essex

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Part II

 

Mrs. Eve the Witch of Hadleigh, Essex

One of the witches that the Cunning man or Witch Doctor James Murrell of Hadleigh, Essex dealt with.

Elizabeth Finch was born in 1796 at Sible Hedingham, Essex.

She first married Adam Finch and second to William Eaves/Eves.

Lived in Hadleigh, Essex from around 1836 until her death in 1869.

 

 

 

Elizabeth Finch   (1796 - 1869)

 

1.     ELIZABETH FINCH  was born in Sible Hedingham, Essex and was baptized 4 September 1796 at the church in Sible Hedingham.

Father:      Joseph Finch

Mother:     Martha Coney

Click here:   to see page on the parents

 

The baptism entry in the church records of Sible Hedingham:

Image 27 right side

Baptisms 1796

Elizabeth of Joseph & Martha Finch  Sepr 4

 

~ 1822

Elizabeth Finch married ADAM FINCH on 19 June 1822 at the church in Sible Hedingham, Essex.

From the marriage entry:

Image 23 right side

1822 Marriages -- Page 41.  No. 123.

Adam Finch of this Parish Bachelor and Elizabeth Finch of this Parish Spinster were married in this Church by Banns this Nineteenth Day of June in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty two

By me Henry Warberton Rector

This Marriage was solemnized between us

Adam Finch  his X mark
Elizabeth Finch her X mark

In the Presence of

Jane Everett
William Everett

 

It is not known if Adam Finch was a cousin or a distant relative of Elizabeth Finch.

Adam Finch's baptism was not found in the records of Sible Hedingham, Essex.

 

~ 1826

Elizabeth's son, Joseph, was born ca. 1826 in Essex.

 

~ 1834

Elizabeth's daughter, Eliza, was born in Belchamps Walter, Essex.

 

~ 1837

Eliza Eaves, was baptized 25 June 1837 at Hadleigh, Essex.  The parents were listed as William and Elizabeth Eaves.

 

~ 1841

In 1841, William and Elizabeth Eves were living in Hadleigh, Essex.  William was an Agricultural Laborer.

From the 1841 census of Hadleigh:

Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?

William Eves…… 21 M…. Ag Lab….. y
Elizabeth… do…. 30 F…………………. y
Joseph……. do.… 15 M……………….… y
Eliza………. Do…… 7 F………………….. y

 

From the 1837 and 1841 records it would appear that Elizabeth was married and going by the name of Elizabeth Eaves/Eves as the wife of William Eaves/Eves.

But they were not married until several years later as will be shown in the 1843 entry.  So they were living together as a couple but not married.

 

~ 1843

Elizabeth Finch married WILLIAM EAVES on 5 July 1843 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.

From the copy of the marriage certificate:

1843.  Marriage solemnized at Hadleigh in the Church of Worship in the County of Essex

No. 22

When Married.  5 July

Names. / Age. / Condition. / Profession. / Residence. / Father's Name. / Father's Profession.

Wm. Eaves / full / Bachr. / Labr. / Hadleigh / Henry Eaves / Labr

Elizabeth Finch / full / Widow / ----- / Hadleigh / Joseph Finch / Labr.

Married in the Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by me, Henry Whittington

This Marriage was solemnized between us,

The Mark of  X  Wm Eaves
----------------- Elizabeth Finch

in the Presence of us,

Wm [---?---]
George Lloyd

 

~ 1851

In 1851, William and Elizabeth Eaves were living in Hadleigh, Essex.  William was an Agricultural Laborer.

From the 1851 census of Hadleigh:

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

William Eaves…… head… mar… 40 M…. Ag lab………… Essex Rochford
Elizabeth… do…… wife…… “……. 51 F…………………………… “… Little Hedingham
Eliza………. Do…… daur…. U…… 16 F…………………………… “… Walter Belchamp

 

~ 1861

In 1861, William and Elizabeth Eaves were living at On Causeway in Hadleigh, Essex.  William was an Agricultural laborer.  Their daughter and her husband were living with them.

From the 1861 census of Hadleigh:

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

On Causeway

William Eaves…….. Head…… mar…… 49 M….. Agr  laborer…….. Essex Rochford
Elizabeth… do…….. Wife……… do……. 59 F………………………………. do… Sible Hedingham
Joseph Willshire…. Lodger….. do……. 30 M……….. do……………….. do… Thundersley
Eliza Willshire…….. lodger…. Mar…… 26 F……………………………. Essex Walter Belchamp

 

~ 1869

Elizabeth Eves died at the age of 71 in the 1st quarter (Jan-Feb-Mar) of 1869 in the Rochford registration district of Essex.  Hadleigh is in the Rochford R.D.

From the England & Wales, Death Index:

Name:….………………….. Elizabeth Eves
Date:……………………….. Jan-Feb-Mar  1869
Age:……………………….… 71
Registration District:…. Rochford
County:……………………. Essex
Vol:…………………………. 4a
Page:……………………….. 121

 

 

From the book, The Dark World of Witches, by Eric Maple, 1962:

Page 168-169

The Hadleigh witch was a Mrs. Eve, against whom Murrell pitted all the powers of white magic.  After her death a curious and macabre story was circulated in the village.

When the witch died nobody could be found to lay out the body, but finally one woman agreed to do this provided she was not left alone with the corpse.  She and a neighbour  then hurried through their task and were about to leave when a man entered the room.

It was the witch's son, who had been away from home for a long time.  His first words were , "I know my mother is dead.  Her spirit came and stood at my side as I worked in the fields."  He then asked the women not to leave as he had one last task for them.

They were to build up a big fire as he had something to burn.  Then, going to a chest, he took out a small box from within which came a rustling.  He said to the two woman, "My mother held a power and that power comes to me but I'll not have it."  He then thrust the box into the flames.

At once a terrible screaming arose from the box, like a human voice in agony, which went on and on until the box and its contents had been reduced to ashes.  Then the dreadful silence which followed, the man said very quietly, "The power has been destroyed.  At last I'm free."

This grim folk-tale reveals the old-time belief that the power of a witch was passed down to her descendants by means of animal familiars, which were handed on at death, but it also indicates how that entail might be broken … by fire.

 

~ 1871

In 1871, William Eves, a widower, age 60, was living with his daughter and son-in-law, Joseph and Eliza Wiltshire, at 1 New Road in Hadleigh, Essex.  William Eves was an Agricultural Labourer.

From the 1871 census of Hadleigh:

Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace

1 New Road

Joseph Wiltshire…. Head… Mar…. 39 M….. Ag Lab………….. Essex  Thundersley
Eliza……. Do………… Wife… Mar…. 37 F…………………………….. "…… Walter Belcham
William… Do………. Son………………9 M….. Farm - boy….…….. "…… Hadleigh
Sarah……. Do………. Daur……………. 7 F…… Scholar…………….. "…… Hadleigh
Agnes…… Do………. Daur……………. 4 F…… Scholar…………….. "……. Hadleigh
Frederick… Do……. Son……………… 2 M…………………………….. "……. Hadleigh
William Eves……… Fr-in-law… Widr.. 60 M….. Ag. Lab……… "…….. Rochford

 

~ also in 1871

William Eaves died at the age of 59 in the 4th quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec) of 1871 in the Rochford registration district of Essex.  Hadleigh is in the Rochford R. D.

From the England & Wales, Death Index:

Name:…………………….… William Eaves
Date:………………………… Oct-Nov-Dec  1871
Age:………………………….. 59
Registration District:….. Rochford
County: …………………….. Essex
Volume: ……………………. 4a
Page: ………………………… 139

 

 

 

Children of Elizabeth Finch

 

Notes:

The baptisms of Elizabeth's children, Joseph and Eliza, were not found.  It is not certain if they were children of her husband Adam Finch.

 It is also possible that William Eaves may be the father of Eliza.  She was baptized in 1837 as Eliza Eaves.  She was actually born 3 years earlier.

But then why was she "Eliza Finch" at the time of her marriage?

 

 

2.          JOSEPH FINCH  was born ca. 1826 in Essex.

Click here: to see the page on Joseph Finch.

 

3.  +      ELIZA FINCH  was born ca. 1834 in Belchamps Walter, Essex and was baptized 25 June 1837 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.

Eliza married Joseph Wiltshire.

Click here: to see the page on Eliza Finch.

 

 

 

Sources:

1.     1796 baptism of Elizabeth Finch.  From the Seax-Essex Archives online.  Sible Hedingham, St. Peter, D/P 93/1/4, 1767-1809 Baptisms and Burials, 65 Images.  Image 27 right side.  Searched on November 16, 2012 Friday 8:11 PM.

2.     1822 marriage of Elizabeth Finch and Adam Finch.  From the Seax-Essex Archives online.  Sible Hedingham, St Peter, D/P 93/1/13, 1813-1832 Marriages, 54 Images.  Image No. 23 right side.  Searched on October 20, 2012 Saturday 7:06 PM.

3.     1837 baptism of Eliza Eaves.  Hadleigh, St. James the Less, D/P 303/1/4, 1813-1870 Baptisms, 54 Images.  Online at Seax-Essex Archives Online.  Searched October 20, 2012 Saturday 4:33 PM.

4.     1841 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office Reference HO 107 / 337 / 8, Original Page No. 1, Household of William Eves.  March 24, 2009  Tuesday 3:43 PM.

5.     1843 marriage of Elizabeth Finch and William Eares (sic) in the index.  England & Wales, Marriage Index online at Ancestry.com.  Date: Jul-Aug-Sep 1843; Registration District: Rochford; County: Essex; Vol.: 12; Page: 307.  Searched on October 27, 2012 Saturday 8:20 PM.

6.     1843 copy of the marriage certificate of Wm Eaves and Elizabeth Finch.  From the General Register Office, PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 2JD United Kingdom.  Received on November 14, 2012 Wednesday morning 9:55 AM.

7.     1851 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9a, Image No. 14, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office Reference H.O. 107 / 1777, Original Page No. 14, Stamped Page No. 183, No. of Householder’s Schedule 53, Household of William Eaves.  March 24, 2009  Tuesday 3:38 PM.

8.     1861 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image Nos. 12 & 13, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office Reference R. G. 9 1083, Original Page Nos. 12 & 13, Stamped Page No. 130, No. of Schedule 59, Household of William Eaves.  March 24, 2009  Tuesday 3:52 PM.

9.     1869 death of Elizabeth Eves in the index.  England & Wales, Death Index online at Ancestry.com.  Date: Jan-Feb-Mar 1869; Age: 71; Registration District: Rochford; County: Essex; Vol.: 4a; Page: 121.  Searched on March 25, 2009 Wednesday 8:14 PM.

10.     Mrs. Eve mentioned in a book.  The Dark World of Witches, by Eric Maple.  1st published in 1962.  Received August 14, 2010 Saturday Morning.

11.     1871 census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image No. 18, Ancestry.com.  Public Record Office reference R. G. 10 16(5 or 6?)7, Original Page No. 17, Stamped Page No. 121, No of Schedule 89, William Eves in the household of Joseph Wiltshire.  Searched on October 17, 2012 Wednesday 7:42 PM.

12.    1871 death of William Eaves in the index.  England & Wales, Death Index online at Ancestry.com.  Date: Oct-Nov-Dec 1871; Age: 59; Registration District: Rochford; County: Essex; Vol.: 4a; Page 139.  Searched March 25, 2009 Wednesday 8:12 PM.

 

 

 

First published February 21, 2010 Sunday

Last updated November 29, 2012 Thursday 6:08 PM

 

 

Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth

 

 

 

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