Harriet Hart (1814-1897)
The Witch of Snoreham village, Essex, England
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Harriet Firbank (1814 - 1897)
~ The Witch of Snoreham village near Latchingdon, Essex ~
and the wife of
William Hart
~ 1814
1. HARRIET FIRBANK was born ca. 1813/1814 in Snoreham village in Latchingdon, Essex and was baptized 10 Jan 1814 at the church in Latchingdon.
Since she was baptized in the earlier part of January, Harriet Firbank may have been born in the end of 1813.
Father: William Firbank ( or James Firbank?)*
Mother: Mary ---?---
~ Research Notes:
* Harriet Firbank's father may have been actually James Firbank.
If so, due to an error written in the original church records or due to an error in copying the record into the familysearch database, the original records need to be checked.
1st -- to see if Harriet Firbank's father was written as William Firbank in the baptism record.
2nd -- if yes in the 1st above, then another record would be needed to be found to show if William Firbank existed such as burial, etc.
My reason for wondering if it is actually James and not William can be shown below, from the church records of Latchingdon, Essex:
James Firbank married Mary Newman 23 Feb 1810 at the church in Latchingdon, Essex.
Mary Firbank was baptized 03 Nov 1811 at the church in Latchingdon, Essex.
Parents: James and Mary. Residence: Snoreham, Essex, England.
Harriott Firbank was baptized 10 Jan 1814 at the church in Latchingdon, Essex.
Parents: William Firbank, Mary. Residence: Snoreham, Essex, England.
William Firbank was baptized 06 Jul 1818 at the church in Latchingdon, Essex.
Parents: James Firbank, Mary. Residence: Snoreham, Essex, England.
John Firbank was baptized 14 May 1826 at the church in Latchingdon, Essex.
Parents: James Firbank, Mary. Residence: Snoreham, Essex, England.
Ann Firbank was baptized 21 Dec 1828 at the church in Latchingdon, Essex.
Parents: James Firbank, Mary. Residence: Snoreham, Essex, England.
All the above records for the Firbanks in the small village of Snoreham, Essex are for James and Mary (Newman) Firbank. Except for the baptism for Harriot Firbank which shows the father as "William" but the mother is still "Mary".
Also William and Harriet Hart did name one of their son James Hart in 1846.
So I'm more incline to say that the name William was a mistake and that James would be the correct name for the father of Harriet Firbank, so it needs to be investigated.
~ 1832
Harriet Firbank married WILLIAM HART on 19 Oct 1832 at the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex.
In the familysearch.org database, the names are spelled:
William Hart and Harriette Furbank
William Hart was born 10 Nov 1811 in Creeksea, Essex and was baptized 8 Dec 1811 at the church in Creeksea. He was a son of Isaac and Dinah Hart.
From the parish register of Creeksea:
Baptisms 1811
William Son of Isaac and Dinah Hart, was born November 10th & baptiz'd & receiv'd into the Church December 8th:
~ the earlier Hart family
William Hart was the only child of Isaac and Dinah Hart to be baptized in Creeksea, so it indicates that they were only there for a short while.
Another Hart family living in Creeksea of the same time period 1801 to 1811 was William and Martha Hart. They had children named Abraham and Isaac Hart. This William Hart was most likely an Uncle of the William Hart born in 1811.
This is interesting because in Latchingdon, Essex there were earlier Isaac and Abraham Harts being baptized and living in Latchingdon from the middle of the 1700's. The Hart family in Latchingdon probably can be traced back to the late 1600's.
Also there was a "Dianah Hart" buried 17 May 1829 in the churchyard in Latchingdon, Essex.
This probably could be the "Dinah Hart" who was the mother of the William Hart who married Harriet Firbank.
So Latchingdon is the home base of this Hart family concerned.
Even the Stephen Hart that was living in Tillingham, Essex in the 1840's and 1850's was born in Latchingdon.
~ 1834
William and Harriet Hart's son, William Hart, was baptized 11 May 1834 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1837
William and Harriet Hart's son, Henry George Hart, was baptized 02 Apr 1837 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1838
William and Harriet Hart's son, Henry George Hart, died and was buried 15 Feb 1838 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1839
William and Harriet Hart's daughter, Lucy Hart, was baptized 14 Apr 1839 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1841
In 1841, William and Harriet Hart were living in Snoreham village in Latchingdon, Essex. William was listed as an Agricultural Labourer.
From the 1841 census of Snoreham village:
Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?
Snouham Village
Extra Parocial
William Hart 25 M Ag Lab y
Harriet Do 25 F y
William Do 5 M y
Lucy Do 2 F y
~ 1843
William and Harriet Hart's son, Henry Hart, was baptized 26 Jun 1843 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ also in 1843
There was a case of a William Ellis who was accused of stealing from William Hart of Latchingdon, Essex mentioned in the newspaper.
From the newspaper, The Essex Standard, Friday, October 27, 1843:
Essex Quarter Session.
The following were acquitted: - Wm. Ellis, 22, sawyer, stealing a purse and monies from William Hart, at Latchingdon
~ 1846
William and Harriet Hart's son, James Hart, was baptized 18 Jun 1846 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1847
William and Harriet Hart's son, James Hart, died and was buried 19 Apr 1847 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1848
William and Harriet Hart's son, George Hart, was baptized 13 Feb 1848 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1851
In 1851, William and Harriet Hart were living in Snoreham, Essex. William was listed as a Farmer’s Labourer.
From the 1851 census of Snoreham:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
William Hart Head Mar 39 M Farmers Labourer Crexeth Essex
Harriet Hart Wife Mar 37 F Latchingdon Essex
Lucy Hart Daughter 12 F Scholar Do
George Hart Son 3 M Do Do
~ 1852
William and Harriet Hart's daughter, Ellen Hart, was born ca. 1852 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1856
William and Harriet Hart's son, Henry Hart, was baptized 28 Dec 1856 in Latchingdon, Essex.
~ 1860
In 1860, the incident of the Witch Harriet Hart helping Joseph Thorogood occurred.
Another man was prevented in meeting the girl Joseph was interested in.
From the article "The Witches of Dengie", by Eric Maple in Autumn 1962 issue of Folklore:
The last and best remembered of these Hart witches was Harriet Hart who lived in the first half of the last century. There is a reference to the baptism of her son in the parish registers for 1834.
She was notorious for having committed the commonplace crimes of witchcraft, causing storms, blighting crops in the field and bewitching pigs. Unlike others of her kind, however, she seems to have been blessed with a sense of humour.
This is illustrated in a letter (1960) from Mr J. A. Thorogood, now of Wickham Bishops.
'My grandfather was going by one night when the witch came out and said, "Where you going, Joe?" so my grandfather said, "It's nothing to do with you." "Yes, it is." said the witch. "You're going down to Police Station corner after that girl… but there is another chap coming after the girl, but he shall not come." So as the other chap was going down the road he got as far as Butterfields Chase and he was taken like somebody drunk and could not proceed any further.'
Unable to overcome this magic the rival gave up in disgust and for the Rutherfords** the affair had a happy ending.
** an error, should be Thorogoods.
This was to have occurred in 1860, as for that year we have the marriage of Joseph Thorogood.
Joseph Thorogood married Emma Brown in the 1st Quarter (Jan-Feb-Mar) of 1860 in the registration district of Maldon, Essex.
From the England & Wales marriage index:
Name: Joseph Thorowgood
Spouse's Name: Emma Brown
Date: Jan-Feb-Mar 1860
Registration District: Maldon
Inferred: Essex
Volume: 4a
Page: 185
~ 1861
In 1861, William and Harriet Hart were living in Snoreham, Essex. William was listed as a Farm Labourer.
From the 1861 census of Snoreham:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Village
William Hart Head Mar 49 M Farm Labourer Essex Crexey
Harriet do Wife do 47 F do Latchingdon
George do Son 13 M do do
Ellen do Daur 9 F do do
Henry do Son 4 M do do
~ 1871
In 1871, William and Harriet Hart were living in Snoreham Street in Snoreham, Essex. William was listed as an Agricultural Labourer.
From the 1871 census of Snoreham:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Snoreham
Street
William Hart Head Mar 58 M Ag Lab Essex Crixsea
Harriet Do Wife Mar 56 F Do Latchingdon
Henry Do Son 14 M Do Do Do Do
~ between 1871 and 1891
I was not able yet to locate the family in the 1881 census and because Hart is almost a common name that there were several William Harts that died in the 1871 to 1891 period, so I was not able to narrow down to the correct death of William Hart.
All we know is that William Hart died between 1871 and 1891 and that Harriet Hart the widow was living with her daughter's family, David and Ellen Scrivener, in Mayland, Essex in 1891.
~ 1891
In 1891, Harriet Hart, age 77 and a widow, was living with her daughter’s family in Nipsells Cottage in Mayland, Essex. Her son-in-law David Scrivener was a Farm Bailiff.
From the 1891 census of Mayland:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Nipsells Cottage
David Scrivmer Head M 42 M Farm Ballif Employed Essex Althorne
Ellen Do Wife M 39 F Do Latchingdon
William Do Son S 16 M Horse Keeper Employed Do Do
Erenie Do Do S 13 M Scholar Do Do
Annie Do Dau 11 F Do Do Do
Sidney Do Son 9 M Do Do Do
Gurty Do Dau 6 F Do Do Mayland
Albert Do Son 5 M Do Do Do
Harriet Hart Mother Wid 77 F Do Latchingdon
~ between 1891 and 1897
It would appear that Harriet Hart at some point between 1891 and 1897 went to lived with her other daughter, Lucy Hitch, who was a widow living in Maldon, Essex.
Then at a certain point Harriet Hart ended up at the Maldon Union Workhouse in Maldon, Essex.
My theory of why she ended up in the Union Workhouse when she had families that could of taken care of her can be explained by the fact that Harriet Hart's daughter, Lucy Hitch, died shortly after she died.
Lucy Hitch died at the age of 58 in the 3rd Quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep) 1897 in the Maldon Registration District of Essex.
Lucy probably got ill and then probably was not able to take care of herself and her mother and then at that point Harriet Hart was placed in the Workhouse.
It is possible that Lucy Hitch died in the Maldon Union workhouse too. Will need to get the death certificate on Lucy Hitch to find out.
~ 1897
Harriet Hart died at the age of 85 years on 25 Jun 1897 at the Maldon Union Workhouse in Maldon, Essex.
From the death certificate:
Registration district Maldon
1897 Death in the sub-district of Maldon in the County of Essex
No. 215
When and where died Twentyfifth June 1897 The Union workhouse Maldon W. x
Name and surname Harriet Hart
Sex female
Age 85 years
Occupation Widow of William Hart farm labourer of St Peter
Cause of death Natural decay Certified by Thos Tomlinson M. R. C. S.
Informant C. R. Timperley Master of the Union Workhouse Maldon
When registered Seventh July 1897
Registrar William Baldwin Registrar
Her actual age at death is more likely 83 or 84 base on her baptism and the census records.
~ 1962
Eric Maple published his article "The Witches of Dengie" that appeared in the Autumn 1962 issue of the Folklore, Volume 73.
In this article he mentioned about Harriet Hart and the Hart family.
Eric Maple in 1960 interviewed several old people in the Latchingdon area that remembered Harriet Hart when she was still living.
From the article "The Witches of Dengie", by Eric Maple:
Pages 178 to 179
"In the year 1960 I completed an investigation of the witchcraft traditions of the Dengie Hundred of South-East Essex… The heart of this tradition was the village of Latchingdon where until the middle of the nineteenth century, a family of witches named Hart had lived for generations.
The last and best remembered of these Hart witches was Harriet Hart who lived in the first half of the last century. There is a reference to the baptism of her son in the parish registers for 1834.
She was notorious for having committed the commonplace crimes of witchcraft, causing storms, blighting crops in the field and bewitching pigs. Unlike others of her kind, however, she seems to have been blessed with a sense of humour.
This is illustrated in a letter (1960) from Mr J. A. Thorogood, now of Wickham Bishops.
'My grandfather was going by one night when the witch came out and said, "Where you going, Joe?" so my grandfather said, "It's nothing to do with you." "Yes, it is." said the witch. "You're going down to Police Station corner after that girl… but there is another chap coming after the girl, but he shall not come." So as the other chap was going down the road he got as far as Butterfields Chase and he was taken like somebody drunk and could not proceed any further.'
Unable to overcome this magic the rival gave up in disgust and for the Rutherfords** the affair had a happy ending.
This is possibly the only occasion upon which a good word has been said on behalf of Harriet Hart. Generally she was hated and there is a tradition to the effect that the villagers once lit a great bonfire in the open as a ritual to break her powers.
Like other witches of the Essex marshlands she was said to have the power of flight, her method of transvection being not a broomstick but a hurdle. She also accused of casting spells on horses and wheeled vehicles.
There is a well-known anecdote told of her lurking in the hub of a wagon wheel and halting the wagon. The drover began to lash the horses but a passer-by shouted, 'Don't hit the horses, hit the wheel.' The drover lashed the wheel and suddenly Witch Hart materialized, covered with blood. After this the wagon was able to resume its journey.
Mr Adams of Latchingdon remembers a macabre story which was in circulation when he was a boy seventy years ago. Old Harriet Hart was lying dead in her cottage by Deadaway Bridge when her grandson passed on horseback. As he drew abreast of the cottage a horde of white mice poured out of the garden and pursued him up the road. Realizing that these were her imps he forced the horse into a gallop and escaped, breaking the entail whereby the powers of a witch were passed on from generation to generation.
** the name Rutherford is an error. It should have been Thorogood.
According to the letter written by Mr. J. A. Thorogood in 1960, his grandfather was "Joe".
I did a research on this Mr. J. A. Thorogood and it turns out he was born Albert James Thorogood in 1895 in Latchingdon, Essex.
Albert James Thorogood's father was James Thorogood who was born ca. 1871 in Mundon, Essex.
James Thorogood's father was Joseph Thorogood who was born ca. 1836 in Latchingdon, Essex.
Joseph Thorogood married Emma Brown in the 1st Quarter (Jan-Feb-Mar) of 1860 in the registration district of Maldon, Essex.
From the England & Wales marriage index:
Name: Joseph Thorowgood
Spouse's Name: Emma Brown
Date: Jan-Feb-Mar 1860
Registration District: Maldon
Inferred: Essex
Volume: 4a
Page: 185
Mr. J. A. Thorogood's other grandfather was William Polley of Latchingdon. So obviously he is not the grandfather "Joe".
Obviously since the death certificate of Harriet Hart says she died in the Maldon Union Workhouse. The story put out by the Mr. Adams of Latchingdon in Eric Maple's article didn't pan out.
In the sense when I received the death certificate that I would of hoped that Harriet Hart have died in Latchingdon and more hopefully that she would have died in the cottage near Deadaway Bridge mentioned in the story.
It is still possible that Harriet Hart at one time lived at Deadaway cottages but it would be in one of the times in between the various censuses.
Eric Maple did mentioned "Mr Adams of Latchingdon remembers a macabre STORY WHICH WAS IN CIRCULATION when he was a boy".
Even that the specific information didn't pan out …. the information is still important …. because it showed what some of the people of Latchingdon area thought back then….
that Harriet Hart was a Witch.
Children of William and Harriet (Firbank) Hart
2. + WILLIAM HART was born in Latchingdon, Essex and was baptized 11 May 1834 in the church at Latchingdon with Snoreham.
William married Martha Kerridge.
Click here: to continue on to the page about the son William Hart.
3. HENRY GEORGE HART was baptized 02 Apr 1837 at the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex.
Henry George Hart died and was buried 15 Feb 1838 at the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham.
4. + LUCY HART was born in Latchingdon, Essex and was baptized 14 Apr 1839 at the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham.
Lucy married Edward Albert Hitch.
Click here: to continue on to the page about the daughter Lucy Hart.
5. HENRY HART was baptized 26 Jun 1843 at the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex.
6. JAMES HART was baptized 18 Jun 1846 at the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex.
James Hart died and was buried 19 Apr 1847 at the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex.
7. GEORGE HART was born in Latchingdon, Essex and was baptized 13 Feb 1848 in the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex.
8. + ELLEN HART was born ca. 1852 in Latchingdon, Essex.
Ellen married David Scrivener.
Click here: to continue on to the page about the daughter Ellen Hart.
9. + HENRY HART was born in Latchingdon, Essex and was baptized 28 Dec 1856 in the church in Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex.
Henry Hart married 1st. Esther Foster and 2nd. Mary Emma ---?---.
Click here: to continue on to the page about the son Henry Hart.
Sources:
1. 1810 to 1828 Firbank entries in the church records for Latchingdon, Essex, England. Marriages: 1810 James Firbank and Mary Newman. Baptisms: 1811 Mary Firbank, 1814 Harriot Firbank, 1818 William Firbank, 1826 John Firbank, 1828 Ann Firbank. Online at Familysearch.org, Historical Records. Indexing project (batch) No. I04647-8, Original Source Film No. 1702422. Searched on June 5, 2011 Sunday 4:07 PM.
2. 1811 birth and baptism of William Hart in Creeksea, Essex. Creeksea Parish Register, D/P 53/1/2, General Registers 1797-1812. FHL British Film No. 1472113, Item 10 ordered from FamilySearch. Searched May 14, 2011 9:55 AM.
3. 1829 burial of Dianah Hart. Latchingdon, Essex, England. Online at familysearch.org, Indexing project (batch) no. I04647-8, Source Film No. 1702442. Online at familySearch.org June 5, 2011 Sunday 5:57 PM.
4. 1832 marriage of William Hart and Harriette Furbank. Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex, England. Online at familysearch.org, Indexing project (batch) no. I04647-8, Source Film No. 1702442. First found in November 27, 2009 Friday 3:30 PM. Rechecked again on June 5, 2011 Sunday 5:57 PM.
5. Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex, England. Baptisms: 1834 William Hart, 1837 Henry George Hart, 1839 Lucy Hart, 1843 Henry Hart, 1846 James Hart, 1848 George Hart, 1856 Henry Hart. Online at familysearch.org, Indexing project (batch) no. I04647-9, Source Film No. 1702442. Some first found in November 27, 2009 Friday 3:30 PM. Rechecked again on June 5, 2011 Sunday 5:57 PM.
6. Latchingdon with Snoreham, Essex, England. Burials: 1838 Henry George Hart, 1847 James Hart. Online at familysearch.org, Indexing project (batch) no. I04647-9, Source Film No. 1702442. Searched June 5, 2011 Sunday 5:57 PM.
7. 1841 Census of England, Essex, Latchingdon, District 3, Image No. 8, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: HO 107 / 327 / 18, Original Page No. 15, Household of William Hart. March 20, 2009 Friday 7:34 PM.
8. 1843 William Hart of Latchingdon mentioned in the Essex Quarter Session. The Essex Standard (Colchester, England), Friday, October 27, 1843; Issue 670. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II. Online at http://find.galegroup.com. Searched June 5, 2011 Sunday 10:48 PM.
9. 1851 Census of England, Essex, Snoreham, District 3, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: H.O. 107 / 1778, Original Page No. 25, No. of Householder’s Schedule 4, Household of William Hart. March 20, 2009 Friday 7:41 PM.
10. 1860 marriage of Joseph Thorowgood and Emma Brown. England & Wales Marriage index, Ancestry.com. Date: Jan-Feb-Mar 1860, Registration District: Maldon, County: Essex, Volume: 4a, Page: 185. Searched April 11, 2010 Sunday 9:15 PM.
11. 1861 Census of England, Essex, Snoreham, District 3, Image No. 2, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: R.G. 9 1089, Original Page No. 20, No. of Schedule 9, Household of William Hart. March 20, 2009 Friday 7:52 PM.
12. 1871 Census of England, Essex, Snoreham, District 3, Image No. 16, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: R.G. 10 1673, Original Page No. 19, Stamped Page No. 51, No. of Schedule 113, Household of William Hart. March 22, 2009 Sunday 7:08 PM.
13. 1891 Census of England, Essex, Mayland, District 5, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office reference: RG 12 / 1395, Original Page No. 1, Stamped Page No. 65, No. of Schedule 2, Household of David Scrivmer. March 22, 2009 Sunday 7:36 PM.
14. 1897 death of Harriet Hart. Civil Registration Index. Date: 3rd Quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep) 1897, age 85, District Maldon, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 367. Searched December 3, 2009 Thursday 3:12 PM.
15. 1897 death of Harriet Hart. Death certificate from General Register Office, PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 2JD United Kingdom. Received June 20, 2011 Monday Morning.
16. 1897 death of Lucy Hitch. Civil Registration Index, England & Wales, Death index online at Ancestry.com. Date: Jul-Aug-Sep 1897, Age: 58, Registration District: Maldon, County: Essex, Volume: 4a, Page: 367. Searched on May 14, 2011 Saturday 8:54 PM.
17. 1962 Harriet Hart mentioned in the article 'The Witches of Dengie' by Eric Maple. Magazine - Folklore Volume 73 Autumn 1962. Pages 178-179. From my own copy of the magazine purchased December 5, 2009 Saturday.
1st publication on June 7, 2011 Tuesday 8:56 PM
Last updated on June 23, 2011 Thursday 6:22 PM
Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth
Deadfamilies.com
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