James Murrell the Witch Doctor and Cunning Man of Hadleigh, Essex, England
To return to the James Murrell Family Index Page
2nd Generation
James Murrell ( 1785 - 1860 )
~ The Witch Doctor & Cunning Man
of Hadleigh, Essex, England ~
2. JAMES MURRELL was born in Rochford, Essex and was baptized 9 October 1785 in St. Mary the Virgin church in Hawkwell, Essex.
Father: Edward Murrell (No. 1)
Mother: Hannah Dockrell
~ 1785
The entry from the parish registers of St. Mary the Virgin church, Hawkwell:
Christenings 1785
James son of Edward & Hannah Murrel was Baptiz’d Octr. 9th.
The Image of the baptism:
Click on image or here: for larger and clearer image
James Murrell was born in Rochford, Essex according to the 1851 census of Hadleigh.
He was baptized in and spent his youth in Hawkwell, Essex.
This James Murrell was the famous Witch Doctor or Cunning man of Hadleigh, Essex, England.
~ ca. late 1790’s or early 1800’s
From Arthur Morrison in “A Wizard of Yesterday” 1900:
Page 441
“….now I found an indenture which set forth that, after his release from school, James Murrell was bound, for a premium of £10, to a surveyor, Mr. G. Emans, of Burnham.”
It is now known that James Murrell’s brother, Edward Murrell, went to live in Burnham, Essex. Two of Edward’s sons were Boot & Shoe makers in Burnham until the 1840’s or later.
It would appear that the Murrell family had earlier connections to Burnham, Essex seeing that James Murrell was to learn about surveying from this “Mr. G. Emans, of Burnham”.
~ ca. 1800’s to early 1810’s
From Arthur Morrison in “A Wizard of Yesterday” 1900:
Page 441
“…I had wondered at a mere village cobbler possessing the knowledge of mathematics, astronomy, and botany which many of Murrell’s notes and manuscripts displayed, but my wonder had been somewhat lessened by Buck’s (Edward Murrell) information that his father had been a stillman at a London chemist’s.”
So it would appear that James Murrell did lived in London the period around 1800’s to the early 1810’s.
~ 1812
James Murrell married ELIZABETH FRANCES BUTTON on 12 August 1812 in St. Olave church, Bermondsey, Southwark.
From the Banns book of St. Olave church, Bermondsey:
The Year 1812 - Page 139 No. 334
Banns of Marriage between James Murrell of this Parish Bachelor and Elizabeth Frances Button of the same Parish Spinster were published on three Sundays underwritten: That is to say,
On Sunday, the 19 day of July by me, T Thirlwall
On Sunday, the 26th day of July by me, James Blenkarne
On Sunday, the 2d day of August by me, T Thirlwall
Mard 12 Aug 1812
Image of the Banns:
Click on image or here: for larger and clearer image
From the Marriage book of St. Olave church, Bermondsey:
The Year 1812 - Page 213 No. 864
James Murrell of this Parish Bachelor and Elizabeth Frances Button of the same Parish Spinster were Married in this Church by Banns this Twelfth Day of August in the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twelve - By me James Blenkarne AM Curate.
This Marriage was solemnized between Us
James Murrell The Mark X of Elizabeth Frances Button
In the Presence of
John Adams Thomas Bastin
Image of the Marriage:
Click on image or here: for larger and clearer image
St. Olave church is in Bermundsey, Southwark. This is just across the Thames river from London.
Elizabeth Button was baptized on 5 December 1790 in Hadleigh, Essex. She was a daughter of Edward Button and his wife Rebecca Fenner.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 4 right side
Baptisms 1790
Decr 5 Elizabeth Daughter of Edward & Rebecca Button was baptized
~ 1807 to 1812 "a study of London's tax records......."
The marriage of James Murrell to Elizabeth Francis Button took place in St. Olave, Bermondsey, Southwark.
Then perhaps the following series of tax records may be relevant.
There were 3 or 4 different James Murrell that are recorded in the London Land Tax Records for the period of 1805 to 1814. I chosen the 1805 as the starting date as he would of been around 20 years old and the 1814 cutoff date as James Murrell was already living at Hadleigh, Essex.
Some James Murrells I can eliminate as they were in the still in the same place after the 1814 cutoff date. Then there was one James Murrell in St. Savior, Southwark area for 1807 to 1810.
This James Murrell was renting in a property belonging to a Smith as in the tax ledger it was called "Smiths Rents", he was listed for each year from 1807 to 1810. His tax was listed at 13 shillings each year.
From the London, England, Land Tax Records:
Southwark, Southwark St Savior, 1807
Image 7
Page 11
Rents……………………….. Sum Exonerated…. Sums Assessed £ S D
6…. Smiths Rents…… 4… James Murrell / - / - / - / - / 13 / - /
Southwark, Southwark St Savior, 1808
Image 4
Page 7
Rentals. / Name of Proprietors. / Names of Occupiers. / Sum Assessed. / Sums Assessed and Exonerated.
6 / Smiths Rents 4 / Jas Murrell / - / 13 / - / - / - / - /
Southwark, Southwark St Savior, 1809
Image 4
Page 7
Rentals. / Name of Proprietors. / Names of Occupiers. / Sum Assessed. / Sums Assessed and Exonerated.
6 / Smiths Rents / Jas Murrell / - / 13 / - / - / - / - /
Southwark, Southwark St Savior, 1810
Image 4
Page 7
Rentals. / Name of Proprietors. / Names of Occupiers. / Sum Assessed. / Sums Assessed and Exonerated.
6 / Smiths Rents / Jas Murrell / - / 13 / - / - / - / - /
~ 1814 to 1834
James and Elizabeth Murrell had many children born from 1814 to 1834.
Seventeen children were counted using the parish registers of baptisms and burials of St. James the Less church of Hadleigh.
We cannot imagine the suffering that James and Elizabeth Murrell went through all these years with the deaths of most of their children as infants or toddlers. When you get to the children section below, then you will see the names of the children of James and Elizabeth Murrell that did not live long.
~ 1817
Elizabeth Button's, base born daughter Susan Sophier, was baptized 23 February 1817 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
On the same day the next entry in the book, James and Elizabeth Murrell's daughter, Maria, was baptized 23 February 1817 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
Susan Sophier Button is most likely the illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Murrell perhaps from the time before she married before James Murrell when she was Elizabeth Button. The daughter was born in Hadleigh according to later censuses.
This could be the reason why Elizabeth Button went to London afterwards and got married to James Murrell there.
Sophier is most likely the last name of the father. It is not a common name. It appears sometimes as Sofer. I checked the indexes at Familysearch.org for the name in France and the name Sophier appears in France as a last name.
The two entries in the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image No. 6 left side
Baptisms 1817 - Page 6. No. 45.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
1817 Feby 23 / Susan Sophier Daughter of / Elizabeth Button Base Born / Button / Hadleigh / ------ / [Joseph Prendegast]
Image No. 6 left side (next one after the previous)
Baptisms 1817 - Page 6. No. 46.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Feby 23 / Maria Daughter of / James and Elizabeth / Murrell / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / [Joseph Prendegast]
~ 1820
James Murrell went back home to Hawkwell, Essex for the occasion of the marriage of his sister Hannah.
Hannah Murrell married Daniel Whitwell on 16 December 1820 in St. Mary the Virgin church in Hawkwell, Essex.
The entry from the parish registers:
Marriages 1820 -- Page 8. No. 24.
Daniel Whitwell of the Parish of Canewdon and Hannah Murrell of this Parish were married in this Church by Banns ….. Decr 26th in the Year One thousand eight hundred and 20 -- By me Charles Wallington Recter
This Marriage was solemnized between us
Daniel Whitwell Hannah Murrell
In the Presence of
James Murrell The Mark of X Elizabeth Prentice
The Image of the marriage:
All signed their names on the marriage record except Elizabeth Prentice who leaves her mark. Elizabeth Prentice was a family relative of Daniel Whitwell.
Daniel Whitwell took his wife, Hannah, to live in Canewdon, Essex where she lived until her death.
James Murrell was a regular visitor to Canewdon since 1820 to see Daniel and Hannah Whitwell.
Also James and Hannah’s mother was living in Canewdon at the time when she got married in 1783 in Canewdon so they may have had other relatives in Canewdon before 1820.
The Whitwells were a large family that lived in Canewdon since the 1760’s or earlier.
The Whitwell family certainly knew the Pickingill family.
Thomas Pickingill was involved with church affairs in the church of Canewdon in the 1780’s to early 1800’s. At the time of his death in 1804, Thomas Pickingill was described as the church Sexton.
The Whitwells certainly knew the Butcher of Canewdon and his wife, James Scott and his wife Martha Pickingill. And certainly they knew about Charles Pickingill (who was born in Canewdon in 1790) and his family when Charles returned back to Canewdon in around 1841.
James Murrell was known to be very aware and collected information and made notes about people and situations for his own benefit should some opportunity arises in the future.
Hadleigh was his main base of ‘business’ because he lived there and then Canewdon, because of family ties, would be his second base of ‘business’. From there, as the years go by, his connections extended out to other parts of the Rochford Hundred and to other parts of Essex.
From the article in the Folklore, Volume 71, March 1960, by Eric Maple (see below at 1960 for more):
Page 40
“Murrell maintained a remarkable intelligence system which kept him briefed of all local affairs. By judicious questioning, he would ‘pump’ those who consulted him, and note and file the information. In due course the knowledge would be disclosed to other clients with devastating effect. He also had contacts in the village who supplied him with information…”
Daniel and Hannah Whitwell were childless. So when James Murrell came for visits there were plenty of times for conversations not interrupted as would be in a home full of children.
What would they be talking about? What’s new in Canewdon… with its people, their gossips, their business dealings etc.
… So it is most likely that James Murrell the Cunning man of Hadleigh have known about the Pickingill family.
~ 1821
James and Elizabeth Murrells' daughter, Ellen, was baptized 28 October 1821 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
And on the same day, the next entry in the book was the baptism of George the base born son of Marrianne Button baptized 28 October 1821 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
Mary Ann Button was a sister of Elizabeth Murrell.
There is a pattern here, Elizabeth Button, later wife to James Murrell, had an illegitimate child born around 1812 to 1817. Later she went to London to marry James Murrell there.
Then here in 1821, we have Elizabeth Murrell having her child baptized in the same time with her sister, Mary Ann Button, having her illegitimate child baptized.
Then later on in 1832, we have Elizabeth Murrell having her child baptized in the same time with her sister, Jane Button, having her illegitimate child baptized.
It shows that Elizabeth Murrell probably stood by with her sisters and was not ashamed to having her child baptized in the same time as her unmarried sisters had their illegitimate child baptized.
And it is more likely that Elizabeth Murrell took in her sisters to live with them while they were pregnant.
Their father, Edward Button, is seen in the marriage register of Hadleigh of being witnesses to many of the marriages that occurred in that church. Perhaps he may of been involved in the church affairs like a churchwarden, etc. The churchwarden's accounts of that church is needed to be viewed.
In that case their father, Edward Button, may have been over-religious and the pregnant unmarried daughters couldn't live at home with him. That is just one theory.
The baptisms from the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 10 right side
Baptisms 1821 - Page 15. No. 119.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Oct: 28th / Ellen D. of / James and Elizabeth / Murrells / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / J. F. Squire
Image 10 right side
Baptisms 1821 - Page 15. No. 120.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Oct. 28th / George base born / S. of Marianne / Button / Hadleigh / -------- / J. F. Squire
~ 1823
James Murrell is mentioned in one of the papers among his collection, about the rent of his cottage.
From Arthur Morrison in “A Wizard of Yesterday” 1900:
Page 441
“…I also found another paper, dated 1823, which showed that the wise man was not above the petty afflictions of common humanity, and, in fact, had “had the brokers in” for a year’s rent - £4 - of the cottage at Hadleigh.”
~ 1830
James Murrell’s mother, Hannah, died at the age of 73 in Hawkwell, Essex and was buried 7 April 1830 in the churchyard of St. Mary the Virgin church in Hawkwell.
~ 1832
James and Elizabeth Murrell's son, William, was born 8 October 1831 and baptized 18 January 1832 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
On the same day, the next entry in the book was the baptism of Jane Button's daughter, Clara Button, on 18 January 1832 at the church in Hadleigh.
Jane Button is a sister of Elizabeth Murrell.
(see 1821 for further information)
The baptisms from the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 18 right side
Baptisms 1832 - Page 31. No. 243.
Baptized 18th Jany 1832. Born 8th Octr 1831 / William Son of / James & Elizabeth / Murrills / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / W. Macleod
Image 18 right side
Baptisms 1832 - Page 31. No. 244.
Baptized 18th Jany / Clara Daughter of / Jane / Button / Hadleigh / Illegitimate / W. Macleod
~ 1837
James and Elizabeth Murrell's daughter, Maria, died at the age of 21 in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 23 April 1837 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
~ 1839
James' wife, Elizabeth Murrell, died at the age of 49 years on 16 April 1839 at 10 o’clock in the evening in Hadleigh, Essex.
She was buried 21 April 1839 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the death certificate:
Registration District: Rochford Union
1839 Death in the Sub-district of Rayleigh in the County of Essex
No. 123
When and where died:.................................. Sixteenth of April 1839 10. P.M. at Hadleigh
Name and surname:...................................... Elizabeth Murrell
Sex:................................................................ Female
Age:............................................................... 49 Years
Occupation:.................................................. Wife of James Murrell Shoe-maker Hadleigh
Cause of death:............................................. Inflammation of the Chest
Signature, description and residence of informant:.... James Murrell Hadleigh Present at the Death
When registered:.......................................... Twenty sixth of April 1839
Signature of registrar:.................................. Edward Digby Registrar
From the Parish registers of Hadleigh:
Image 15 right side
Burials 1839 - Page 23. No. 181.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Elizabeth Murrels / Hadleigh / 21 April / 49 years / P. J. Watherston
~ ca. 1839 to 1841
James Murrell’s daughter, Louisa, is now living with his sister and her husband, Hannah and Daniel Whitwell in Canewdon, Essex.
Daniel and Hannah Whitwell were childless and they were happy to have Louisa in their home. Louisa would learn things from her Aunt Hannah.
~ 1841
In 1841, James Murrell, a widower, was living in Hadleigh, Essex. James was a Shoemaker. His children Eliza, Matilda, Edward, and Eleanor were living with him.
From the 1841 Census of Hadleigh:
Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?
James Murrell............ 51 M........... Shoemaker........... Y
Eliza....... do............... 20 F.......................................... Y
Matilda.. do............... 18 F........................................... Y
Edward.. do............... 11 M.......................................... Y
Eleanor.. do................ 4 F........................................... Y
The image from the 1841 Census:
Click on image or here: for larger and clearer image
~ also in 1841
James Murrell’s daughter, Louisa, is living with Daniel and Hannah Whitwell in Canewdon, Essex.
From the 1841 Census of Canewdon:
Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?
Daniel Whitwell.... 40 M............ Waller......... y
Hannah... do......... 40 F.................................. y
Louisa Murrell....... 11 F.................................. y
The image from the 1841 census:
Click on image or here: for larger and clearer image
~ 1820's to 1840’s, the Autumn of the Witches in Canewdon
The people of Canewdon, Essex suspected that Mary Ann the wife of Rev. William Atkinson, the vicar of Canewdon, and widow Eliza Lodwick among others were witches.
Eliza Frost Lodwick's, husband, Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick, died back in 1826. She never married again.
Widow Eliza Frost Lodwick managed Lambourne Hall and its 500 acres for the next 35 years from 1826 to 1861; sometimes she was away at other locations.
There are records of two cases of labourers being convicted in the Quarter Sessions of Essex of stealing from the property of Widow Lodwick. Some of them got harsh sentences like transportation for life, or 12 years.
Then there was an accidential death of a labourer on Lambourne Hall, the property of Widow Lodwick.
Also the servants and labourers probably didn't like the idea that an old widow is running the big property and telling them what to do.
More detail of these incidents are in the page on Eliza Lodwick:
Click here: To see the page on Widow Lodwick
The sister of Widow Eliza Lodwick was Mary Ann Kersteman who became the second wife of Rev. William Atkinson the Vicar of Canewdon.
They were both the daughters of Jeremiah Kersteman and his wife Elizabeth Frost of Loftmans in Canewdon.
Click here: To see the page on Rev. William Atkinson
The fear of the Witches in Canewdon, prompted the people to enlist James Murrell’s assistance to expose the Witches. They went to petition the Vicar William Atkinson. But the vicar rejected it.
The situation puts James Murrell and the people of Canewdon at odds with the aging Vicar.
From the article “Witches over the Crouch”, The Times, Tuesday, 27 January 1959:
“Quite recently it was arranged for me to meet a 94-year-old gardener by the name of Arthur Downes who was born and bred in Canewdon.”
“Many a night his father, who had kept the local ferry, had heard the rustle of a silk dress beside him as he walked home through the lanes but “never a step to be heard or a figure seen.” The two most active witches in his day had been “Passon’s wife and owd Lady Lodwick” living at Wick farm.”
“When I asked Arthur Downes if he had ever heard of James Murrell, the cunning man of Hadleigh Castle, he smiled knowingly and said: “Aye, he had the power to whistle up all the Canewdon witches.”
During his father’s lifetime the village petitioned Vicar Atkinson to let Murrell exercise his whistling powers and make the witches confess themselves by dancing round the churchyard. “But,” said old Downes, “Passon ‘ee said ‘No.’ For ‘ee didn’t want to be ashamed afore all knowing that Mary Ann, his wife, would be among them.”
When the Vicar Atkinson died in 1847, the widow Mary Atkinson moved to live with Widow Lodwick at Lambourne Hall. Widow Atkinson remained a widow for the next 12 years until her death.
From the article in the Folklore, Volume 71, March 1960, by Eric Maple (see below at 1960 for more):
Page 41
“Local opinion about Murrell varied considerably. The gentry disliked him intensely, considering him a dangerous quack and disseminator of superstitious nonsense. Still, it was not unknown for some of them to consult him secretly. To the poor, he remained to the end a most valuable member of the community, whose magical powers were always at their service to combat the forces of evil - at a price, of course.”
~ 1844
James Murrell's daughter, Eliza, married James Leggett on 1 June 1844 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
Interestingly, the father, James Murrell, was described as a Labourer on the marriage record.
~ 1844
James Murrell’s daughter, Matilda, married William Benson on 14 October 1844 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
The father, James Murrell, was described as a Herb Doctor on the marriage record.
~ 1847
The Rev. William Atkinson, the vicar of Canewdon, dies at the age of 80 on 24 March 1847 in Canewdon, Essex.
~ 1848
James Murrell’s daughter, Louisa, married William Spendell.
~ 1849
There was a newspaper article involving a case of witchcraft in a village a few miles from Rayleigh, Essex.
It did not mentioned James Murrell by name but it mentioned “a cunning man, celebrated thereabouts…” and on the map Rayleigh is next door to Hadleigh, Essex (The newspaper article avoided mentioning the names of people involved).
Also the description of the iron Witch bottle and that it was being made by a local blacksmith is also connected to James Murrell in another article.
From the newspaper, Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper (London, England), Sunday, 1 April 1849:
PROVINCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
ESSEX. - SUPERSTITION IN 1849. - A case has just occurred (says the “Ipswich Express”) at a village a few miles from Rayleigh, which shows that if witches and their familiars have fled from the land in affright at the rough handling of science, the mental cobwebs beneath which they flourished have not been yet quite brushed away.
A girl in the village had been long subject to fits, and as family consultations and councils traced the mysterious malady to witchcraft, “a cunning man,” celebrated there-abouts, was called in to counterplot the mischievous old hag, who was supposed to be squatted in some dark corner, muttering her spells and enjoying the writhings of her victim. The conjuror, of course, undertook the job for a consideration, and immediately set the village blacksmith blowing and beating away to manufacture an air-tight iron bottle.
After a sharp struggle with the arts of the doomed witch, who kept maliciously poking flaws and fissures in the hissing metal, this was completed, and being filled with parings of the patient’s toe-nails, locks of her hair, and fluid, was placed over a roaring fire, chained fast to the grate, an additional security against the tricks of the imps who were believed to be hovering in dozens and in terror around it.
This charm was to blow the offending witch through the air at a quicker rate than she ever travelled upon her own broom-stick, or bring her to the hearth-stone pleading for forgiveness; but of course we can understand without being very deeply read in the occult science, that the spirit of steam would begin to grow rather fidgetty at being shut up in an air-tight iron bottle; so at last, without waiting for the appearance of the expected old lady, he jumped out with a loud explosion, blowing away the grate-bars and the fire. This was expected to do the girl good.
~ 1850
James Murrell's daughter, Ellen Murrell, was one of the witnesses to the marriage of Thomas Dale and Mary Ann Granger on 5 May 1850 in the church at Hadleigh, Essex.
Genealogically, this marriage is important because it also shows the families of Murrell and Button of Hadleigh being related to each other.
Mary Ann Granger was a widow and her father was listed as Edward Button. She was James Murrell's wife's sister.
In 1821, Mary Ann Button had her illegitimate child baptized the same day as the Murrells had one baptized too. Elizabeth Murrell probably took her in when she was pregnant.
Mary Ann Button first married Thomas Granger.
It shows that Mary Ann was still close with the Murrell family and you can see that her niece, Ellen Murrell, was a witness in her 2nd marriage to Thomas Dale.
A few years later in 1853, Thomas and Mary Ann Dale were the witnesses to the marriage of their niece Ellen Murrell to Elijah Barker (see 1853 below).
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image No. 22
Page 20.
1850. Marriage solemnized in the Parish Church in the Parish of Hadleigh in the County of Essex
No. 39
When Married. - May 5th
Name and Surname. / Age. / Condition. / Profession. / Residence. / Father's Name. / Father's Profession. /
Thomas Dale / of full age / Widower / Labourer / Hadleigh / James Dale / Labourer
Mary Ann Granger / of full age / Widow / -------- / Hadleigh / Edward Button / Wheelright
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England after Banns by me, William Harvey Curate
This Marriage was solemnized between us,
The mark X of Thomas Dale
The mark X of Mary Ann Granger
In the Presence of us,
The mark X of Stephen Raison
The mark X of Ellen Murrell
George Lloyd
~ 1851
James Murrell’s son-in-law, William Spendell, the husband of Louisa, has vanished. Apparently he died somewhere else or abandoned his wife and children.
~ 1851
In 1851, James Murrills, a widower, was living in Hadleigh, Essex. James was a Shoemaker.
Living with him are his children Edward and Eleanor. Also his daughter, Louisa Spendall and grandson William Spendle are also living with them.
From the 1851 Census of Hadleigh:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
James Murrills...... Head......... Widr...... 66 M..... Shoemaker....... Essex Rochford
Edward... do........... Son........... U........... 26 M..... Ag Lab................... “.... Hadleigh
Louisa Spendall..... Daur......... mar........ 20 F..................................... “....... “
Eleanor Murrills..... do............ U............ 16 F...................................... “........ “
William Spendle... Grandson.................. 6m M.................................. “.... Canewdon
The image from the 1851 census:
Click on image or here: for larger and clearer image
~ October 1851
James Murrell’s sister, Hannah Whitwell, died on 16 October 1851 in Canewdon, Essex. She died of consumption which she had for three years.
~ 1852
James Murrell’s daughter, Matilda Benson, died at the age of 32 and was buried 10 October 1852 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh, Essex.
~ 1853
James Murrell's daughter, Eleanor, married Elijah Barker on 4 December 1853 at the church in Thundersley, Essex.
The father, James Murrell, was described as a Shoemaker on the marriage record.
Genealogically, this marriage is important because it also shows the families of Murrell and Button of Hadleigh being related to each other.
The witnesses to this marriage were Thomas and Mary Dale. Mary Dale was the sister of James Murrell's wife. Uncle and Aunt to Eleanor Murrell (see 1850 above).
From the parish register of Thunderlsey:
Image No. 35
Marriages 1853 - Page 33.
1853, Marriage solemnized By Banns in the Church of Thundersley in the Count[y] of Essex
No. 66
When Married. Decbr 4th
Name and Surname. / Age. / Condition. / Profession. / Residence. / Father's Name. / Father's Profession. /
Elijah Barker / 26 / Batchelor / Labourer / Thundersley / Robert Barker / Labourer
Eleanor Murrells / 20 / Spinster / ----- / Thundersley / James Murrells / shoemaker
Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by me, Clement Crea[?]
This Marriage was solemnized between us,
Elijah Barker X his mark
Ellenor Murrell X her mark
in the Presence of us,
Thomas Dale X his mark
Mary Dale X her mark
~ 1857
A newspaper article mentioned a case that James Murrell worked on. He helped Golding Spearman, who was the keeper of the canteen in Tilbury Fort, Essex, recover some of the money that was stolen from him.
From the newspaper, Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday 20 February 1857:
THE MAGICIAN AND THE THIEF. - Superstition it seems, is as powerful now as when ghosts walked the earth, and witches were weighed against the Church Bible. We are, says a correspondent, quite equal to the people in the days of old; for we have our magicians, necromancers, and such like, to bring the hidden things to light.
There is an old man named Murrells, a sort of quack doctor and herbalist living at Hadleigh, who has been practicing the magician for years, and in some cases successfully; and many persons are in the habit of going to him for advice and assistance. On the 2nd inst. £10 in silver, that had been carefully laid up in a brown leather bag, was stolen from the till of Golding Spearman, keeper of the canteen, Tilbury Fort. How it disappeared was a mystery to most persons there.
Even Danes, the police constable, failed to unravel it - at least could not gain sufficient evidence to fix the guilt on the thief, though strong suspicion pointed to a certain party. Other constables tried their hands at the matter, but in vain.
At last Spearman was advised to go to the cunning man at Hadleigh, a navvy assuring him that he had a brother who lost a sovereign, and Murrells had by his potent spells compelled the thief to return it - aye, and to convey it back to the vacant pocket with his own guilty hand.
The next day found Murrells at home and Spearman closeted with him. The former consulted his familiars, and told Spearman that the part of the money that was not spent would be returned to him again. Spearman paid the fee, returned home, stated to certain parties what the cunning man had told him, and there let the matter rest.
A few evenings after a soldier of the Artillery came to the bar to Spearman with an hurrah! bringing the identical bag, containing the £6. 13s. of the stolen money, stating that he had found it under the seat in the tap-room, and, of course, congratulated Spearman on the recovery of his property. Spearman, of course, was delighted, and attributed it all to the powers of the cunning man, whom he invited to his hostel.
Murrells on Monday last made his appearance at the canteen, where he became acquainted with a host of other spirits; and solemnly informed the tap-room auditory he had been hard at work for several days and nights upon the thief, and that he put such a charm or spell upon the thief, and that he could not rest until the remainder of the money was restored.
Of course the little old man in knee breeches and gaiters, and an old coat, is looked upon in the neighbourhood as more potent than a whole troop of policemen.
~ September 1858
Another newspaper article mentioned a case that James Murrell's help was sought in East Thorpe, Essex. Involving Emma Brazier and a Mrs. Mole.
From the newspaper, The Ipswich Journal, Saturday, 25 September 1858:
“WITCHCRAFT” IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
It is a painful duty to have to narrate in this boasted enlightened age instances of the grossest superstition prevailing in some of our rural parishes of this county, and we are sorry to say, by no means confined to the lower classes.
East Thorpe, on Monday evening last, presented probably one of the most disgraceful scenes that ever occurred in North Essex since the days of the famous Matthew Hopkins, the witch finder, of Maningtree. It appears that Emma Brazier, age 22, the daughter of a labourer in the above parish, has lately caused much annoyance by making use of most violent, abusive, and filthy language, under the pretence that she has been bewitched by a neighbour - a Mrs. Mole, 75 years of age, wife of a labourer, who has for many years at the Hall Farm, and who, with his wife, is of irreproachable character. The poor old woman has been accused by the Brazier family of working marvellous spells upon their live stock, such as causing one of their pigs to climb a cherry tree and help itself to the fruits from the top boughs!
Recourse was had by the girl’s parents to a cunning man, named Burrell, residing at Copford, who has long borne the name of “The Wizard of the North:” but her case was of so peculiar a character as to baffle his skill to dissolve the spell, Application was next made to a witch doctor named Murrell, residing at Hadleigh, Essex, who undertook to effect a cure, giving a bottle of medication, for which he did not forget to charge 3s. 6d., and promising to pay a visit on Monday evening to the “old witch,” Mrs. Mole, and put an end to her subtle arts. Matters had reached this stage during the temporary absence for a few weeks of the rector, who on his return was deeply pained to find that, after years of earnest labour, such gross ignorance should still exist in his parish that the belief in the bewitchment of the girl and the Satanic agency of an inoffensive old woman was all but universal.
Having visited the girl (suspecting from her violent conduct that she was insane) he called in the relieving officer of the district, who concurred in thinking that she was unfit to be at liberty, and recommended her removal to the union-house for examination by the parish surgeon, at the same time giving an order for her admission, but which the overseers refused to act upon, assigning as the reason for such refusal that there was a man coming from Hadleigh who was expected to cure the girl. The rector next sought the advice of the magistrates, and obtained a promise that the police should have an eye upon the neighborhood.
In the meantime the news of the expected coming of the witch-doctor spread far and wide, and about eight o’clock there could not have been less than 200 people collected near the cottage of Mrs. Mole to witness the supernatural powers of the Hadleigh wizard. Drunkenness and riotous conduct were the characteristics of the meeting; and to protect Mrs. Mole from actual violence the rector was obliged to mount guard at the cottage door: for, although the proceeding took place immediately before the parish constable’s windows (and he had known of the intention for some days previously), he never attempted to disperse the crowd, or took any steps to prevent or put a stop to the disgraceful riot. Ultimately two of the police made their appearance, and the crowd dispersed. The young woman has since been apprehended for threatening the life of her neighbour, Mrs. Mole, and bound over to keep the peace; and we sincerely hope that no more will be heard of this disgraceful affair. - Essex Standard.
~ November 1858
James Murrell was mentioned in another case in Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex.
From the newspaper, Bury and Norwich Post, Tuesday 9 November 1858:
THE "CUNNING MAN" AGAIN. - On the 5th inst. a waistcoat, silk handkerchief, and 3l. in gold were stolen from one of Mr. Wilson's off-hand farms, at Stanford-le-Hope, the property of Richard Butcher, a labourer, lodging in the house.
A female who had been staying at the place is suspected, and might before now in all probability have been in custody, had not Butcher given her a long start in advance by first consulting what is termed a "cunning man," at Hadleigh, and requesting him to use his "charms" to bring back the thief and his property.
The art of the "cunning man," however, failed, and Butcher betook himself to the police, who are endeavoring to trace the delinquent. - Essex Herald.
~ May 1859
Widow Atkinson dies at the age of 79 on 17 May 1859. Mary Ann was the widow of Rev. William Atkinson, the Vicar of Canewdon who died in 1847.
~ October 1859
James Murrell’s daughter, Louisa Spendell, married Robert Felton on 9 October 1859 at the church in Hadleigh, Essex.
Further evidence that Louisa's first husband, William Spendle, disappeared is that in the space where it would be written "Spinster" or "Widow" it is left blank. William Spendle probably abandoned his wife and children.
The father, James Murrell, was described as a Shoemaker in the marriage record.
~ 1860
James Murrell dies at the age of 79 years on 16 December 1860 in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 23 December 1860 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
The following is from the death certificate:
Registration District: Rochford
1860 Death in the Sub-district of Rayleigh in the County of Essex
No. 110
When and where died:......................................... Sixteenth December 1860 Hadleigh
Name and surname:............................................ James Murrell
Sex:...................................................................... Male
Age:...................................................................... 79 Years
Occupation:......................................................... Quack Doctor
Cause of death:.................................................... Natural Causes Certified
Signature, description and residence of informant:... X The mark of Ann Pett present at the death Hadleigh
When registered:................................................ Sixteenth December 1860
Signature of registrar:........................................ George Bell Registrar
James Murrell’s occupation was listed as “Quack Doctor”.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 27 left side
Burials 1860 - Page 46. No. 362.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
James Murrell / Hadleigh / December 23 / 79 yrs. / John Godson Curate
The following happens after the death of James Murrell
~ 1861
Widow Lodwick dies three months after the death of James Murrell.
Eliza Frost Lodwick, the widow of Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick of Lambourne Hall, Canewdon, dies at the age of 78 on 20 March 1861.
~ 1867
Seven years after the death of James Murrell, Philip Benton had a book of his published called “The History of Rochford Hundred” and in the section about Hadleigh, Essex, he mentioned:
“One of the most eccentric characters that all ages produce was James Murrell, known as the cunning man, who lived at Hadleigh, and died in 1860. He was by trade a shoemaker, but partly procured the means of subsistence by telling fortunes, and pretended to have the power of counteracting the designs of witches, discovering thieves, and where stolen property was secreted. He was a herbalist, and administered potions and drugs. He would purchase forty different nostrums at a time, his price being one penny for each, which he refused to have labelled. A sackful of letters were destroyed at his death, but enough remain to prove that an amount of ignorance, credulity, and superstition exists, which appears incredible. Some addressed to him allude to the appearance of apparitions, and from the tenor of others from women, mysteriously alluding to being in trouble, and hearing he can relieve them, we may suspect him of darker doings……”
The article continues for several pages in this book (pages 254-257). See Google Books for the complete article.
Philip Benton did have met with the relatives of James Murrell. Philip had in his possession two human skulls that came from James Murrell.
From Arthur Morrison in “A Wizard of Yesterday” 1900:
Page 442
“Other memorials of Murrell have been scattered about the county; Mr. Philip Benton, the historian of the district - now dead - had two human skulls phrenologically marked, and certain of the wizard’s books”.
~ 1890
The Strand Magazine put out a long article called “A Wizard of Yesterday” by Arthur Morrison in 1900. The article is in volume 20, pages 433-442. From contents said in the article, the trip to Hadleigh took place ten years before, so this is ca. 1890.
In this article Arthur Morrison is mentioning in detail about his trip to Hadleigh, Essex to find out information about James Murrell.
He brought an illustrator and they interviewed the town’s blacksmith, Stephen Choppin. Then found the aged Edward “Buck” Murrell, the son of the Cunning man, working in a field in Thundersley, Essex. Then they went to see the chest that belonged to James Murrell and see all the papers and books that was his.
It is a very interesting read and you get the feel of the time, like a window to the past.
Some excerpts of the article:
Pg. 433
“I have made many holidays in remote parts of Essex, where ten years ago ….”
“one of these places was Hadleigh, where, making a sketching excursion with my friend, Mr. J. L. Wimbush, the painter, who illustrates this article, we came on to the tales and relics of the wizard”
“James Murrell died at Hadleigh in 1860. At different times he had followed the more common trades of shoemaker, surveyor, and chemist’s stillman; but the most of his life was given to astrology, quack doctoring, exorcism, veterinary surgery, and the casting out of devils.”
“….he cured with charms, he divined the lurking places of lost property, he laid spells upon thieves until they restored their plunder.”
“…he could do anything, cure anything, and know anything, past, present, or future, and it was his daily boast that he was the devil’s master. In short, he was a white man-witch, and his powers many living men and women still testified to through all Essex.”
Page 434
“The Castle Inn was at that time kept by a Mr. Cracknell, a very intelligent and obliging landlord, who I am sorry to say has now been dead some years, like too many more of my old Essex friends.
He remembered Murrell well when he — Cracknell—was a boy, and he pointed out to us, among other things, the cottage which the cunning man had occupied. It was an ordinary, clapboarded, two floored little cottage, one of a row of half-a-dozen or so, and it was in the little room into which the front door opened…. that the wizard had received his clients and pursued his works, amid walls hung about thick with the herbs that he was always gathering.”
“The tenants, charming old people near the nineties, knew and believed in the wizard wholly. They told us of his marvellous cures, his amazing recoveries of linen stolen from hedges, his surprising prophecies by aid of the stars, and his triumphant overthrowal of the wicked designs of witches.”
Page 435
“On our way to discover the wizard's son we called on Mr. Stephen Choppen, the smith who had made the witch-bottles. He was long retired from the smithy…..Steve Choppen had no witch-bottle to show us, for the last had been exploded long ago, but he had the cunning man's spectacles—a quaint and clumsy instrument, with circular glasses and ponderously thick iron rims. The narrowness of the space between the sides showed the wizard's head to have been a small one, and, indeed, he was an extremely small man in every way, by the descriptions of a dozen people.”
Page 436
“In Mr. Cracknell’s trap we drove to Thundersley to find Buck Murrell, and there, after something of a hunt, we sighted him at last, working in a field. He was a short, sturdy old fellow, with a shock head of loose, white hair, and nothing about him to betoken so near relationship to the formidable mystic who had held a county in awe for a long lifetime.
He was not a bit haughty, moreover; on the contrary, a hint of a pint of “mild” brought him away from his work with great alacrity, and soon Buck Murrell was the most important person in Thundersley, surrounded by admiring friends, and waxing eloquent on the exploits of his father…”
Page 442
“We closed the chest and turned to Buck - the simple heir to all the glamour and mystery, to a certain amount of the awe. There he sat, good simple soul, with his pipe and his mug of ale, and his shock head of white hair, placidly happy in the importance of his redoubtable father, and proud in the interest shown in him long after his death.
Buck Murrell told us of this death, and still with pride. On his deathbed his father held learned disputations with the Reverend John Godson, the curate, and maintained the reality of his mystic powers to the last. He triumphed over spiritual advisers with Talmudic and cabalistic questions, and to his daughter he prophesied the moment of his death precisely, a day and a few hours before it came to pass.
There at the east side of the little Norman church of Hadleigh Cunning Murrell lay, with twenty of his children about him, and Buck Murrell showed us the place; for it was marked by no stone - not even by the humblest wooden memorial….”
First, because there are some people who thinks that the Strand magazine is a totally fictional stories magazine. Arthur Morrison did published a fictional book, "Cunning Murrell", which was published earlier in year 1900. He did used names of actual people, etc.
Then the Strand Magazine published an article "A Wizard of Yesterday" later in the year 1900 which is Arthur Morrison writing about his visit ten years before to Hadleigh to find out more about the real Cunning Murrell.
This small newspaper article should lay to rest any claims that the article "A Wizard of Yesterday" is fictional.
From the newspaper, Morning Post, Thursday 18 October 1900:
An interesting feature of the current Strand Magazine is an article entitled "A Wizard of Yesterday," wherein Mr. Arthur Morrison gives many curious particulars of the life and doings of the actual Cunning Murrell who is the hero of his recently published novel, and describes the extraordinary collection of books and documents which the Essex wizard left behind him. The article is illustrated with fac-similes of pages from Murrell's book of conjuration.
Second, the following are to prove points mentioned in the article in the Strand Magazine.
In the above, Arthur Morrison mentioned:
“The Castle Inn was at that time kept by a Mr. Cracknell, a very intelligent and obliging landlord, who I am sorry to say has now been dead some years, like too many more of my old Essex friends.”
John Cracknell was a Publican of the Castle Inn on High Street in Hadleigh, Essex.
From the 1891 census of Hadleigh:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Castle Inn High St
John Cracknell...... Head... M... 48 M...... Publican........ Employer.... Essex Rayleigh
Charlotte... do....... Wife.... M... 48 F...................................................... do... Crays Hill
Eliza.......... do....... Daut.... S.... 21 F........ Barmaid Inn.. Employed...... do... Southend
Alice.......... do......... do...... S.... 19 F............. do.............. Employed..... do......... do
Jessie........ do......... do...... S.... 15 F....................................................... do......... do
Bertha...... do.......... do...... S.... 12 F........ Scholar................................. do......... do
Virginia.... do.......... do...... S.... 10 F........... do...................................... do......... do
Lillian....... do......... do....... S..... 4 F....................................................... do... Hadleigh
William Colliel... Servant... S... 15 M... [Ostlel] Groom.. Employed...... do... Becking
As Arthur Morrison mentioned, that John Cracknell died soon.
John Cracknell died at the age of 49 in 1893.
From the England & Wales Death Index:
Name:............................. John Cracknell
Date:............................... Jul-Aug-Sep 1893
Age:................................ 49
Registration District:..... Rochford
County:.......................... Essex
Volume:......................... 4a
Page:.............................. 289
In the above, Arthur Morrison also mentioned:
“On our way to discover the wizard's son we called on Mr. Stephen Choppen, the smith who had made the witch-bottles. He was long retired from the smithy…..”
Stephen Choppen was a blacksmith back in the 1850’s to 1860’s in Hadleigh, Essex.
From the 1861 census of Hadleigh:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
in street
Stephen Choppen.... head...... Mar... 30 M.... Blacksmith.......... Essex... Hadleigh
Anne.......... do......... wife......... do.... 29 F...................................... do..... Pitsea
James........ do......... son..................... 6 M..... Scholar................... do..... Southchurch
Agnes S..... do......... daur.................... 2 F...................................... do..... Hadleigh
Alfred Choppen...... brother... Un..... 23 M.... Blacksmith............. do......... do
~ 1900
Stephen Choppen's death in November 1900 was mentioned in the newspaper. He was the blacksmith who made the witch bottles for James Murrell.
From the newspaper, Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday 9 November 1900:
FORGED THE WITCH BOTTLES
On Saturday the lifeless body of Stephen Choppen, aged 69, was found hanging to a beam in an outbuilding adjoining his picturesque cottage at Hadleigh, near Southend.
The deceased was a retired blacksmith, and suffered from rheumatic gout. Many years ago he forged the celebrated iron witch bottles for a notorious local wizard named Murrell.
In these bottles were placed blood, water, finger-nails, hair, and pins. When screwed up air-tight, these bottles were set on fire by means of a "charm" against witches, and frequently burst, thus signalising the destruction of the latter's diabolical influences.
Choppen told an anecdote of the first bottle, which he said refused to be welded until Murrell arrived and blew the fire, when all went well.
Deceased was a superannuated member of the Hearts of Oak Benefit Society. He slept with his grandson, William Choppen, aged eight years, on Friday night, and when he got up on Saturday morning he told the child he was going outdoors. A little later the boy went in search of his grandfather and found him hanging as described.
George Goodall cut the body down, and Dr. Cosmo Grant pronounced life extinct. P.c. Totterdell reported the facts to Mr. Edgar Lewis, coroner, who held an inquest. It was stated that deceased had suffered great pain in the head.
Verdict - "Suicide whilst of unsound mind."
~ 1960
Eric Maple wrote an article “Cunning Murrell A Study of a Nineteenth-Century Cunning Man in Hadleigh, Essex” which came out in the March 1960 of Folklore, Volume 71, Pages 37-43.
Eric Maple did a detail study of all printed and written sources and obtained a number of unrecorded oral traditions obtained from the old residents of the district.
From the article in the Folklore, Volume 71, March 1960, by Eric Maple, some extracts:
Page 37
“In common with that of other ague-ridden Essex Hundreds, the folklore of Rochford is macabre, with sickness and death a constant theme. Malice, the Evil Eye, and the paralyzing power of the witches were real fears of rural labourers. I was told that in the Hadleigh of 1880 there were still old men who regarded ‘trough-eyed’ persons (those with one eye set lower than the other) as witches, and expressed contempt for all opinion to the contrary.
This dark melancholy heritage was the source of the power of Cunning Murrell.”
Page 38
“In his fifty years of witch-hunting, he succeeded in agitating the old fear of witchcraft into something like a mania, but in doing so he unwittingly preserved the old traditions and folktales for a generation beyond their normal span, and in this respect folklorists are in his debt.”
Page 40
“Murrell maintained a remarkable intelligence system which kept him briefed of all local affairs. By judicious questioning, he would ‘pump’ those who consulted him, and note and file the information. In due course the knowledge would be disclosed to other clients with devastating effect. He also had contacts in the village who supplied him with information…”
“His correspondence and papers survived until 1956, when they were burned, their importance being unrecognized….. I was able to salvage a studded trunk of the eighteenth century in which they were contained, and this is now in my possession.”
“His books were seen and described by Arthur Morrison, who examined them seventy years ago….. Only the last survives today. When I examined it, I found it to be a scrapbook of astrological data ranging from the mid-seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century…..The minute handwriting of its original owner, one ‘Neboad’, was succeeded by Murrell’s crabbed scraw. This book, in company with Murrell’s iron churchwarden pipe, is the showpiece of a local gentleman’s collection.”
“Murrell cultivated an atmosphere of mystery about himself. He kept apart from community life, spoke seldom and then only oracularly, and usually traveled at night. His house was regarded by all as ‘a place to avoid’. Those who decided to consult him were known to hang about the gate for a long time before plucking up courage to knock.”
Page 41
“Murrell’s philosophy is expressed in the declaration so often on his lips, ‘I am the Devil’s master.’”
“Local opinion about Murrell varied considerably. The gentry disliked him intensely, considering him a dangerous quack and disseminator of superstitious nonsense. Still, it was not unknown for some of them to consult him secretly. To the poor, he remained to the end a most valuable member of the community, whose magical powers were always at their service to combat the forces of evil - at a price, of course.”
“The descendants of those who actually knew him are emphatic that he was a good man. Those who say otherwise are either late-comers to the village, or those of higher social standing.”
Page 42
“His personal effects were in great demand as souvenirs, and some were preserved with superstitious reverence for many years. His whalebone umbrella was in the possession of a local undertaker until a few years ago, an elaborately carved chest is now in the hands of a lady at Southend-on-Sea…..”
“The last surviving witch bottle was put on the fire by his illiterate son, Buck, who, although quite unqualified to follow his father’s profession, was persuaded by a friend to attempt a little magic on his own account. The bottle exploded and blew down a wall of his cottage.”
“Mrs Watson described him as ‘wearing a hard hat and a bobbed tail coat, his hands behind him, he used to walk along humming loudly and lost in thought’…”.
Page 43
“When we compare the methods of the Cunning Man in the sixteenth century, as described by Gifford, with those of Cunning Murrell in the nineteenth century, we are faced by the unmistakable fact that here is one and the same craft. In the use of the glass the crystal, the bowl of water, and in the pursuit of lost property, the techniques are identical. Even the combination of magical charms and prayer is the same. Because of this, I believe that Murrell was a genuine survival.”
~ 1960
“Death of a Wizard, James Murrell last of the old “Cunning men” of Essex” from a correspondent. An article that came out in the newspaper, The Times, in the Thursday 15 December 1960.
The story came out on the eve of the 100th year of James Murrell’s death which occurred on 16 December 1860.
It seems to cover some stuff that were mentioned by Arthur Morrison earlier. In here there were more mentioned about “his daughter” Ann Pett.
From the article in The Times, 15 December 1960, page 12:
“Death of a Wizard James Murrell last of the old “Cunning Men” of Essex” from a Correspondent.
“….When one had passed through his cottage door, opened by Ann Pett, his widowed daughter who kept house for him, Murrell would be found seated in the “keeping-room” (an old Essex word for living-room)…..”
“…Murrell took to his bed early in December, 1860. There, in his keeping-room, where he had listened to so many secrets and settled so many strange destinies, he lay surrounded by his books, papers, and herbs. If Mrs. Bennett came around for her ointment, he told his daughter it was in the gallipot on the top shelf and the cost was tuppence. But if Farmer Simmons called about his cow, he was to be sent away. For he was done with curing cows.
And should the new curate come, what was she to do, asked Ann Pett. He too must go, said her father, propped up in bed with his iron-rimmed goggles perched on his nose, all ready to peruse his manuscript book with its cabalistic signs and sigils. “For I be the devil’s master as be well knowed”, he muttered. “Clargymen den’t bother me in the oad time, they shan’t now.”
In Arthur Morrison’s words, James Murrell then spoke for the last time: “ ‘There be one more thing, Ann. I hev been carled. He who hev given he my cunnin’ and my larnin’, and hev putt me in dominion over arl evil things, hev sent for me. I shall go to-morrow at one o’clock.’ And he did. To the minute.”
~ Concerning "daughter" Ann Petts
Ann Petts was mentioned in the book novel by Arthur Morrison “Cunning Murrell” published in 1900 and was not mentioned in the “A Wizard of Yesterday” by Arthur Morrison's article in The Strand magazine also published in 1900.
Ann Pett was present at the death of James Murrell when he died on December 16, 1860 in Hadleigh, Essex. Ann Pett left her mark “X” on the death certificate.
In 1861, about 4 months or so after the death of James Murrell, we find James and Ann Pitts were living on End Way in Hadleigh, Essex.
Edward Murrill, the son of Cunning man James Murrell, was a lodger in this home.
From the 1861 census of Hadleigh:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
End way
James Pitts........... head.... Mar.... 43 M.... Agr Laborer......... Essex... Benfleet
Ann...... do............ wife...... do...... 56 F..................................... do...... Hockley
James.. do............. son................. 10 M..................................... do..... Benfleet
Sarah... do............ daur................. 8 F....................................... do......... do
Eliza.... do.............. do................... 5 F....... Scholar................... do......... do
Edward Murrill.... Lodger.. Un.... 36 M..... Agr Laborer........... do..... Hadleigh
Henry Pitts........... son................... 5 months M........................ do......... do
Ann’s husband, James Petts, died in 1862.
The some discrepancies were that Ann Petts became a widow in 1862 so she wouldn’t be a widow at the time of James Murrell’s last years.
But she was a widow for thirteen years from 1862 until 1875 when she remarried. So it possible that people knew her as a widow and didn’t know when she became a widow when they were remembering James Murrell and Ann Petts.
From the censuses, Ann Petts is listed as born in Hockley, Essex. Not Hadleigh or Hawkwell where James Murrell lived.
It is possible that Arthur Morrison and perhaps later Eric Maple may have seen the death certificate of James Murrell and assumed that because Ann Pett was present at his death that she was his daughter.
She may have just been a friend of James Murrell and his family, doing some housekeeping chores for him while he is busy with dealing with the “other world”. And when the time came when James Murrell died, she may have been the only one there.
Research is still ongoing to find out more about Ann Petts. Perhaps she was a family relative in some other way.
~ 2010
James Murrell has been mentioned in newspapers and later in articles and books in the last 100 years or more. But no one solved the mystery of where James Murrell was baptized, the names of his parents, and where he lived in his youth.
I became interested in James Murrell around 2008 and collected some information about him. Then there was the lack of new information for a long while.
Then in 2010, I launched an all out offensive to crack the brick wall. After several months of research I finally found the baptism of James Murrell at Hawkwell, Essex and the names of his parents and siblings in May 2010.
This was a twin victory because I also found the baptism of his sister, Hannah Murrell, too. And then the record of her marriage to Daniel Whitwell of Canewdon, solving the mystery of why James Murrell's daughter, Louisa, was living at Daniel and Hannah Whitwell in Canewdon.
Adding the marriage found earlier of James Murrell's parent in Canewdon in 1783, all this shows that Canewdon was also an important part of his life.
December 16, 2010 was the 150th year since the passing of the Witch Doctor and Cunning man James Murrell of Hadleigh, Essex.
CHILDREN OF JAMES AND ELIZABETH MURRELL
8. WILLIAM MURRELL was baptized 9 August 1814 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh, Essex.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 5 left side
Baptisms 1814 - Page 4. No. 31.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
August 9th / William Son of / James & Elizabeth / Murrells / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / M. Hodge
William Murrells died at the age of 1 month in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 23 August 1814 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 5 left side
Burials 1814 - Page 2. No. 16.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
William Murrells / Hadleigh / August 23d. 1814. / 1 month / M Hodge.
9. WILLIAM MURRELL was born in 1815 in Hadleigh, Essex.
William Murrels died as an infant in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 26 November 1815 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 5 right side
Burials 1815 - Page 3. No. 20.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
William Murrels / Hadleigh / Novr. 26 1815. / Infant / J. F. Hunter
10. MARIA MURRELL was born in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 23 February 1817 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image No. 6 left side
Baptisms 1817 - Page 6. No. 46.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Feby 23 / Maria Daughter of / James and Elizabeth / Murrell / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / Joseph Prendergast
Maria Murrell died at the age of 21 in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 23 April 1837 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 14 right side
Burials 1837 - Page 21. No. 168.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Maria Murrels / Hadleigh / 23 April / 21 years / P. J. Watherston
11. + ELIZA ANN MURRELLwas born in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 23 December 1818 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
Eliza married James Leggett.
12. REBECCA MURRELL born in 1817 in Hadleigh, Essex.
Rebecca Murrell died at the age of 5 months in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 4 March 1818 in the churchyard at St James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 6 left side
Burials 1818 - Page 4. No. 26.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Rebecca Murrell / Hadleigh / 1818 4th March / 5 Months / S. Stafford Offg: Minr.
13. + MATILDA MURRELL was born in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 26 March 1820 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
Matilda married William Benson.
14. ELLEN MURRELL was born in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 28 October 1821 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 10 right side
Baptisms 1821 - Page 15. No. 119.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Oct: 28th / Ellen D. of / James and Elizabeth / Murrells / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / J. F. Squire
Ellen Murrells died at the age of 1 year in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 16 July 1823 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 7 right side
Burials 1823 - Page 7. No. 51.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Ellen Murrells / Hadleigh / July 16th / 1 year / J: F: Squire
15. MARY ANN MURRELL was born in 1823 in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 2 February 1823 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 12 left side
Baptisms 1823 - Page 18. No. 138.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Feb: 2nd / Mary Ann D. of / James and Elizabeth / Murrells / Hadleigh / Shoe maker / J. F. Squire
Mary Ann Murrells died at the age of 9 weeks in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 14 March 1823 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 7 left side
Burials 1823 - Page 6. No. 48.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Mary Ann Murrells / Hadleigh / March 14th / 9 weeks / J: F: Squire
16. x EDWARD MURRELLwas born in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 3 October 1824 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
Although, it appears that Edward Murrell did not get married, he is treated on a separate page.
17. WILLIAM MURRELL was born in September 1825 in Hadleigh, Essex.
William Murrells died at the age of 14 days in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 25 September 1825 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 8 right side
Burials 1825 - Page 9. No. 69.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
William Murrells / Hadleigh / Sept: 25th / 14 days / J: F: Squire
18. PETER MURRELL was born in 1827 in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 5 November 1827 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh. He was a twin of Paul Murrell.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 14 right side
Baptisms 1827 - Page 23. No. 184.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Nov: 5th / Peter S. of / James and Elizabeth / Murrells / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / J:F: Squire
Peter Murrel died at the age of 8 months in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 23 May 1828 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 10 right side
Burials 1828 - Page 13. No. 99.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Peter Murrel / Hadleigh / 23 May / Months 8 / M Macleod.
19. PAUL MURRELL was born in 1827 in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 5 November 1827 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh. He was a twin of Peter Murrell.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 15 left side
Baptisms 1827 - Page 24. No. 185.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
1827 Nov: 5th / Paul S. of / James and Elizabeth / Murrells / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / J.F: Squire
Paul Murrel died at the age of 7 months in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 21 April 1828 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 10 right side
Burials 1828 - Page 13. No. 98.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Paul Murrell / Hadleigh / 21st April / Months 7 / M Macleod
20. GEORGE MURRELL was born ca. 1829.
George Murrel died in 1833 at the age of 3 years in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 14 April 1833 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 13 left side
Burials 1833 - Page 18. No. 144.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
George Murrel / Hadleigh / April 14th / years 3 / W Macleod
21. + LOUISA WHITWELL MURRELLwas born 4 April 1830 in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 20 June 1830 in St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
Louisa married 1st. to William Spendell and then 2nd. to Robert Felton.
22. WILLIAM MURRELL was born 8 October 1831 in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized 18 January 1832 at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 18 right side
Baptisms 1832 - Page 31. No. 243.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Baptized 18th Jany 1832. Born 8th Octr 1831 / William Son of / James & Elizabeth / Murrills / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / W. Macleod
William Murrils died at the age of 13 weeks in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried 5 February 1832 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 12 right side
Burials 1832 - Page 17. No. 132.
Name. – Abode. – When Buried. – Age. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
Wm Murrils / Hadleigh / Feby 5 / Weeks 13 / W. Macleod
23. GEORGE MURRELL was born 28 July 1833 and was baptized 8 September 1833 at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
From the parish register of Hadleigh:
Image 20 right side
Baptisms 1833 - Page 35. No. 273.
When Baptized. – Child’s Christian Name. – Parents Names, Christian & Surname – Abode. – Profession. – By whom the ceremony was performed.
1833. Born July 28th 1833 Baptized Septr 8th / George Son of / James & Elizabeth / Murrill / Hadleigh / Shoemaker / W. Macleod
I did not find a burial for this George Murrell. But he is not listed with James Murrell's family in the 1841 census of Hadleigh where he would have been of age 7 or 8.
24. + ELEANOR MURRELLwas born 23 October 1834 in Hadleigh, Essex and was baptized in 26 July 1835 at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
Eleanor married Elijah Barker.
Sources:
1. 1785 baptism of James Murrell. Parish registers for St. Mary the Virgin church, Hawkwell, Essex, England. Microfiche ordered from Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT, United Kingdom. Received May 13, 2010 Thursday Morning.
2. 1790 baptism of Elizabeth Button. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/3, Baptisms and Burials 1767-1812, 52 Images. Essex Record Archive online at Seax Essex. Searched on March 11, 2014 Tuesday 7:01 PM.
3. ca. late 1790's to early 1800's about James Murrell being bound to a surveyor. “A Wizard of Yesterday” by Arthur Morrison. The Strand Magazine, Volume 20, pages 433-442. On page 441. Google Books, Original from The University of Michigan, Digitized April 3, 2007. Searched August 24, 2009 Monday 8:59 PM.
4. ca. 1800's to early 1810's about James Murrell as a London chemist. “A Wizard of Yesterday” by Arthur Morrison. The Strand Magazine, Volume 20, pages 433-442. On page 441. Google Books, Original from The University of Michigan, Digitized April 3, 2007. Searched August 24, 2009 Monday 8:59 PM.
5. 1807, 1808, 1809, & 1810 a James Murrell taxed in St. Savior, Southwark. London, England, Land Tax Records, 1692-1932, online at Ancestry.com. Searched February 22, 2014 Saturday 9:02 PM.
6. 1812 Marriage Banns of James Murrell and Elizabeth Frances Button. St. Olave, Bermondsey, Southwark, England. London, England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921, ancestry.com. Banns: 1812, Image No. 12, Original Page No. 139, No. 334. October 10, 2009 Saturday 5:00 PM.
7. 1812 marriage of James Murrell and Elizabeth Frances Button. St. Olave, Bermondsey, Southwark, England. London, England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921, ancestry.com. Marriages: 1812, Image No. 4, Original Page No. 213, No. 864. October 13, 2009 Tuesday 12:56 PM.
8. 1814-1835 baptisms of the Murrell family from the parish register. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/4, Baptisms 1813-1870, 54 Images. Seax - Essex Archives Online at seax.essexcc.gov.uk. 1814 William Murrells, 1817 Maria Murrell, 1818 Eliza Murrells, 1820 Matilda Murrells, 1821 Ellen Murrells, 1823 Mary Ann Murrells, 1824 Edward Murrells, 1827 Peter Murrells, 1827 Paul Murrells, 1830 Louisa Whitwell Murrell, 1832 William Murrills, 1833 George Murrill, 1835 Eleanor Murrels. Searched February 27, 2014 Thursday 5:48 PM.
9. 1814-1860 burials of the Murrell family in the parish register. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/7, Burials 1813-1899, 53 Images. Seax - Essex Archives Online at seax.essexcc.gov.uk. 1814 William Murrells, 1815 William Murrels, 1818 Rebecca Murrell, 1823 Mary Ann Murrells, 1823 Ellen Murrells, 1825 William Murrells, 1828 Paul Murrell, 1828 Peter Murrel, 1832 Wm Murrils, 1833 George Murrel, 1837 Maria Murrels, 1839 Elizabeth Murrels, 1852 Matilda Benson, 1860 James Murrell. Searched March 15, 2014 Saturday 5:16 PM.
10. 1817-1832 baptisms of the Button family from the parish register. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/4, Baptisms 1813-1870, 54 Images. Seax - Essex Archives Online at seax.essexcc.gov.uk. 1817 Susan Sophier Button, 1821 George Button, 1832 Clara Button. Search started February 27, 2014 Thursday 5:48 PM.
11. 1820 marriage of Hannah Murrell and Daniel Whitwell. Parish registers for St. Mary the Virgin church, Hawkwell, Essex, England. Microfiche ordered from Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT, United Kingdom. Received May 13, 2010 Thursday Morning.
12. 1820's to 1860 James Murrell's character. 1960, “Cunning Murrell A Study of a Nineteenth-Century Cunning Man in Hadleigh, Essex” by Eric Maple in the March 1960 of Folklore, Volume 71, Pages 37-43. In page 40. From the book that I purchased on December 4, 2009 Friday.
13. 1823 James Murrell owed on the rents of the cottage. “A Wizard of Yesterday” by Arthur Morrison. The Strand Magazine, Volume 20, pages 433-442. In page 441. Google Books, Original from The University of Michigan, Digitized April 3, 2007. Searched August 24, 2009 Monday 8:59 PM.
14. 1830 burial of Hannah Murrell. Bishop’s Transcripts for St. Mary the Virgin church, Hawkwell, Essex, England. Bishops Transcripts for 1801-1870. FHL British Film 1702325 Item 2, D/CR 182. Searched and extracted March 9, 2010 Tuesday starting 8:53 AM.
15. 1839 Death Certificate of Elizabeth Murrell. From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England. Received September 24, 2009 Thursday 10:00 AM.
16. 1839 burial of Elizabeth Murrils. Hadleigh, St James the Less, Parish Register D/P 303/1/7, Burials 1813-1899, 53 Images. Image 15 right side, Page 23, No. 181. Essex Record Archive online at Seax Essex. Searched March 15, 2014 Saturday 5:16 PM.
17. 1840's about Old Lady Lodwick and the Parson's wife, and Rev. William Atkinson. 1959, “Witches over the Crouch” from a correspondent. In a newspaper article in The Times, Tuesday, Jan 27, 1959; pg. 10; Issue 54369; col F. Arthur Downes interviewed about Canewdon and Cunning James Murrell. Online at infotrac.galegroup.com or archive.timesonline.co.uk. February 26, 2010 Friday evening.
18. 1840's to 1860's about what people thought of Cunning Murrell. 1960, “Cunning Murrell A Study of a Nineteenth-Century Cunning Man in Hadleigh, Essex” by Eric Maple in the March 1960 of Folklore, Volume 71, Pages 37-43. In page 41. From the book that I purchased on December 4, 2009 Friday.
19. 1841 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image No. 1, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: HO 107 / 337 / 8, Original Page No. 2, Stamped Page No. 4, Household of James Murrell. March 5, 2008 Wednesday 3:04 PM.
20. 1841 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 4, Image No. 8, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: HO 107 / 337 / 3, Original Page Nos. 15 & 16, Stamped Page No. 11, Louisa Murrell in the household of Daniel Whitwell. February 22, 2009 Sunday 2:50 PM.
21. 1844 marriage of James Leget and Eliza Murrels. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/12, Marriages 1837-1937, 253 Images. Image No. 14, Page 12. No. 23. Essex Record Archive online at Seax Essex. Search February 20, 2014 Thursday 8:58 PM.
22. 1844 marriage of Matilda Murrels and Wm. Benson. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/12, Marriages 1837-1937, 253 Images. Image No. 14, Page 12. No. 24. Essex Record Archive online at Seax Essex. Search February 20, 2014 Thursday 8:58 PM.
23. 1847 Death of Rev. William Atkinson, the Vicar of Canewdon. Online at Google Books, The Gentleman’s Magazine. July 1847. By Silvanus Urban, Gent. Page 103, 1847. Clergy Deceased. William Atkinson mentioned. January 4, 2009 Sunday 7:09 PM.
24. 1848 marriage of Louisa Whitwell Murrell and William Spendell in the index. England & Wales, Marriage Index online at Ancestry.com. 4th Quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec), Year 1848, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 12, Page 425. Searched February 17, 2009 Tuesday 2:15 PM.
25. 1849 article about Witchcraft and the Cunning man near Rayleigh, Essex. Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper (London, England), Sunday, April 1, 1849; Issue 332. British Newspapers, 1800-1900, http://newspapers.bl.uk. August 1, 2009 Saturday 8:30 PM.
26. 1850 marriage of Mary Ann Granger and Thomas Dale. Ellen Murrell witness. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/12, Marriages 1837-1937, 253 Images. Image No. 22, Page 20. No. 39. Essex Record Archive online at Seax Essex. Search February 20, 2014 Thursday 8:58 PM.
27. 1851 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9a, Image No. 3, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: H.O. 107 / 1777, Original Page No. 3, No. of Householder’s Schedule 9, Household of James Murrills. March 5, 2008 Wednesday 2:51 PM.
28. 1851, Hannah Whitwell’s death notice. The newspaper, The Essex Standard (Colchester, England), Tuesday, October 31, 1851; Issue 1089. Online at 19th Century British Library newspapers: Part II , http://newspapers.bl.uk. June 2, 2010 Wednesday 7:24 PM.
29. 1851 death of Hannah Whitwell. Whitwell family, on a website http://www.stockfamily.nildram.co.uk. May 21, 2010 Friday 8:30 PM.
30. 1853 marriage of Eleanor Murrell and Elijah Barker. Also Uncle and Aunt, Thomas and Mary Dale as witnesses. Thundersley, St Peter, D/P 357/1/9, Marriages 1837-1929, 250 Images. Image No. 35, Original Page No. 33, No. 66. Searched February 28, 2014 Friday 7:34 PM.
31. 1857 newspaper article about James Murrell helping Golding Spearman. The British Newspaper Archive online at http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 20 February 1857. Searched on February 27, 2012 Monday 7:42 PM.
32. 1858 newspaper article about Witchcraft in Easthorpe, Essex and it mentioned Murrell. The Ipswich Journal (Ipswich, England), Saturday, September 25, 1858; Issue 6229. British Newspapers, 1800-1900, http://newspapers.bl.uk. April 1, 2009.
33. 1858 the Cunning man of Hadleigh in a case at Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex. The British Newspaper Archive online at http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Bury and Norwich Post - Tuesday 09 November 1858. Searched on February 26, 2014 Wednesday 5:27 PM.
34. 1859 death of Mary Ann Atkinson. The British Newspaper Archive online at www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Bury and Norwich Post - Tuesday 24 May 1859. Searched January 20, 2014 Monday 2:25 PM.
35. 1859 marriage of Louisa Spendell and Robert Felton. Hadleigh, St James the Less, D/P 303/1/12, Marriages 1837-1937, 253 Images. Image No. 35, Page 33. No. 66. Essex Record Archive online at Seax Essex. Search February 20, 2014 Thursday 8:58 PM.
36. 1860 Death Certificate of James Murrell. From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England. Received September 24, 2009 Thursday 10:00 AM.
37. 1861 Death of Eliza Frost Lodwick. The Essex Standard (Colchester, England) Friday, March 22, 1861; Issue 1579. British Newspapers, 1800-1900, http://newspapers.bl.uk. June 2, 2010 Wednesday 7:36 PM.
38. 1861 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image No. 4, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: R.G. 9 1083, Original Page No. 4, No. of Schedule 22, Household of James Pitts. March 2, 2009 Monday 3:37 PM.
39. 1861 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image No. 9, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: R.G. 9 1083, Original Page No. 9, Stamped Page No. 128, No. of Schedule 50, Household of Stephen Choppen. May 31, 2010 Monday 1:39 PM.
40. 1862 death of James Petts in the index. England & Wales, Death Index online at Ancestry.com. 2nd Quarter (Apr-May-Jun), Year 1862, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 107. Searched May 9, 2010 Sunday 5:18 PM.
41. 1867, “The History of Rochford Hundred by Philip Benton. Published 1867 by A. Harrington. Pages: 102 about William Atkinson and his wife Mary Ann Kesteman, 127 about Jeremiah Kesteman Lodwick and his wife Eliza, 254-257 about Cunning man James Murrell. Google Books, Original from The New York Library, Digitized March 20, 2007. Searched August 24, 2009 Monday 9:03 PM.
42. ca. 1890 Arthur Morrison visited Hadleigh, Essex. 1900, “A Wizard of Yesterday” by Arthur Morrison. The Strand Magazine, Volume 20, pages 433-442. Google Books, Original from The University of Michigan, Digitized April 3, 2007. Searched August 24, 2009 Monday 8:59 PM.
43. 1891 Census of England, Essex, Hadleigh, District 9, Image No. 5, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference: RG 12/1390, Original Page No. 5, Stamped Page No. 97, No. of Schedule 24, Household of John Cracknell. May 31, 2010 Monday 1:45 PM.
44. 1893 death of John Cracknell in the index. England & Wales, death index online at Ancestry.com. 3rd Quarter (Jul-Aug-Sep), Year 1893, Age 49, District Rochford, County Essex, Volume 4a, Page 289. Searched May 31, 2010 Monday 2:03 PM.
45. 1900 a newspaper article mentioning about Arthur Morrison's article "A Wizard of Yesterday" in the Strand Magazine. Morning Post - Thursday 18 October 1900. The British Newspaper Archive online at www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Searched March 22, 2014 Saturday 3:28 PM.
46. 1900 obituary mentioning the death of Stephen Choppen. From the British Newspaper Archive online at http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 09 November 1900. Searched on October 7, 2012 Sunday 1:49 PM.
47. 1959, “Witches over the Crouch” from a correspondent. In a newspaper article in The Times, Tuesday, Jan 27, 1959; pg. 10; Issue 54369; col F. Arthur Downes interviewed about Canewdon and Cunning James Murrell. Online at infotrac.galegroup.com or archive.timesonline.co.uk. February 26, 2010 Friday evening.
48. 1960, “Cunning Murrell A Study of a Nineteenth-Century Cunning Man in Hadleigh, Essex” by Eric Maple in the March 1960 of Folklore, Volume 71, Pages 37-43. From the book that I purchased on December 4, 2009 Friday.
49. 1960, “Death of a Wizard, James Murrell last of the old “Cunning Men” of Essex” from a correspondent in a newspaper article in The Times, December 15, 1960, pg. 12; Issue 54955; col F. Online at infotrac.galegroup.com or archive.timesonline.co.uk. May 15, 2010 Saturday 8:30 PM.
Previous version dated June 6, 2010 Sunday 3:53 PM
Current version dated April 1, 2014 Tuesday 6:09 PM
With Contributions from:
1. Jeremy Dixon of Australia - Thanks for the finding and letting me know about the 1858 Newspaper article and the 1900 strand Magazine article.
Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth
Deadfamilies.com
Email: Root-Quest@deadfamilies.com
Website: Deadfamilies.com
Postal Address:
William Wallworth
PO Box 24768 San Jose, CA 95154-4768 USA
© 2005 - 2014 -- Deadfamilies.com -- All rights reserved
.
