The main characters of Canewdon, Essex
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The Witch of Lambourne Hall
Widow Eliza Frost Lodwick (1784 - 1861)
~ The wife of Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick ~
ELIZA FROST KERSTEMAN was born ca. 1784 in Prittlewell, Essex. She may have been born in Southend which was part of Prittlewell parish, Essex (1841 census).
Father: Jeremiah Kersteman
Mother: Elizabeth Frost
~ 1825
Jeremiah K. Lodwick married Eliza Frost Kersteman in July 1825 at Canewdon, Essex.
From the newspaper article in the Wednesday July 13, 1825 issue of The Bury and Norwich Post:
Married.
Yesterday se’nnight, at Canewdon, Essex, J. K. Lodwick, Esq of Lambourn-hall, to Miss E. F. Kesterman, of Loftmans.
Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick (1786-1826) was a cousin of Eliza Frost Kersteman. He was a widower when he married Eliza.
~ 1826
Jeremiah K. Lodwick died at the age of 40 in October 1826 at Lambourn Hall, Canewdon.
From the newspaper article in the Saturday October 28, 1826 issue of the Jackson’s Oxford Journal:
London, Oct. 24.
Died.
- At Lambourne Hall, Essex, Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick, Esq. aged 40.
Eliza Lodwick became a widow only 15 months after they were married.
She never married again and remained a widow until her death.
For about 35 years Widow Lodwick managed Lambourne Hall and other properties from 1826 to 1861. Sometimes she is at other locations.
~ Loftmans
Loftmans was the main home of the Kersteman’s family, it was in Canewdon parish. It was where Eliza Lodwick's father, Jeremiah Kersteman Sr. had his family and then her brother Colonel Jeremiah Kersteman Junior took over Loftmans after the death of his father.
~ Lambourne Hall
Lambourne Hall was the home of Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick and his wife Eliza Frost Kersteman. Eliza was a daughter of Jeremiah Kersteman Senior.
~ 1828
Widow Eliza Lodwick's sister, Mary Ann Kersteman, married Rev. William Atkinson on Monday March 3, 1828.
From a newspaper article in the Saturday, March 8, 1828 issue of The Ipswich Journal:
“Monday was married, the Rev. W. Atkinson, A. M. Vicar of Canewdon, in this county, to Miss Kersteman, of Loftmans.”
Eliza and her sister, Mary Ann, knew Rev. William Atkinson for years since he and his first wife were probably frequent dinner guests at the manors of Loftmans and Lambourne Hall, both in Canewdon, Essex.
The Rev. Atkinson knew their father Jeremiah Kersteman, Sr. and then their brother the Colonel Jeremiah Kersteman, Jr.
And when Rev. Atkinson's first wife died, she chosen Mary Ann Kersteman to be his next wife.
A well choice since the Kerstemans and Lodwicks were wealthy and well connected.
For more detail on the Atkinsons: Click here.
~ 1835
At the Essex Quarter Sessions, Stephen Catchpole, John Stags, and William Crow were convicted in the stealing and killing of a sheep from Mrs. E. F. Lodwick of Canewdon, Essex in 1835. William Crow was actually convicted of receiving mutton from Catchpole and Stags while knowing that it was stolen.
From the newspaper, The Essex Standard, Friday, April 10, 1835:
Essex Quarter Sessions.
Criminal Court.
“Stephen Catchpole, 22, and John Stags, laborers, committed 13th March, by J. Lodwick, Clerk, charged with killing, with intent to steal, a wether sheep, the property of Mrs. Kersterman Lodwick, at Canewdon.
William Crow, 43, laborer, committed 12th March, charged with having received a quantity of the mutton knowing it to have been stolen. It appeared from the evidence that Mrs. E. F. Lodwick has a farm at Canewdon, where, on the night of the 9th, were several sheep. The next morning it was discovered that one was missing, and the skin, entrails, head and feet were found in one of Mrs. L.'s fields, there was a quantity of blood upon the ground, which appeared as if a sheep had been killed there.
The footsteps of two persons were discovered in which a peculiarity was noticed. In the heel of one of the pairs the half of a tip was off, and a few nails were missing from the other pair of footsteps.
The marks were traced four miles, by Wm. Willingham, a servant of Mrs. L.'s, to the prisoner (Crow's) cottage, at Hawkwell; it had rained the preceding night, and froze in the morning, which had hardened the footsteps. On entering Crow's cottage, Willingham examined the shoes of the prisoners, and observed that they corresponded with the marks which they had traced.
Catchpole and Stags, who were in the cottage, acknowledged that they belonged to them. The shoes were afterwards found to correspond with the marks exactly. Crow's house was searched on the 10th, and upon his being questioned respecting the robbery, he at first denied having any knowledge of it; he, however, afterwards told the constable he would show him where the mutton was, and proceeded to a wood near his house, where part of the mutton was found.
The frock of Stags and the trowsers of Catchpole were found spotted with blood, which had apparently been washed for the purpose of removing the spots. It was found that Crow's wife gave a portion of the mutton to a woman named Grey, and requested that she would throw it into the wood as she passed, which she did.
Crow also, whilst they were searching the house, said, "d - d if we a'nt done."
- Guilty. Catchpole and Stags transported for life. Crow fourteen years transportation.
These people of course were guilty of what they did. But the kind of sentencing was very harsh. It was common for back then.
Probably the labourers for miles around would know of this incident and it probably brought on more intense dislike or hatred of Widow Lodwick.
~ 1839
George Warner, age 16, was killed in an accidential death at Lambourne Hall farm in January 1839. An inquest was held to investigate the case.
From the newspaper, The Essex Standard, Friday, January 25, 1839:
Chelmsford.
Fatal Accident at Canewdon. - On Wednesday, the 9th inst. an inquest was held before W. Codd, Esq. one of the county coroners, at the Crown and Anchor, in Canewdon, to enquire as to the cause of the death of George Warner, aged 16 years.
It appeared in evidence that the deceased and William Green were employed in cutting chaff in a shed at Lambourne Hall Farm, in that parish. The deceased, who was engaged in driving the horse to turn the wheel of the machine, imprudently got upon the draughts to ride, and was struck against the beam with so much violence, as to cause his immediate death.
- Verdict - Accidential death; deodand on the wheel is.
~ 1820’s to 1840’s ~ the Autumn of the Witches
As we know from above Eliza Frost Lodwick's, husband, Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick, died back in 1826 and that she never married again.
Widow Eliza Frost Lodwick managed Lambourne Hall and other properties with its combined 500 acres for the next 35 years from 1826 to 1861; sometimes she was away at other locations.
The labourers probably didn't like the idea that an old widow is running the big property and telling them what to do.
And with the 3 people being convicted of stealing on Widow Lodwick's property and their sentence being very harsh and adding the accidential death on Lambourne Hall farm, it made some of the people of Canewdon and elsewhere thought Widow Eliza Lodwick and her sister, Mary Ann Atkinson were Witches.
And the fear of the Witches in Canewdon, prompted some of the people of the village to enlist James Murrell’s assistance to expose the Witches.
James Murrell was the famous Cunning man and Witch Doctor of Hadleigh, Essex. He was a frequent visitor to Canewdon. His sister, Hannah, the wife of Daniel Whitwell, was living in Canewdon since 1820. Also James and Hannah's parent were married in Canewdon in 1783.
The people of the village then went to petition the Vicar William Atkinson. But the vicar rejected it.
The situation puts the aging Vicar at odds with some of the people of Canewdon and James Murrell. Tensions were probably high for a while.
And Widow Eliza Lodwick had to keep an eye on James Murrell.
For more detail on James Murrell: Click here (link to be added later when that page is updated).
The following newspaper article mentioned Arthur Downes, a 94 year old gardener who mentioned that in his father time the above situation.
From the newspaper article “Witches over the Crouch” in The Times, Tuesday, January 27, 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.”
There is also a story about Widow Lodwick that was passed down the years to Arthur Downes. Arthur Downes heard the story from his father, William Downes, a ferryman and then labourer who worked at Loftmans in the 1850's to 1860's.
It involves Lady Lodwick and two of her servants when she took a trip to and back from Rochford.
From the newspaper article “Witches over the Crouch” in The Times, Tuesday, January 27, 1959:
One afternoon old Lady Lodwick had left her two maids preparing fruit for jam making in the kitchen, with strict injunctions that they were not to stop work till her return from Rochford.
Hardly had the sound of carriage wheels died away than Sarah Jane, the younger maid, was filled with longing to eat black currants dangling on the bushes outside the kitchen window. Down went her bowl as she cried, "I must go, Martha!" "Doant 'ee be so foolish. Remember what Missus told us." replied her wiser companion.
But Sarah Jane was already out of the window, picking away like mad and stuffing the juicy berries into her mouth. Her appetite appeased, she made to return, throwing her leg over the kitchen window sill.
To her horror, she found suddenly that she could not move. She was frozen solid there, half in and half out, till the sound of carriage wheels was again heard on the gravel drive. Now there came footsteps down the passage, and as old Lady Lodwick appeared at the door, crying, "Why, you foolish girl, whatever are you doing there?" Sarah Jane found that she could move and speak again.
~ Wick Farm
In the article above, Arthur Downes, mentioned that "owd Lady Lodwick living at Wick farm". This was another property that Widow Lodwick owned.
From the book, “The History of Rochford Hundred” by Philip Benton:
Page 107
The “Wick Farm” at one time was the property of Thomas Laver, of Prittlewell Temple, and was purchased by Eliza Frost, widow of Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick, at whose death in 1861, it was sold to Richard Catlow Bowden, who bequeathed it to his widow.”
~ 1841
In 1841, Eliza Lodwick is at Terrace, Southend in Prittlewell, Essex. Caroline Kersteman is living with her.
In the 1841 Census for Prittlewell, Essex:
Name - Age Sex - Profession - Born in County ?
Terrace Southend
Eliza Lodwick 50 F Ind: Y
Caroline Kersteman 50 F Ind: Y
Ann Hales 18 F F. S. Y
Ann Rice 35 F F. S. Y
~ 1847
The Rev. William Atkinson died at the age of 80 years on March 24, 1847 in Canewdon, Essex and was buried March 31, 1847 in the churchyard of Canewdon.
When the Vicar Atkinson died, 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.
~ 1851
In 1851, Eliza Lodwick is living at Lambourne Hall in Canewdon, Essex. Her sister, Mary Atkinson, the widow of Rev. Atkinson, is also living with her.
Eliza Lodwick is listed as a Farmer of 500 acres and was employing 25 labourers. And she has 4 house servants and a shepherd living in the household.
From the 1851 census for Canewdon:
Name - Relationship – Married or Single – Age – Sex – Profession – Birthplace
Lambourne Hall
Eliza Lodwick Head W 66 F Farmer of 500 Acres employ 25 labourers Essex Prittlewell
Mary Atkinson Sister W 70 F Annuitant Do Do
Mary Bragg Serv U 25 F House Servant Do Do
Eliza Tylor Do U 25 F Do Do Rettenden
Edward Mead Do U 23 M Do Do Chipping Ongar
George Love Do M 37 M Shepherd Do Great [Burshen]
Sarah Do Do M 38 F House Servant Do Runwell
~ 1859
George Lee and David Ellcock were charged on January 7, 1859 and fined of trespassing in search of conies on lands in the occupation of Eliza F. Lodwick at Canewdon, Essex.
From the newspaper, The Essex Standard, Friday, January 14, 1859:
At the Rochford Petty Session, on Thursday (before the Revds. T. S. Scratton and J. C. White, J. Tabor and A. Tawke, Esqrs.), John Perry and Samuel Clark, labourers, of Prittlewell, were charged with trespassing in search of conies, upon land in the occupation of Mrs. Jane Simmons, on the 22nd of December last. The offenders, being known characters, were fined £2 and costs 12s. 6d., in default to be committed for two months.
- George Lee and David Ellcock were charged with the same offence, upon land in the occupation of Mrs. E. F. Lodwick, at Canewdon, on the 7th Jan. Fined £2 each and costs 8s. 6d., in default committed for two months.
- Lee and Ellcock were also apprehended by Inspector Ackers on suspicion of stealing five tame rabbits, the property of some person at present unknown; and on the Inspector searching the offenders, independent of the suspected stolen property, he found upon them 25 snares, 4 poaching nets, 1 ferret, and bag. - Remanded for further examination until next Monday.
~ 1860
Widow Lodwick probably heard with satisfaction that her nemesis, the Cunning man James Murrell, has died.
James Murrell, the Cunning man and Witch doctor, died at the age of 79 years on December 16, 1860 in Hadleigh, Essex and was buried December 23, 1860 in the churchyard at St. James the Less church in Hadleigh.
Widow Lodwick lived on for another 3 months.
~ 1861
Eliza Frost Lodwick died in her 78th year on March 20, 1861 at her residence in 8 Royal Terrace, Southend, Essex.
From the newspaper, The Essex Standard, Friday, March 22, 1861:
Deaths.
March 20th, at her residence, 8, Royal Terrace, Southend, in her 78th year, much respected, Eliza Frost, relict of Kersteman Lodwick, Esq., of Lambourne Hall, Canewdon, and last surviving daughter of Jeremiah Kersteman, Esq., of Loftmans, in this county.
Sources:
1. 1825 marriage of J. K. Lodwick and E. F. Kesterman. The Bury and Norwich Post (Bury Saint Edmunds, England), Wednesday, July 13, 1825; Issue 2246. 19th Century British Newspapers online at http://find.galegroup.com. July 16, 2010 Friday 9:50 PM.
2. 1826 death of Jeremiah Kersteman Lodwick. Jackson’s Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, October 28, 1826; Issue 3835. 19th Century British Newspapers online at http://find.galegroup.com. July 16, 2010 Friday 9:43 PM.
3. 1828 marriage of Rev. W. Atkinson to Miss Kersteman. The Ipswich Journal (Ipswich, England), Saturday, March 8, 1828; Issue 4694. Online at http://find.galegroup.com. Searched and Extracted June 14, 2010 Monday 9:26 PM.
4. 1835 three men convicted for stealing and killing a sheep from the property of Mrs. E. F. Lodwick. The Essex Standard (Colchester, England), Friday, April 10, 1835; Issue 223. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II online at http://find.galegroup.com. Searched March 10, 2011 Thursday 7:28 PM.
5. 1839 accidential death at Lambourne Hall farm and inquest. The Essex Standard (Colchester, England), Friday, January 25, 1839; Issue 421. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II online at http://find.galegroup.com. Searched March 10, 2011 Thursday 8:00 PM.
6. Widow Lodwick, Rev. Atkinson, and his wife mentioned by Arthur Downes. Witches over the Crouch, The Times, Tuesday, Jan 27, 1959; pg. 10; Issue 54369; col F. Online at http://infotrac.galegroup.com. Searched February 26, 2010 Friday evening.
7. Eliza Frost Kersteman and Wick Farm. The History of Rochford Hundred by Philip Benton. Published 1867 by A. Harrington. Page 107 about. Google Books, Original from The New York Library, Digitized March 20, 2007. Searched August 24, 2009 Monday 9:03 PM.
8. 1841 Census of England, Essex, Prittlewell, District 2, Image No. 6, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference HO 107 / 337 / 14, Original Page Nos. 10 & 11, Stamped Page No. 32, Household of Eliza Lodwick. December 31, 2008 Wednesday 5:49 PM.
9. 1847 death of Rev. William Atkinson. The Gentleman's Magazine. July 1847. By Silvanus Urban, Gent. Page 103, 1847. Clergy Deceased, William Atkinson mentioned. Google Books, January 4, 2009 Sunday 7:09 PM.
10. 1851 Census of England, Essex, Canewdon, District 7, Image No. 31, Ancestry.com. Public Record Office Reference H.O. 107 / 1777, Original Page No. 31, No. of Householder’s Schedule 123, Household of Eliza Lodwick. December 28, 2008 Sunday 7:47 PM.
11. 1859 two men fined for trespassing on Eliza F. Lodwick's property. The Essex Standard (Colchester, England), Friday, January 14, 1859; Issue 1465. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II online at http://find.galgegroup.com. searched March 10, 2011 Thursday 8:17 PM.
12. 1860 Death Certificate of James Murrell. From the General Register Office, Southport, Merseyside, England. Received September 24, 2009 Thursday 10:00 AM.
13. St. James the Less church, Hadleigh, Essex, England. Bishop’s transcripts 1800-1868, D/CR 160, FHL British Film 1702317 Item 3. Burials: 1860 James Murrell. Searched and extracted starting February 20, 2010 Saturday 10:00 AM.
14. 1861 death of Eliza Frost Lodwick. The Essex Standard (Colchester, England), Friday, March 22, 1861; Issue 1579. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II online at http://find.galegroup.com. Searched March 10, 2011 Thursday 7:19 PM.
1st version - March 12, 2011 Saturday 3:06 PM
Researched and Compiled by William Wallworth
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