Elizabeth Clarke

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Elizabeth Clarke (c. 1565 - 1645) was the first woman accused of witchcraft by the Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins in 1645 in Essex, England. But that was before accusing five other witches. Elizabeth's father died and her distant relatives found her and took her in at the age of 11. She was a woman over 80 with only one leg, who confessed after being deprived of sleep for many nights. She was then hanged.

Rebecca West the daughter of Anne West (another of the accused) gave evidence against her in return for a reprieve.

[edit] References

• The Essex Witch Trials
• The Witch-Cult in Western Europe