Several years ago, I came across a fascinating story in a transcription of 15th century depositions. Most depositions of this age contain stale disputes over land; this was no different, except that embroiled in this dispute was a family story of attempted murder, murder and suicide. I couldn’t resist looking into it in further detail!
In 15th century Lancashire, there was a landowner named Oliver de Anderton, who lived at Anderton. Oliver had married Ellen de Kenyon, an heiress from Kenyon near Warrington, and with her marriage Ellen brought land at nearby Healey Nab.
Instead, she attempted to persuade Oliver to give their lands to their second eldest son Christopher. It’s possible that she disliked her grandson or daughter-in law, preferred her younger son, or even doubted her grandson’s paternity.
If Ellen died a widow, then she could choose to leave the lands she brought to her marriage to her younger sons. When her husband refused to make this change to the inheritance, Ellen took matters into her own hands.
Nicholas Fox, her husband’s servant, reported that Ellen had met him in the 'tresaunse' [passageway], and put powder in his master's pottage saying it was spice. In order to warn him, when he delivered the death, Nicholas bade his master to 'beware', and instead Oliver gave the pottage to a dog, which subsequently swelled up and died.
After this attempt on his life, Oliver sent his wife Ellen to 'Heyley' [Healey]. From there, she instructed two men named Roger Wylkynson and William Plesyngton to entice her husband Oliver to a place called 'Grawlehurst' in 'Horwyge' [Horwich]. When Oliver arrived, he is said to have realised his fate when he saw his younger sons, and he was shamefully murdered by them.
Roger Wylkynson was later imprisoned for his role. Ellen is said to have sent him a poisoned 'pasteth' [most likely a pasty, but could also be a perfuming ball], and he died the day before he was due to be examined.
When this poisoning was discovered, Ellen was ordered to be burnt within 7 days. Another of her sons James Anderton brought her this news. Ellen ordered a 'posset' [milk and ale drink] to be made up for her, to which she added a powder that her son Hugh had sent to her. After she had drunk this, she ordered her servant to dispose of the evidence, and by morning she was dead.
Oliver and Ellen’s descendants were thought to have died terrible deaths which were deemed to be a punishment of God. Their grandson Thurstan fell from a stile and broke his neck coming from Healey. The two sons said to have murdered their father also died - Christopher suddenly on his horse coming from Whittle, and Hugh went stark mad. James, the other son, who told Ellen of her fate broke his leg and died incontinent.
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