Joan Peterson facts for kids
Joan Peterson, also known as The Witch of Wapping, was an English woman who lived a long time ago. She was accused of witchcraft and sadly, she was executed on 12 April 1652 in a place called Tyburn.
Who Was Joan Peterson?
Joan Peterson worked as a herbalist and a cunning woman in Wapping, a part of London. A herbalist is someone who uses plants and herbs to make medicines or remedies. A cunning woman was someone people went to for help with problems, often using traditional remedies or charms. Joan was very good at her job and many people liked her services.
Accusations of Witchcraft
In those times, people sometimes believed that bad things happened because of witchcraft. Joan Peterson became involved in a case about the death of an older woman named Lady Mary Powell. People accused Joan of using witchcraft to cause Lady Powell's death. Lady Powell had left her money to someone else, which made the situation complicated.
Joan was also accused of causing a baker named Christopher Wilson to have strange fits. He apparently owed her money.
The Trial and Execution
Joan was offered a deal: if she agreed to say that another woman, Anne Levingston, was involved in witchcraft, she might be pardoned. But Joan refused to lie or accuse Anne Levingston. Because she would not testify against Levingston, she was found guilty of witchcraft.
On 12 April 1652, Joan Peterson was executed by hanging at Tyburn. She was one of the last people to be executed for witchcraft in the city of London. However, she was not the very last person to be put on trial for witchcraft in London. Other women, like Jane Kent in 1682 and Jane Dodson in 1683, were tried later, but they were both found not guilty.
Joan Peterson's story became well-known because of a special book called a pamphlet. This pamphlet, published in 1652, was titled The Witch of Wapping: the life and devilish practices of Joan Peterson. It helped to spread her story to many people.
