This Day in History August 24, 1751

By Ruth on August 24, 2013 in England, history
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I knew about the Salem Witch Trials in this country, but I knew little about what happened in England.  On this date in 1751, Thomas Colley, an English chimney sweep, was executed for murdering a supposed witch.  I won’t go into detail about what he did (click on the first link below, and you can read about his barbarity).  On April 18 of 1751, he headed a mob who took Ruth Osborne and her husband, John, out to be “tried” for their supposed crimes of witchcraft.  The ceremony was horrific, and it ended in the murder of Ruth Osborne after much dunking and beating.  Her husband survived and testified against Colley.   And on this day, Colley was hanged for his horrific acts against this couple.  I had no idea that this kind of thing happened in what would have been called “enlightened society,” but our country had its own version of killing supposed witches, so I shouldn’t be surprised.  I’m glad to know that this man was killed for his crimes.  At least the authorities recognized that his behavior was wrong.

For more information:

http://www.exclassics.com/newgate/ng243.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Colley

 

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RuthView all posts by Ruth
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka Ruth is an inspirational entertainment journalist who instinctively sees the best in all and seeks to share universal beauty, love and positivity. She is an artist who leads with her heart and gives readers a glimpse of the best of this world through the masterful use of the written word. Ruth was born in Tacoma, Washington but now calls Yelm, Washington her home. She lives on five acres with her parents, a dog, two miniature goats, cats and a teenage daughter who is a dynamic visual artist herself. Ruth interviews fellow artists both inside and outside of the film/television industry. At the core of all she does is the strength of her faith.

1 Comment

  1. aprila August 25, 2013 Reply

    what a horrible story in our history. At least he was punished for his crime.

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