Vanessa Richardson

By 1807, 39-year-old Mary Bateman had extorted a significant amount of goods and cash from Rebecca and William Perrigo. Still greedy for more, Mary decided her victims would be more used to her if they were dead. So in April of 1807, Mary forged yet another one of her infamous letters from Miss Blythe, predicting that one or both would fall ill within the next month.

By 1807, 39-year-old Mary Bateman had extorted a significant amount of goods and cash from Rebecca and William Perrigo. Still greedy for more, Mary decided her victims would be more used to her if they were dead. So in April of 1807, Mary forged yet another one of her infamous letters from Miss Blythe, predicting that one or both would fall ill within the next month.

The Perigos couldn't believe their luck. They'd spent the last year trying to remove the evil charm that had been placed on Rebecca. Now they were going to get sick? They couldn't catch a break. Worried, they turned to Mary, who assured them that Miss Blythe would have just the remedy. If they followed her instructions, they'd be just fine. So that's just what they did.

The Perigos couldn't believe their luck. They'd spent the last year trying to remove the evil charm that had been placed on Rebecca. Now they were going to get sick? They couldn't catch a break. Worried, they turned to Mary, who assured them that Miss Blythe would have just the remedy. If they followed her instructions, they'd be just fine. So that's just what they did.

And the first thing they had to do was bring half a pound of honey to Mary. Mary assured Rebecca that she would add special ingredients from Miss Blythe. She then gave the Perigos a magic pudding-like concoction made with various powders for six days straight. If they felt sick, Mary advised them to take a teaspoon of the specially prepared honey. The task seemed easy enough.

And the first thing they had to do was bring half a pound of honey to Mary. Mary assured Rebecca that she would add special ingredients from Miss Blythe. She then gave the Perigos a magic pudding-like concoction made with various powders for six days straight. If they felt sick, Mary advised them to take a teaspoon of the specially prepared honey. The task seemed easy enough.

There was just one stipulation. The perigos were forbidden from summoning a doctor or sharing their food with anyone else. Mary warned them that doing so would only make things worse. The perigos were terrified of ruining the magic, so they kept quiet, never suspecting that they were walking right into a trap. They began taking the special pudding on May 11th.

There was just one stipulation. The perigos were forbidden from summoning a doctor or sharing their food with anyone else. Mary warned them that doing so would only make things worse. The perigos were terrified of ruining the magic, so they kept quiet, never suspecting that they were walking right into a trap. They began taking the special pudding on May 11th.

By the 13th, both had fallen violently ill. They felt heat in their sore mouths. Their lips were black. They had headaches and prolonged episodes of vomiting. The pudding was evidently laced with poison, but Mary had played her part so well that neither William nor Rebecca ever suspected their witch wasn't so friendly.

By the 13th, both had fallen violently ill. They felt heat in their sore mouths. Their lips were black. They had headaches and prolonged episodes of vomiting. The pudding was evidently laced with poison, but Mary had played her part so well that neither William nor Rebecca ever suspected their witch wasn't so friendly.

Even still, William found himself unable to keep eating the pudding she'd given them. Rebecca, on the other hand, was determined to finish her portion, which Mary wholeheartedly encouraged. When she was too sick to do anything else, Rebecca licked up generous portions of the honey, as Mary had advised. But of course, it only sped up her decline.

Even still, William found himself unable to keep eating the pudding she'd given them. Rebecca, on the other hand, was determined to finish her portion, which Mary wholeheartedly encouraged. When she was too sick to do anything else, Rebecca licked up generous portions of the honey, as Mary had advised. But of course, it only sped up her decline.

On May 24th, 1807, just 13 days after they'd started Mary's regimen, Rebecca Perrigo died. Racked with grief in the wake of his wife's passing, William grappled with what to do next. He knew his wife had trusted Mary until the end, but now he was feeling skeptical about the witch. So against both of Mary's orders...

On May 24th, 1807, just 13 days after they'd started Mary's regimen, Rebecca Perrigo died. Racked with grief in the wake of his wife's passing, William grappled with what to do next. He knew his wife had trusted Mary until the end, but now he was feeling skeptical about the witch. So against both of Mary's orders...

William decided to seek real medical advice the day after his wife passed, from a surgeon named Mr. Chorley. And as soon as William shared his symptoms with the doctor, Chorley knew William had been poisoned. Though William didn't want to believe the doctor, he did feel compelled to confront Mary. And as always, the self-proclaimed witch tried to weasel her way out of it.

William decided to seek real medical advice the day after his wife passed, from a surgeon named Mr. Chorley. And as soon as William shared his symptoms with the doctor, Chorley knew William had been poisoned. Though William didn't want to believe the doctor, he did feel compelled to confront Mary. And as always, the self-proclaimed witch tried to weasel her way out of it.

She blamed Rebecca for disobeying orders, saying that Rebecca's death was her own fault. And somehow, despite his better judgment, William accepted this. Though he believed his wife had done all she could to follow the witch's orders, Mary was the one with magic insight. So he carried on with life as it had been, meaning he continued to take directions from Mary for the next year.

She blamed Rebecca for disobeying orders, saying that Rebecca's death was her own fault. And somehow, despite his better judgment, William accepted this. Though he believed his wife had done all she could to follow the witch's orders, Mary was the one with magic insight. So he carried on with life as it had been, meaning he continued to take directions from Mary for the next year.

She had him wrapped around her finger, keeping him terrified with warnings that without her protection, Rebecca would rise from the grave to haunt him. So William gave Mary whatever she asked for, which was mostly food, though he also handed over some of his wife's clothes too. This carried on until the fall of 1808. That was when the spell was finally broken.

She had him wrapped around her finger, keeping him terrified with warnings that without her protection, Rebecca would rise from the grave to haunt him. So William gave Mary whatever she asked for, which was mostly food, though he also handed over some of his wife's clothes too. This carried on until the fall of 1808. That was when the spell was finally broken.