Vanessa Richardson

I'm going to tell you now, Mary Bateman's death is well remembered. But despite this, the details surrounding her birth are frustratingly vague. All we know is that she entered the world in December 1767 or January 1768. Let's imagine that the winds blew a bit more ominously that day, as the people of Assenby, England welcomed the wicked cries of a future witch.

I'm going to tell you now, Mary Bateman's death is well remembered. But despite this, the details surrounding her birth are frustratingly vague. All we know is that she entered the world in December 1767 or January 1768. Let's imagine that the winds blew a bit more ominously that day, as the people of Assenby, England welcomed the wicked cries of a future witch.

In childhood, Mary was nothing if not mischievous. Born to farmers, she was the third of six children, which might have left her feeling overlooked as she tended to her wide array of daily chores to support her family. Perhaps it was a reaction to a lack of parental attention and frustration with her tiresome life that led Mary to wickedness at a young age.

In childhood, Mary was nothing if not mischievous. Born to farmers, she was the third of six children, which might have left her feeling overlooked as she tended to her wide array of daily chores to support her family. Perhaps it was a reaction to a lack of parental attention and frustration with her tiresome life that led Mary to wickedness at a young age.

Like another certain well-known witch, Mary couldn't resist a beautiful pair of shoes. In 1773, when she was just five, she laid eyes on a particularly stunning leather pair. She promptly stole them, then stashed them in her father's barn. Her efforts to hide her loot suggest that Mary understood what she did was wrong, so we know she had a moral compass.

Like another certain well-known witch, Mary couldn't resist a beautiful pair of shoes. In 1773, when she was just five, she laid eyes on a particularly stunning leather pair. She promptly stole them, then stashed them in her father's barn. Her efforts to hide her loot suggest that Mary understood what she did was wrong, so we know she had a moral compass.

It's just that she didn't ever seem interested in following it. Months later, young Mary retrieved the loafers from her secret storage spot and brought them to her parents. She acted like she just happened to find them and pick them up. Of course, that was a total lie. Even at this young age, Mary was already displaying some worrisome tendencies.

It's just that she didn't ever seem interested in following it. Months later, young Mary retrieved the loafers from her secret storage spot and brought them to her parents. She acted like she just happened to find them and pick them up. Of course, that was a total lie. Even at this young age, Mary was already displaying some worrisome tendencies.

For three days every July, Mary's parish was transformed by the Topley Fair. Visitors and locals alike loitered down cobbled streets between the troves of trinket stalls, food vendors, and street performers. Usually buttoned-up people tossed aside their regular ethics to make the most of the frivolity. Men fought in public brawls and boisterously courted maidens.

For three days every July, Mary's parish was transformed by the Topley Fair. Visitors and locals alike loitered down cobbled streets between the troves of trinket stalls, food vendors, and street performers. Usually buttoned-up people tossed aside their regular ethics to make the most of the frivolity. Men fought in public brawls and boisterously courted maidens.

Meanwhile, the streets teemed with merchants eager to make a quick buck. Among them were a few who fascinated Mary. Every year, these visitors traveled to the annual event to help others spend their money. Mary watched, enchanted, as they sold potions and told fortunes.

Meanwhile, the streets teemed with merchants eager to make a quick buck. Among them were a few who fascinated Mary. Every year, these visitors traveled to the annual event to help others spend their money. Mary watched, enchanted, as they sold potions and told fortunes.

These were tricks of a trade Mary didn't yet fully comprehend, but she did understand that their exaggerated stories were lucrative. So Mary started telling myths of her own. We don't know exactly what kinds of stories she told the locals in her small town, but by the time she was 12, she'd earned a reputation as one of Assenby's most notorious liars.

These were tricks of a trade Mary didn't yet fully comprehend, but she did understand that their exaggerated stories were lucrative. So Mary started telling myths of her own. We don't know exactly what kinds of stories she told the locals in her small town, but by the time she was 12, she'd earned a reputation as one of Assenby's most notorious liars.

Eventually, her lying got so bad that her parents didn't know what to do with her. At their wit's end, they sent Mary off to the bustling town of Thirsk to work for a family as a maid in 1780. But Mary, who was around 12 years old, had no intention of changing her ways. In fact, her new job did little to incentivize any improvement in her behavior at all. She woke every day before sunrise.

Eventually, her lying got so bad that her parents didn't know what to do with her. At their wit's end, they sent Mary off to the bustling town of Thirsk to work for a family as a maid in 1780. But Mary, who was around 12 years old, had no intention of changing her ways. In fact, her new job did little to incentivize any improvement in her behavior at all. She woke every day before sunrise.

She washed floors, lit fires in all the rooms, emptied chamber pots, fetched hot water, and prepared the kitchen for breakfast, all before her employer woke up. She had to complete her chores without question, and if she didn't do them properly, Mary faced the risk of a beating. Other girls of Mary's station accepted these terms in exchange for room and board.

She washed floors, lit fires in all the rooms, emptied chamber pots, fetched hot water, and prepared the kitchen for breakfast, all before her employer woke up. She had to complete her chores without question, and if she didn't do them properly, Mary faced the risk of a beating. Other girls of Mary's station accepted these terms in exchange for room and board.

For them, such difficult circumstances were simply a fact of life. But Mary wasn't so resigned to such an existence. She tended to her responsibilities well enough, but when no one was around, she likely stole things. And if her mistress ever questioned her about it, she lied to weasel her way out of punishment.

For them, such difficult circumstances were simply a fact of life. But Mary wasn't so resigned to such an existence. She tended to her responsibilities well enough, but when no one was around, she likely stole things. And if her mistress ever questioned her about it, she lied to weasel her way out of punishment.