Podcast Summary: "Murderous Women" - Not Just the Tudors

Podcast Information

• Title: Not Just the Tudors
• Host/Author: History Hit
• Episode: Murderous Women
• Release Date: March 17, 2025
• Description: Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores a wide array of historical topics, delving into fascinating stories beyond the Tudors, with expert guests uncovering tales of murder, espionage, and witchcraft.

Introduction

In the episode titled "Murderous Women," Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by historian Dr. Blessing Adams to explore the dark and intriguing history of female killers in Early Modern Britain. They delve into notorious cases, societal attitudes towards women, and the portrayal of female criminals in contemporary literature and media.

The Murder of Thomas Arden (1551)

Professor Lipscomb opens the discussion with the chilling case of Thomas Arden, a wealthy landowner in Faversham, Kent, who was brutally murdered in 1551. Driven by his wife Alice Arden and her lover Mosby, Thomas's rise from humble origins made him affluent but earned him numerous enemies.

Key Points:

• Alice's Betrayal: Alice, 30 years younger than Thomas, engaged in an extramarital affair, leading to the conspiracy to murder her husband.
• Failed Attempts: Multiple attempts using poison and hired criminals like Black Will and Shakebag failed until a final, violent assault resulted in Thomas's death.
• Aftermath and Justice: Alice maintained a facade of normalcy until evidence led to her confession. The conspirators faced swift and severe punishments, with Alice being burned at the stake.

Notable Quote:

"The murder of Thomas Arden fueled countless ballads, plays, and cautionary tales, speaking to deep anxieties about the breakdown of proper order." — Dr. Blessing Adams [05:45]

Female Criminality in Early Modern Britain

Dr. Adams introduces her book, "Thou Savage Female Killers in Early Modern Britain," which examines how female murders were sensationalized and used to reflect societal fears about gender roles.

Key Points:

• Recurring Themes: Female killers were often portrayed as sexually immoral, betraying their husbands, and disrupting household harmony.
• Moral Lessons: True crime literature of the time served not only to inform but also to instruct, reinforcing societal norms and gender expectations.
• Public Fascination: Stories of female murderers garnered more sensational coverage than those involving men, highlighting a deep-rooted fear of women stepping outside their prescribed roles.

Notable Quote:

"These crimes, while rare, were mined for moral lessons, portraying women as both potential rebels and inherent threats to societal order." — Dr. Blessing Adams [08:38]

The Case of Margaret Fernseed (1607)

Professor Lipscomb and Dr. Adams discuss the case of Margaret Fernseed from Peckham, who was accused of murdering her husband, Anthony Fernseed, a London tailor, in April 1607.

Key Points:

• Unusual Evidence: Margaret's lack of visible grief upon discovering her husband's body led to suspicion despite the absence of concrete evidence.
• Trial and Confession: During her trial, Margaret confessed to various moral failings but maintained her innocence regarding the murder, highlighting the intertwining of moral judgment with criminal prosecution.
• Legal Implications: The trial introduced the legal fiction of the "married spinster," allowing Margaret to be prosecuted as an autonomous individual, challenging the notion that married women were entirely under their husbands' legal authority.

Notable Quote:

"Margaret's failure to express expected grief was perceived as monstrous, undermining her role as a nurturer and caregiver." — Professor Suzannah Lipscomb [33:22]

The 1675 Plymouth Poisoning Case: Anne Evans and Philippa Carey

The episode delves into another harrowing case involving Anne Evans and Philippa Carey, two female servants who resorted to mass poisoning in Plymouth in 1675.

Key Points:

• Motivation: Disputes within the household, particularly over pilchards, escalated into a plan to murder their mistress, Elizabeth Weeks.
• Method of Murder: Instead of targeting Elizabeth directly, Anne and Philippa poisoned the family's beer and Sunday meal, resulting in multiple deaths, including that of a child.
• Investigation and Punishment: Early forms of forensic investigation were employed by neighbors and the coroner, leading to the conviction and brutal execution of both women. Anne was burned at the stake for petty treason, while Philippa was hanged as a murderer.

Notable Quote:

"The detailed and horrific descriptions of their executions were deliberately designed to instill fear and deter similar crimes." — Dr. Blessing Adams [51:49]

Societal Attitudes and Gender Roles

Throughout the discussion, Professor Lipscomb and Dr. Adams explore how these cases reflect contemporary attitudes towards women and their roles within the household and society.

Key Points:

• Dehumanization and Othering: Female murderers were often portrayed as monstrous beings, unworthy of their gender roles as nurturers and caregivers.
• Gendered Expectations: Women were expected to exhibit specific emotional responses to grief, and deviations from these norms were grounds for suspicion and condemnation.
• Method of Murder: Poison was stereotypically associated with female killers due to perceptions of women as physically weak and morally suspect.

Notable Quote:

"There was a lot of rhetoric surrounding the othering of these female killers, describing them as monsters and unwomanly creatures to reconcile their heinous actions with their perceived nature." — Dr. Blessing Adams [25:22]

Parallels to Modern True Crime

Dr. Adams draws striking parallels between the portrayal of female killers in Early Modern Britain and contemporary true crime narratives.

Key Points:

• Persistent Stereotypes: Modern media still sensationalizes female murderers by highlighting deviations from expected gender behaviors.
• Emotional Judgments: Just as Margaret Fernseed's stoicism was scrutinized, modern female criminals often face intense scrutiny over their emotional expressions.
• Societal Reflection: These historical cases reveal enduring societal anxieties about women's roles and the fear of their potential for rebellion and violence.

Notable Quote:

"It's fascinating how the rhetoric used to describe female killers then mirrors the language we see today, demonstrating that some societal attitudes towards gender have remained unchanged." — Dr. Blessing Adams [56:26]

Conclusions

The episode "Murderous Women" provides a profound exploration of how female criminality was perceived and portrayed in Early Modern Britain. Through gripping historical cases and insightful analysis, Professor Lipscomb and Dr. Adams shed light on the intersection of gender roles, societal expectations, and the justice system. The enduring parallels to modern narratives underscore the persistent challenges in reconciling societal norms with individual actions, revealing that certain aspects of human behavior and societal judgment remain remarkably consistent over centuries.

Notable Quotes Summary:

• "The murder of Thomas Arden fueled countless ballads, plays, and cautionary tales, speaking to deep anxieties about the breakdown of proper order." — Dr. Blessing Adams [05:45]

• "These crimes, while rare, were mined for moral lessons, portraying women as both potential rebels and inherent threats to societal order." — Dr. Blessing Adams [08:38]

• "Margaret's failure to express expected grief was perceived as monstrous, undermining her role as a nurturer and caregiver." — Professor Suzannah Lipscomb [33:22]

• "The detailed and horrific descriptions of their executions were deliberately designed to instill fear and deter similar crimes." — Dr. Blessing Adams [51:49]

• "There was a lot of rhetoric surrounding the othering of these female killers, describing them as monsters and unwomanly creatures to reconcile their heinous actions with their perceived nature." — Dr. Blessing Adams [25:22]

• "It's fascinating how the rhetoric used to describe female killers then mirrors the language we see today, demonstrating that some societal attitudes towards gender have remained unchanged." — Dr. Blessing Adams [56:26]

Conclusion

"Murderous Women" offers an engaging and comprehensive examination of female criminality in Early Modern Britain, highlighting how historical cases continue to inform and resonate with contemporary understandings of gender, morality, and justice.