Witches, Witch Trials & Our Family Trees: Are Emma and Carrie Descended from Witches?

Emma tried to prove she was a witch. Carrie might be one. And Ancestry nearly swallowed Emma whole.

This Halloween, we're going down the witchcraft rabbit hole — and what started as a bit of fun with our family names turned into a proper historical investigation. Three hours later, Emma emerged from Ancestry none the wiser, with more tabs open than brain cells available and absolutely no definitive proof of witchcraft in her family tree.

Naturally, we had to investigate further.

From the Yorkshire woman accused of witchcraft who shared Emma's family surname, Sykes, to the chilling story of the Islandmagee witch trials in 1711 and Carrie's possible geographical family connection, we discovered that the real history of witchcraft is far darker, stranger and more complicated than broomsticks and pointy hats.

We explore what it actually meant to be accused of being a witch in Britain, why ordinary people turned on their neighbours, how supposed witches were examined for mysterious marks, and how illness, misfortune, fear and community tensions could lead to devastating consequences.

We also get into the questions that really make you think:

· Were some accused witches healers or wise women, or is that a modern romanticisation of history?

· Why were women so frequently targeted, particularly those who didn't fit society's expectations?

· Where did the familiar image of the witch — broomstick, black cat and pointy hat — actually come from?

· What is the difference between historical witchcraft accusations and modern Wicca?

· And if someone in your family had been accused of witchcraft 400 years ago, would you want to know?

We examine the strange history behind witch's marks, protective symbols carved into old buildings, flying ointments, the origins of the modern witch and the real people whose lives were changed by fear and superstition.

Then there's the family tree. Emma's surnames have taken us into documented Yorkshire and English witchcraft records, while Carrie's family history has led us towards County Antrim and the infamous Islandmagee trials. Are we actually descended from witches? We can't prove it. Yet.

And just when you think we've reached the end of the rabbit hole, Carrie goes home and books tickets for us to visit Salem next Halloween.

Which means next year's Halloween episode will be recorded on location in Salem, Massachusetts. Yes, really. We are taking this witchcraft investigation international.

So, are we witches? Are our ancestors witches? Or have we simply spent far too long on the internet?

Listen and decide for yourself.

Our question for you: If you discovered that someone in your family had been accused of witchcraft 400 years ago, would you want to know?

And that’s us for this episode of It’s A Death Sentence!

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And finally… Halloween!

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