During the witch trials of England, Littleport widow Ann Green was accused of being a witch.
A group of search-women of Littleport reported to magistrate Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Castell that they had found three long teats on the body of Ann Green. These teats were believed to allow a witch to suckle their familiars – small creatures including cats, dogs, rats, chickens, and toads, that were believed to assist a witch, often with magical or demonic powers.
Further accusations
Ann was also accused of killing livestock by two Littleport informants. She had been prosecuted in 1634 for ‘chiding and giving evill language about the sittings in the church’ when being forced from her pew, and again in 1639 when this agitation grew it become an accusation of witchcraft.
Ann went to trial at Ely’s court of assize, facing the judge – the Chief Justice of the Isle of Ely – John Godbold. She was indicted for employing familiars to undertake harm, but pleaded ‘not guilty’. Thankfully, she was acquitted by the jury.
Ann’s future
It is not currently known what becomes Ann after this accusation, but it is likely she left Littleport – having been falsely accused there by her fellow Littleportians of such deviancy.
There are Ann Greens in the burial register of St. George’s Church – a wife of John, buried 4 days after their daughter (also Ann) on 14th March 1668, but given Ann is noted as a widow during this period of accusation – she cannot be the same one.