Talk:Witch trials in England

Last execution for witchcraft in England?
I recently added to this article that Mary Hicks was probably the last person to be executed for England, in 1716. The article on her suggests as much. However, I recently heard Susanna Lipscomb, a historian who literally wrote the Ladybird Expert Book on Witchcraft say that the last execution was in 1685. This is a 31-year gap, quite significant. The article on Alice Molland says that she was the last person executed, in 1684. The article on the Bideford Witches says that they were the last people to be executed, in 1682 (the article lead says they were not, but the note says Alice Molland was not executed, and gives a data of 1685 for her non-execution). So, if anyone knows the answer, or at least the consensus of historians who have studied the subject, then please say so here, or alter the articles mentioned. Most useful I think would be a good reason to doubt the Mary Hicks case, as that would explain why it is not mentioned by Lipscomb and the other articles here. The evidence for Hicks was a single pamphlet, but I think it will take a genuine expert to know whether such a thing constitutes reliable evidence. LastDodo (talk) 10:46, 24 January 2023 (UTC)