Landefield

(NB: Although the Trial Report gives this witness's name as "Ann Sandeswell" there is no such surname recorded in Lowestoft during the 17th century and we have been able to reliably identify her from other sources as Ann Landefielde, a very common surname in the town during this period).

Ann Landefielde was the daughter, the second of four children, of a Lowestoft Brewer named Francis Ewen. She was baptised at Lowestoft in February 1616 and was 46 years old when she gave evidence at the trial. Her father and mother appear to have settled in the town not long before her birth for there is no record of them here prior to 1614 when they purchased a house here.

The family home and brewery was situated on the western edge of town in Old White Horse Lane. However her father also leased a barn in Blue Anchor Lane. The barn was situated in the yard of the house in which Rose Cullender and her family lived during the 1620's and 30's.

LEFT: Old White Horse Lane in the early 20th century. Ewen's brewery and Ann's birthplace were located in the distance on the left hand side. All of this area was demolished during "redevelopment in the late 1960's.

Ann's mother died in 1620 and her father and soon after married again to Ann Arnold the widow of Matthew Arnold. In 1640, Matthew, a son from her first marriage married Margaret Pacy, the sister of Samuel Pacy who both gave evidence at the trial. That same year at the age of 24 Ann married 30 years old Cornelius Landefielde a Lowestoft mariner. The Landefieldes were a long-established seafaring family who had lived in the town for a number of generations. Cornelius had a younger brother Simon who also married in 1640. His bride was Mary Pacy the cousin of Samuel Pacy. Thus, through marriage, the Landefielde's were closely related to the the Pacys.

After their marriage Ann and Cornelius Landefielde lived in a house at the foot of the cliff at the extreme southern end of the town. Six children were born here and in 1651 Cornelius purchased a plot of land at the top of the cliff adjoining his house and there erected another house which was divided into two tenements. The northern tenement was leased to Amy Denny and it is probable that it is the "lately built" unsafe chimney of this house about which she spoke to Cornelius about shortly before it collapsed!

RIGHT: The Landefielde house together with their tenement in which Amy Denny lived were demolished in the 18th century when a nearby gun battery was extended. The children in this 19th century photograph are standing on the ground once owned by Cornelius Landefielde. His house was to the right of the photograph that of Amy Denny was to the left.

Anne Landefielde died at Lowestoft in 1684 and is described in the parish register as "an ancient woman". Cornelius lived for another five years and died in 1689 he too is described as "ancient". Both are buried beneath the green sward of St, Margaret's church, Lowestoft but the location of their graves is not known.

It is interesting to note that although Ann and Cornelius Landefielde made damning accusations against Amy Denny at the trial neither of their names appear on any indictments and it is difficult to understand why such a "learned" judge as Matthew Hale permitted such evidence which was not pertinent to any formal accusation!