SAMUEL AND MARY HEALD, of Mere

In 1740, Samuel and Mary were married. They lived in a small village just west of Mobberley called Mere.

On the 8th of February 1742, John their first son was born. Then on the 6th of May in 1744, their son Samuel,junior, was born.

In 1746, on 23 November, Joshua was born, only to died in April of 1749. He was buried the 1st of May.

Mary was pregnant at the time, and when the child was born in November of 1749, he was called Joshua.

In 1752, on January 11th, another son was born. This one was called Henry.

Two years later, on the 16th of August 1754, James was born.

William, the last son, was born April 3rd, 1757.

Then in 1761,tragedy struck again, when Henry, only 8 years old, died. He was buried on the 29th of May.

Was it the loss of her son or some other circumstance, that caused the good Quaker wife, Mary, to poison her husband Samuel ?Whatever the reason, Samuel Heald died at the age of 52, and was buried on the 24th of October 1762, at Mobberley.

Mary was taken to Chester, where she was to be tried and executed.

From the historical records of the Chester City Assembly:

"Upon reading the petition of Sheriffs John Drake and Wm Dicas for 12 pounds,16 shillings and 8 pence expenses for the execution of Mary Heald, who was burned at Spittle Boughton on Saturday 23 April (1763) for the murder (by poisoning) of her husband, which exceeded those normally disbursed by the Sheriffs for the common execution of felons and malefactors, the Treasurer was orderedd to pay the same."

Quaker Mary Heald was the last ever to die, burned at the stake, at Boughton.