James Murrel

From Traditional Witchcraft Wiki Project

Name:	James Murrell
Date of Birth:	1812
Date of Death:	december 16th , 1860

James 'Cunning' Murrel lived in the village of Hadleigh, just inland from the coastal town of Southend-on-Sea. He was the seventh son of a seventh son, which is said to confer the gift of second sight. A secretive man who travelled only by night, he was a skilled astrologer and wortcunning and was often seen collecting plants by the light of the moon and suspending them from the rim of his umbrella.

Biography

It was his astrological knowledge that elevated Murrell to the status of a true "cunning man", rather than the more usual hedge witch and conjuror. Frequently of good education,his knowledge of traditional herbal-based medicine was generally extensive and in some cases ran parallel to orthodox medicine.James Murrell had any formal medical training in wortcunning, and his skills as a herbalist was legendary.

Murrell's talents, however, extended far beyond those of simple herbal cures. He had a mirror that had the useful attribute of being able to locate lost or stolen property, while his magic telescope allowed him to see through walls -- which came in very useful should an enquirer suspect his wife of unfaithfulness. The copper bracelet he wore on his wrist had perhaps the most useful function of all: the power to detect dishonest men. No doubt it contributed much to Cunning Murrell's material success.

These were by no means the extent of James Murrell's talents. He often referred to himself as the Devil's Master and claimed to be an adept at exorcising spirits, lifting curses and chastising witches. His witch bottles were well known and were used in conjunction with verious Hadlocks such as nail parings, blood, [[urine and hair. His success at dealing with witches who worked on the left handed path was legendary.

One case involved a young girl who barked like a dog and was said to be cursed by a gypsy woman. Murrell made up a witch bottle, which was heated at midnight until it exploded. The next morning, it is claimed, the girl was cured and the charred body of the gypsy was found face down in her campfire.

True to form, James Murrell foretold his death to the day, dying on the 16th december, 1860. His grave lies unmarked in Hadleigh churchyard.

Besides this unmarked grave, Hadleigh also boasts a castle, although little remains apart from the ruins of two towers and a few low walls. These overlook the Thames estuary and the Essex marshes, both of which are rich in wildlife.