After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

The Servants' Revenge: Arsenic & a Poisoned Pint of Beer

Mar 3, 2025

Dr. Blessin Adams, an author and former police constable, dives into the chilling tale of two servants in 1675 Plymouth who poisoned their entire household with arsenic. She explores the roles of women in domestic poisoning and the complex dynamics of betrayal and manipulation at play. The conversation reveals how societal fears surrounding women and crime have evolved, and the historical injustices faced by female killers. Insightful and macabre, this discussion sheds light on a haunting chapter in the annals of crime.

51:51

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Blessin Adams

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Quick takeaways

The podcast explores the volatile tensions within the Weeks household, culminating in two servants plotting their mistress's poisoning as an act of revenge.

It highlights the historical fascination with female poisoners, noting that despite their rarity, their cases were often sensationalized in early modern Britain.

The investigation into the poisoning reflects societal dynamics and gender roles of the time, revealing how women's actions were scrutinized within patriarchal structures.

Deep dives

The Conflict of the Weeks Household

In August 1675, tensions bubble within the Weeks household in Plymouth, England, as a dispute over cooking fish escalates into serious accusations. Elizabeth Weeks, the mistress of the home, publicly accuses her nursemaid Philippa of infidelity with her husband, igniting a volatile mix of anger and resentment. This explosive argument reveals the oppressive and contentious atmosphere among the women in the household, where frustrations often turn inward and fester into deeper issues. The underlying discord sets the stage for the eventual crime that will shock the community.

Intro

2min

Poisonous Dynamics: Women and Murder in 17th Century Britain

14min

Domestic Poisoning: Women's Role in Toxic Alchemy

5min

Poison and Perception: Women in Historical Crime

22min

Betrayal and Confession

7min

Exploring Historical and Modern Perceptions of Female Killers

3min

Why did two servants living in Plymouth, England, poison their whole household in 1675? How did they sneak arsenic into the food? And what on earth is pottage?

Today Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney talk to Dr Blessin Adams, author of "Thou Savage Woman: female killers in early modern Britain".

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

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