Lady Katherine Ferrers - Historical Evidence

Historical Evidence

There is little dispute that the "Wicked Lady" did exist. Apart from robbery, a catalogue of mayhem which occurred during the period is also attributed to this well-bred woman turned to a life of crime; burning houses, slaughtering livestock, even killing a policeman (although policemen as they are understood today, did not arrive in England until two centuries later). Much of the supposed activity might be blamed on bands of brigands and the unrest relating to the war that raged about, but it is suggested that the mayhem and the robberies ceased with the death of the highwaywoman.

However, although the local legend has assumed a level of authority with the passage of time, there is actually very little evidence to suggest that Katherine Ferrers was in fact the notorious highwaywoman. An article written by John Barber in 2002 argues that it is improbable. However, much of the life and death of Katherine Ferrers remains shrouded in mystery, and no other credible candidate has ever been put forward as the "Wicked Lady".

What is known about Katherine Ferrers is that she was born into a wealthy family, the Ferrers, that by the time she was six years old, both her father and her grandfather had died (in that order), and that she was the sole heir to the fortune. Her mother, Catherine, died just two years later, in 1642, after marrying Simon Fanshaw. When the younger Katherine was not quite fourteen years old, Simon Fanshaw arranged for her to marry his nephew, Thomas Fanshaw (who was sixteen at the time). The Fanshaws were also a very wealthy family, and their estates covered much the same geographical region as the Ferrers. Both families being loyal to the crown and Protestant, a union seemed fitting, despite the inference of a young girl being forced to marry by her stepfather in order to secure greater claim to her inheritance.