Anne Greene

Execution of Anne Greene

Anne Greene (* 1628 ; † 1665 ) was a maid of the manor house in Dun's Tew. She was hanged in Oxford for infanticide in 1650 , but survived the execution and was pardoned.

Childhood and youth

Anne Greene grew up in Steeple Barton, Oxfordshire . Not much is known about her childhood and youth. She later worked as a maid in the manor house in Dun's Tew. There she mainly took care of the laundry. She lived in a small room with other maids. This chamber is still preserved today.

Sentencing and execution

Anne Greene was convicted of killing her own child, but she herself said it was stillborn. The child's father was the grandchild of her employer. She was hanged in Oxford on December 14, 1650. After the usual waiting time, her body was removed and given to doctors for an autopsy , but they found that Greene was still breathing. They managed to revive Greene. Doctors relied on humoral pathology . Their body temperature was regulated with warm or cold compresses . With warm enemas one tried to get her blood to circulate. Since her survival was viewed as God's intervention, Greene was pardoned.

Web links

• Intensive care 1650: the revival of Anne Greene (c. 1628-59) . PMID 19190198 (English)
• Article from Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885-1900.