The Malicious Society of Undertakers

In the early 18th century, a wave of fear and chaos swept through Britain, driven by a shadowy group known as the Malicious Society of Undertakers. Their campaign of terror began in the city of Bristol around 1730, where wealthy merchants, landowners, and farmers found themselves the targets of chilling threats. The group, through a series of crudely written letters, demanded payments under the threat of arson. Victims were instructed to leave ransoms—usually a sum of six to eight guineas—in secret locations. Failure to comply would lead to the destruction of their property. Though initially dismissed as a mere hoax, the threats quickly turned terrifyingly real as homes began to burn, leaving entire communities in a state of panic.