Ellen Strange is believed to have been murdered by her husband, John Broadley, in January 1761 on Holcombe Moor.
She has since become a symbol for victims of domestic abuse in the Bury area and beyond.
Each July, a group of people honour her and other victims with an annual memorial walk up Holcombe Hill where an ancient cairn stands for people to leave flowers and trinkets.
Her final resting place had remained a mystery until recently, when it was located in the graveyard of Emmanuel Church on Chapel Lane in Holcombe.
Around fifteen people gathered in the cemetery on Thursday, March 20 to mark the discovery.
Members from Breightmet Butterflies, a women’s support group based in Bolton, planted a rosemary tree to signify love and remembrance.
Church reader Michael Burton led the outdoor ceremony and spoke candidly about people “never really knowing what happens behind closed doors” and how awareness of domestic abuse has changed over recent decades.
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Francesca Platt, the co-founder of Breightmet Butterflies shared an emotive speech.
She said: “Each year we do the memorial walk and read out a list of domestic abuse victims. Each time, it seems to go on forever and never gets any shorter.”
Mr Burton also read several prayers to honour all victims of domestic abuse and the importance of advocacy.
Flowers were laid on Ellen’s grave by Kath Hope from Bolton’s Endeavour Project which supports all victims of domestic abuse and their pets.
The small stone is only recognisable by the engraving ‘1024 A’.
Journalist Mark Metcalfe was also at the event and has previously made a short film about Ellen’s life and death.
He said: “I grew up with domestic abuse in the home and when I worked as a factory supervisor, I saw the wider impact. Women would end up taking time off and losing their jobs due to abuse.
“It’s an issue of great importance and we must keep raising awareness.”
