2G

Any thoughts as to the body that was found during the dig?

Probably one of the people continually being named in the italicized sections - mostly likely one of the women (the wet nurse or nanny for seducing the Lord of the manor maybe?)

There was a legend of a woman being buried at the crossroads (was she the one hanged on the tree? I can't recall the exact details), I think the skeleton will belong to her.

I think the body has been there for a long while maybe one hanged 500 years ago.

I agree that it was the person that was hanged from the tree first.

It was the person who was originally hanged, but I think the hint of who it is is somewhere in the italicized parts.