Plans for memorial to commemorate victims of witch trials in Dumbarton

The National

18 hours ago

During the next full council meeting, a motion to Remember the Accused Witches of West Dunbartonshire will be presented by councillor Chris Pollok to recognise and pay tribute to the women and men accused of being a witch in the local authority area.
Scottish charity, Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland, established to promote and honour the memory of these people, are hoping to work with the council to teach the stories and history of the accused witches in schools and libraries.
Where possible, they hope a memorial can be raised to commemorate the victims.
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The Scottish Government and The Church of Scotland issued apologies in 2022 over what had happened all those years before.
In the 17th century, Dumbarton Tolbooth stood near the entrance to the Artizan Centre, directly opposite Quay Street.
The site where suspected witches were executed is thought to be located behind Church Street in the present council office car park.
Amateur historian and local resident Louise Wilson has been researching the subject, and her findings show that there were 31 accused of witchcraft in the area.
Using accounts held by the library and researching the common good accounts, it was discovered that there were 27 women and 4 men that were persecuted for these supposed crimes.
The motion reads: 'It is important to remember that these people were probably tortured and put through imprisonment before being executed in the majority of cases.
'There were many reasons a person could be accused of witchcraft including their religion or beliefs and the notion that certain people in the community were devil worshipping, and they had to be identified. Neighbours accusing each other of witchcraft over petty arguments.
'Missing a church service could have been enough to get the religious zealots to accuse you. The accused were often tied to a stake and strangled before being burned to death and their ashes swept away with no grave marker.'
It also tells how the Scottish Witch Trials were a period of intense witch hunting and persecution in Scotland, lasting from the 16th to 18th centuries. They were particularly severe with Scotland executing more witches than most other parts of Europe.
An estimated 3000 to 5000 people were accused with around 2500 executed; this was around five times the European average. Out of all those accused it was thought that around 84 per cent were women, reflecting prevalent societal beliefs about women's susceptibility to the Devil's influence.
Names of the 31 accused witches of West Dunbartonshire
1624
Jonet MacKinley (executed)
Marioun MacLintock (executed)
Marioun Fallisdaill (executed)
John Taylor (unknown outcome)
1628
Jonet Boyd (executed)
Marioun MacLintock (unknown outcome)
Janet Weill (unknown outcome)
1629
Janet Donald (executed)
Jonet Neill (executed)
Margaret Hunter (unknown outcome)
1630
Janet Mitchell (unknown outcome)
1632
Lord John Colquhoun (absconded)
Thomas Carlipis (unknown outcome)
1643
Bessie Bargillie (executed)
1649
Margaret Corruith (executed)
Jonet Davisonne (executed)
Agnes McKen (executed)
1650
Jonet Patersone (executed)
Margaret McMurich (executed)
Jonet McClintock (unknown outcome)
Jonet Colquhoun (executed)
Margaret McInlay (executed)
Jonet Ewing (executed)
Jonet Stewart (unknown outcome)
1656
John McWilliam (executed)
1671
Jonet Howat (unknown outcome)
1677
Margaret Wright (executed)
Issobell Laing (executed)
Jonet Munn (executed)
Margaret Paterson (executed)
1697
Margaret McKillope (executed)