Latest news with #RememberingtheAccusedWitchesofScotland
Daily Record
21 hours ago
- Daily Record
A look back at Scotland's sinister witch trials as victims to be commemorated
West Dunbartonshire is planning to erect a memorial to honour 17th-century Scottish Witch Trial victims West Dunbartonshire could see a memorial erected to honour the victims of the Scottish Witch Trials, commemorating those persecuted for witchcraft during the 17th century. Councillor Chris Pollok is set to present a motion at the next full council meeting to formally recognise the women and men accused of witchcraft in the local area. The initiative is supported by the charity Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland, which aims to preserve the memory of those accused and to work with schools and libraries to teach the history of these tragic events, Glasgow Live reports. The witch trials were set against a backdrop of religious fervour. Following the establishment of Protestantism as Scotland's official religion in 1560, the government and the Church were keen to enforce strict moral conduct. The Witchcraft Act was introduced under these pressures, driven by the belief that malevolent individuals in league with the Devil threatened the nation's wellbeing. One of the cruelest methods used to extract confessions was pricking. So-called 'witch prickers' pierced the accused with needles, often in intimate areas, searching for a Devil's mark, which was thought to be invulnerable to pain or bleeding. Many times, natural marks such as warts, moles or scars were interpreted as evidence. Neighbour testimonies, often arising from personal quarrels, were also commonly used to implicate others. The majority of those accused were women, reflecting societal beliefs that women were weak-willed and more easily influenced by the Devil. The Witchcraft Act itself did not define what constituted witchcraft, yet communities regularly identified supposed witches. Many accused individuals were ordinary people whose perceived independence or assertiveness, known as 'smeddum', challenged contemporary ideals of femininity. Some cases illustrate the devastating reach of these trials. In 1597, the Leyis family faced accusations spanning decades. The matriarch, Johnnet Wischert, was accused of shapeshifting and other misdeeds, while her son Thomas was implicated in leading a witches' sabbath at Aberdeen's Mercat Cross. Both were executed, while other family members were banished for associating with convicted witches. Torture and interrogation were routine. In Orkney in 1616, Elspeth Reoch, accused of witchcraft, was beaten by her own brother to force a confession. Similarly, in 1623, Issobell Haldane admitted to consorting with fairies after seeking water from a healing well for a sick child. In 1661, Issobell Fergussone was pricked and forced to confess to a pact with the Devil, ultimately leading to her execution. The fate of most accused witches is largely unknown, though historical estimates suggest about two-thirds were executed. Many were strangled before being burned, and only a few were burned alive. The final Scottish witchcraft execution occurred in 1727, when Janet Horne was imprisoned, tried, and condemned after her daughter was allegedly transformed into a pony by the Devil. By the eighteenth century, scepticism about witchcraft had grown, and evidence such as pricking was deemed unreliable. In 1736, the British Parliament repealed both the Scottish and English Witchcraft Acts. In 2022, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a public apology for the historic persecution, describing it as 'injustice on a colossal scale.' The Church of Scotland also acknowledged the harm inflicted on thousands, mostly women, with estimates suggesting 3,000 to 5,000 accused and around 2,500 executed, approximately five times the European average, with 84 percent of those accused being women. 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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)
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Witch trials memorial could be raised in West Dunbartonshire
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. 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. READ MORE: Glasgow shop owner fears cafe alcohol licence could affect his business 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 four 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)
The National
2 days ago
- The National
Plans for memorial to commemorate victims of witch trials in Dumbarton
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. READ MORE: 'Deeply ironic': Scottish Labour slammed for publishing fake newspaper 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)
