User:Catfish Jim and the soapdish/Forfar

The Forfar witch-trials were a series of trials that took place in Forfar, Angus, Scotland in 1661. A number of women were tried for witchcraft and nine were executed.


 * Helen Guthrie 1
 * Elspet Alexander 1
 * Helen Alexander 1 2
 * Joanet Stout 1
 * John Tailzour 1
 * Ketheren Portour 1
 * Joanet Howit 2 (daughter of Helen Guthrie)
 * Isabell Shyrie 2
 * Mary Rind 2
 * Isabel Durward

First confession of Helen Guthrie
This took place in September 1661. The confession, signed by Helen Guthrie, states that:
 * She had lived a wicked life, was given to cursing and to drunkeness.
 * She was a witch and she learned her craft from Janet (Joanet) Galloway from Kirriemuir.
 * Her curses against people usually worked.
 * She can tell a witch within 24 hours using 3 pieces of paper with blood on them, received 14 years previously from Joanet Galloway.
 * She can tell the witchcraft of others
 * That the devil came to her in prison on 15 September 1661 and made her fly about the room.
 * She had other things to confess

Confession of Joanet Howit