Brough Victims of Scotland's Witch Trials of the 1600's
In the 1600's, Scotland put
to death hundreds of alleged "witches", including the following
three Brugh's--or Brough's--who were executed during the Crook of Devon
Witch Trials of the 1600's:
John Brughe (1586-1643) of Crook of Devon,
Perthshire; killed in Culross, Fife.
Janet Brugh (1612-1662) of Crook of Devon,
Perthshire, killed in Crook of Devon, Perthshire.
Agnes Brugh (1615-1662) of Crook of Devon,
Perthshire, killed in Crook of Devon, Perthshire.
The genealogies of the above three individuals can be viewed here.
Today a memorial maze--called
The Witches
Maze--is being constructed in the village of Crook of Devon, Perthshire,
Scotland, to commemorate 11 innocent people who met their doom at the
Crook of Devon Witch Trials in 1662.
Tullibole
Castle near the village of Crook of Devon was once the home of William
Halliday who with his son John and 3 others presided over a court that
was responsible for one of the worst cases of witchcraft persecution that
Scotland has ever seen. In 1662 the court sat 5 times resulting in the
Doom of 11 persons. Those who survived the trial were taken to a small
mound near the current village hall and strangled by the common Hangman
and their bodies thrown on a fire.
There is nothing in the village
of Crook of Devon to commemorate the innocents so in 2003 construction
on a garden artwork and memorial maze--called The Witches Maze--was
started in their honour. When complete it will be 100 ft in diameter consist
of 2000 beach trees as hedging and at least 11 caved stones and with free
access to the public. Within the memorial maze will be 11 carved stones
including a 3ft Pentagon pillar in the centre. The maze was planted in
a circular 100ft diameter area that may have been a secret garden or a
horse training ring. The Stones will be commissioned and installed when
the hedging is of a height to be used. The Pentagon pillar in the centre
is for the 5 trials. There will be 5 "good" stones in the inner
ring of the maze protecting the Pillar and 5 "bad" stones in
the dead ends of the maze. Each of these stones will have a word carved
on it from the list on the right.
The Accused "Witches"
of the Crook of Devon Witch Trials of the 1600's:
Agnes Murrie, Trial 1 (3 April
1662):
On the first of these trials Agnes Murrie, Bessie Henderson, and Isabella
Rutherford were condemned, and strangled and burnt on the following day.
Bessie Henderson, Trial 1 (3
April 1662):
On the first of these trials Agnes Murrie, Bessie Henderson, and Isabella
Rutherford were condemned, and strangled and burnt on the following day.
Isabella Rutherford Trial 1
(3 April 1662):
On the first of these trials Agnes Murrie, Bessie Henderson, and Isabella
Rutherford were condemned, and strangled and burnt on the following day.
Agnes Pittendriech, Trial 2
(23 April 1662):
Only one escaped, which she owed to being pregnant at the time of her
trial, and being respited under an obligation to come up again for trial
when required. As there is no record of any ulterior proceedings being
taken against her, it is to be hoped that her respite resulted in their
ultimate withdrawal.
Margaret Hoggan Trial 2 (23
April 1662):
In the case of Margaret Hoggan no conviction or sentence against her is
recorded, although the evidence against her was equally strong as against
the other panels ; .but in the dittay against her she is described as
a woman of threescore and nineteen years, and she may have been either
spared on account of her old age, or she may have died in the excitement
and terror in the course of her trial. She is referred to as deceased
at the next diet of Court, which took place two months afterwards.
Robert Wilson, Trial 2 (23
April 1662):
On the second trial Robert Wilson, Bessie Neil, Margaret Lister, Janet
Paton, and Agnes Brugh were found guilty and sentenced to be burnt on
the following day.
Bessie Neil, Trial 2 (23 April
1662):
On the second trial Robert Wilson, Bessie Neil, Margaret Lister, Janet
Paton, and Agnes Brugh were found guilty and sentenced to be burnt on
the following day.
Margaret Lister, Trial 2 (23
April 1662):
On the second trial Robert Wilson, Bessie Neil, Margaret Lister, Janet
Paton, and Agnes Brugh were found guilty and sentenced to be burnt on
the following day.
Janet Paton, Trial 2 (23 April
1662):
On the second trial Robert Wilson, Bessie Neil, Margaret Lister, Janet
Paton, and Agnes Brugh were found guilty and sentenced to be burnt on
the following day.
Agnes Brugh, Trail 2
(23 April 1662):
On the second trial Robert Wilson, Bessie Neil, Margaret Lister, Janet
Paton, and Agnes Brugh were found guilty and sentenced to be burnt on
the following day.
Margaret Hoggan Trial 3 (5
May 1662):
At the third diet, Margaret Hoggan and Janet Paton were brought to trial.
There is no conviction against Margaret Hoggan; but Janet Paton was sentenced
and strangled and burnt the same day.
Janet Paton, Trial 3 (5 May
1662):
At the third diet, Margaret Hoggan and Janet Paton were brought to trial.
As before stated, there is no conviction against Margaret Hoggan; but
Janet Paton was sentenced and strangled and burnt the same day.
Janet Brugh, Trial 4
(21 July 1662):
Janet Brugh and Christian Grieve. The former was convicted and executed
the same day,
Christian Grieve, Trial 4 (21
July 1662) and 5 (8 October 1662):
Christian Grieve was put to her trial in July, 1662, and although the
evidence against her appears to have been strong, the "hail assize
in one voice declare that they will not convict her in no point of witchcraft,
nor clenze her in no point," and yet within a period of three months
the same jury, under the same presiding judge, and apparently without
any additional evidence, convicted her, and she was strangled and burnt
on the fifth day thereafter.
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