The history of witchcraft trials in Ayrshire dates to 1572 when the first formal trial and execution of a witch took place. The number of accusations of witchcraft in the region increased steadily over the years, with a peak in the 1650s. The trend of official action against witches gradually declined after the 1680s, and the last prosecution took place in 1727. Despite this, the belief in witches continued to linger among the population in Ayrshire throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Although accusations of witchcraft were levied against people from all sections of society, folk healers were particularly vulnerable to such accusations. The reasoning behind this was that if these healers, also known as ‘cunning folk’, had special knowledge to cure ailments, they could also potentially cause harm. These wise men and women provided a service to their neighbours using herbal cures and charms. One such individual was Bessie Dunlop, also known as the ‘Witch O’ Dalry’, who hailed from North Ayrshire.
Bessie was tried at the High Court on November 8, 1576, accused of sorcery, witchcraft, incantation, dealing with charms, and abusing people with the devilish craft of sorcery. During her trial, Bessie admitted to meeting with a mysterious man called Thomas Reid, who claimed to have died at the Battle of Pinkie. Thomas seemed to be a type of ‘spirit guide’ instructing Bessie in curing illnesses and recovering stolen property. He invited Bessie to deny her religion and enter the fairy realm, but she refused.
Her case was unusual in the amount of fine detail in her testimony and the lack of anything but positive or neutral outcomes of her recorded prophecies and actions. Her admission to the use of a ‘familiar spirit’ and association with the fairies was the main cause of her conviction and her death sentence.
Despite her unwavering faith and the absence of any harm caused to her neighbours, Bessie faced a trial that would determine her fate. Torture was employed to extract confessions, and while the veracity of her testimony will forever remain uncertain, the accounts of her trial speak of a “witch doctor” being summoned to deal with her case. Stripped and searched for the infamous Devil’s Mark, Bessie was also “scored abune the breath” which was a form of torture where women were slashed above the mouth with a knife. She was also made to confess through sleep deprivation. The details of her confession and her association with a familiar spirit and the fairy realm became the grounds for her conviction and subsequent death sentence.
This took place in 1576, just 13 years after the witchcraft act was passed. Bessie was sentenced to be strangled and burned at Castle Hill in Edinburgh.
Bessie was just one of the 3,837 people who faced formal accusations of witchcraft in Scotland. Of the confirmed cases, around 160 involved people from Ayrshire. Bessie Dunlop’s tragic fate serves as a poignant reminder of the pervasive fear and suspicion that plagued communities during the witch trials in Ayrshire. Accusations often arose from deep-seated social, economic, and political tensions, providing a breeding ground for the persecution of those who were deemed different or held alternative beliefs. Bessie, with her connection to the supernatural and her genuine intentions to heal and assist others, fell victim to this atmosphere of fear.
– The Dark Scotland website is created by Stewart and Louise – we run DD Tours, walking tours in Dundee city, covering dark local history such as wars, battles, murders, diseases, riots, disasters and executions. Walk with us for an unforgettable storytelling experience.
