Florence Newton facts for kids

Florence Newton (died 1661) was an Irish woman accused of being a witch. She was known as the "Witch of Youghal". Her case is seen as one of the most important witch trials in Irish history.

The Trial of Florence Newton

Florence Newton was described as an older woman who begged for money in the town of Youghal. She was arrested and put in prison on March 24, 1661.

Accusations and Charges

Her trial began on September 11, 1661. It took place in Cork city during the summer Assizes. These were special court sessions held in different parts of the country. Florence Newton faced two main accusations under the Witchcraft Act 1586.

She was accused of:

• Using magic to harm a maidservant named Mary Longdon.
• Using magic to cause the death of a man named David Jones.

The Court and Its Importance

The judge for the trial was Sir William Aston. His notes from the trial are still available today. The government thought this trial was very important. Sir William Domville, who was the top lawyer for Ireland, even traveled from Dublin to Cork to lead the case himself.

Witch trials were not common in Ireland. Before Florence Newton's case, no witch trial had happened in southern Ireland since 1578. That was when two women were executed in Kilkenny.

The Story of the Accusations

The accusations against Florence Newton began around Christmas in 1660. She was said to have mumbled curses after being refused a piece of beef at John Pyne's house.

Later, she met John Pyne's maidservant, Mary Longdon, on the street. Newton reportedly kissed Longdon "violently." After this, Mary Longdon became very sick. She had fits, cramps, and strange visions. People began to suspect magic was involved. Some even claimed there was a group of witches in the area. Mary Longdon said that Florence Newton was the reason for her illness.

Florence Newton was also accused of causing the death of her jailer, David Jones. Jones's widow told the court that Newton had kissed her husband's hand through the prison bars. After this, David Jones became ill and later died. The widow said he screamed Newton's name just before he passed away.

The Outcome

For a long time, people believed that Florence Newton was found guilty and executed. However, new information was found in 2019. It showed that Florence Newton actually died before her trial could be finished.

See also

• Islandmagee witch trial
• Alice Kyteler