Helen Guthrie (accused witch) facts for kids

Helen Guthrie (died around December 1662) was a woman from Forfar, Scotland. She was the last person thought to be a witch who was put to death in Forfar. Her story is a sad part of history.

Helen Guthrie's Story

Victoria Street, Forfar. This is where Helen Guthrie was put to death.

In December 1662, Helen Guthrie faced a very serious accusation. She was accused of witchcraft, along with her 13-year-old daughter Janet. Eleven other women were also accused at that time. They were all held in the Forfar tolbooth, which was like a town jail.

Helen Guthrie was later put to death in a very harsh way. This happened at a place called the Playfield in Forfar. Today, this area is known as Victoria Street. Her daughter, Janet, was luckier. She was set free in 1666. This was after the big panic about witches, known as the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1661–62, started to calm down.

Remembering the Forfar Witches

In 2010, a special memorial was created in Forfar. It remembers 22 people who were accused of being witches and then put to death. Helen Guthrie is one of these people.

The memorial is dedicated to the 'Forfar Witches'. It has 22 small dots. Each dot stands for one of the women who lost their lives. It helps people remember this difficult time in history.

The Meffan Institute Museum

The Meffan Institute is a museum in Forfar. It has a special exhibition that shows scenes from the town's past. One part of this exhibition tells the story of Helen Guthrie's execution. It helps visitors understand what happened during that time.

See Also

• Witch trials in early modern Scotland