Helen Guthrie (accused witch) facts for kids

Helen Guthrie (died c. December 1662) was the last woman suspected of being a witch to be executed in Forfar, Scotland.

Biography

Victoria Street, Forfar. Former location of the Playfield where Guthrie was executed.

In December 1662, Guthrie, along with her thirteen year old daughter Janet and 11 other women Including Isobell shyrie, were accused of witchcraft and held at the Forfar tolbooth. Guthrie was subsequently strangled and burned with tar before being sentenced and judicially executed at the Playfield Forfar (situated on the site of the present day Victoria Street). Janet was released from custody in 1666 after the hysteria of the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1661–62 subsided.

Forfar Witches Memorial

In 2010, a memorial was placed to commemorate 22 suspected witches who were executed in Forfar, including Guthrie. The memorial which is dedicated to 'Forfar Witches' contains 22 dots, each representing one of the woman who were executed.

Meffan Institute

The Meffan Institute museum in Forfar contains a walk through and exhibition of historic scenes from the towns history, including the execution of Guthrie.

See Also

• Witch trails in early modern Scotland