Janet Horne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janet Horne
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The Witch's Stone in Dornoch, marking the spot of her execution
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| Died | June 1727 Dornoch, Scotland
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| Cause of death | Burned alive |
| Monuments | The Witch's Stone in Littletown, Dornoch. |
| Known for | Last person to be executed legally for witchcraft in the British Isles |
Janet Horne was a woman who lived a long time ago. She is known for being the last person legally put to death for witchcraft in the British Isles. This happened in 1727.
Janet Horne's Story
The Accusation and Trial
Janet Horne and her daughter were arrested in Dornoch, a town in Sutherland, Scotland. Their neighbors accused them of witchcraft. Janet Horne was showing signs of being very old or confused. Her daughter had a physical difference in her hands and feet.
The neighbors claimed that Janet Horne had used her daughter like a horse to ride to the Devil. They said the Devil had put special shoes on her daughter. The trial happened very quickly. The local sheriff, Captain David Ross, decided both were guilty. He sentenced them to be burned.
Janet's daughter managed to escape. But Janet Horne was put to death by burning. This sad event happened in June 1727. Nine years after her death, the laws against witchcraft in Scotland were removed.
Her Name and History
The name Janet (or Jenny) Horne was sometimes used as a general name for witches in northern Scotland during that time. This makes it hard to know her exact real name. Some writers might have called her 'Janet Horne' because they didn't know her true name. Or they might not have known that 'Janet Horne' was a common name for witches. Some old records say the execution in Dornoch happened in June 1722, not 1727.
Remembering Janet Horne
There is a special stone called The Witch's Stone in Littletown, Dornoch. It marks the place where Janet Horne was said to have been put to death.
Janet Horne's story has also been told in a play. The play is called The Last Witch and was written by Rona Munro. It was first performed in 2009 at the Edinburgh International Festival. It was also shown at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in 2018.
