Margaret Duchill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Margaret Duchill
Scottish Witchcraft trials (1563 to 1736) around Alloa
Died	1 June 1658 (in Julian calendar)

Margaret Duchill was a Scottish woman who lived a long time ago. In 1658, she was accused of witchcraft in a town called Alloa. During this time, many people believed in witchcraft, and those accused often faced serious consequences. Margaret Duchill confessed to witchcraft and was put to death on June 1, 1658. Her story is part of the sad history of witch trials in Scotland.

Life in 17th Century Scotland

We don't know much about Margaret Duchill's early life. She was one of many people accused of witchcraft during the Alloa witches trials. These trials happened between 1658 and 1659.

The witch hunt in Alloa started when church leaders from Stirling decided to investigate. They sent two reverends, Matthias Symson and George Bennet, to Alloa. Their job was to look into a group of people suspected of witchcraft.

Margaret Duchill was one of the women they investigated. Her case shows how one accusation could lead to many more. When she was accused, she also named other women in Alloa as witches. This made the witch hunt even bigger and scarier.

She said that a woman named Elizabeth Paton was the leader of the group. Later, at her own trial, Elizabeth Paton also named other women, Katherine Remy and Margaret Talzeor. In total, 12 women from Alloa and nearby areas were accused of witchcraft.

Margaret Duchill was a regular person from Alloa, not very rich or very poor. During her trial, she talked about strange beliefs, which were common in witchcraft accusations back then.

The Trial and Confession

Margaret Duchill was put in prison in May 1658. While in prison, she was questioned about the accusations against her.

On May 11, her confession was read out during a church meeting, called a kirk session. She said that she had been a servant of the devil for twenty years. People at that time often confessed to witchcraft under pressure.

Margaret Duchill was put to death on June 1, 1658.

See also

• Alloa witches