Witchcraft

Agnes Sampson, the Wise Wife of Keith

Also known as: Wise Wife of Keith

Nether Keith, near Humbie

Late 16th century

Agnes Sampson lived at Nether Keith, in the parish of Humbie, East Lothian. A research report on folk healers and midwives accused of witchcraft, built on the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, lists her as a widow with children. Wikipedia describes her as a healer and midwife known as the Wise Wife of Keith.

She was arrested in the North Berwick case and examined at Holyroodhouse. She was subjected to head constriction with rope and to shaving until interrogators located what they called a witches' mark, after which she confessed. She was strangled and burned on Castlehill in Edinburgh on 28 January 1591. A separate entry records the execution.

The pin is placed at Keith Marischal, the house near Humbie, as an approximate location for Nether Keith.

Nether Keith is on private land; the exact site is uncertain.
Evidence
Contemporary written record
Access
Private property
Location
55.870, -2.882 (Parish-level only, treat as an area)

Sources: Wikipedia, "Agnes Sampson" [other]; Ring, McHugh, Davidson-Welch and Reed, "Folk Healers and Midwives accused of Witchcraft in Scotland 1563-1736" (RCN Foundation, 2021) [other]

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