Witchcraft

Katherene Bigland of Westray

Westray (Pierowall area)

7 June 1615

The Westray trials of 7 June 1615 produced two sentences recorded in the Orkney material gathered by later historians. Katherene Bigland was accused of raising a procession of the dead, and of washing her master in salt water as a healing practice, so that she was said to have both caused and cured his illness.

She was found guilty and put to death by strangling and burning. Beyond the court record very little is known of her.

The pin is placed at Pierowall as the main settlement on Westray, since her farm is not given in the source.

Evidence
Contemporary written record
Access
Open ground
Location
59.319, -2.990 (Parish-level only, treat as an area)

Sources: Wikipedia, "Witchcraft in Orkney" [other]

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