|
|
|
|
Witch Hideouts
|
|
Witches and Warlocks were caught during the 1700s in many different towns and villages like North Berwick and Samuelston and many stories can be heard about them, and these are but a few.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stories of Samuelston
|
The Witches of Samuelston,
Samuelston, a little village in East Lothian, has an interesting history with witches.
Some three hundred years ago, there were many witches and warlocks. Tenants of the Earl of Haddington (another town in East Lothian) threatened to sell their lands if the Earl didn’t stop the witches. The tenants thought the witches were practising black magic in their barns at night...
The Earl decided to hunt down these supposed witches, and found four women including Margaret Bartilman and Elspet Taylor, who were thought to be witches. The villagers of Samuelston marched to the cottages of the witches and dragged them to Samuelston House where they were searched for witch marks. Unfortunately some were found!
Soon after they were sentenced to death and burned in Haddington.
This was a true story but Elspet Taylor and Margaret Bartilman were innocent - ANYONE can be born with strange birth marks, but it doesn't mean that they are bad or even witches.
|
 |
|
The Old Shop, Samuelston
|
|
|
The Warlock of Samuelston
Only a few years after these events, a warlock was scaring the villagers. His name was Sandy Hunter but apparently the devil had named him "Hatteraick". It was thought that he could cure or kill any living man or beast using charms and black magic...
One evening Hatteraick met lady Samuelston's younger brother, William at the gates of Samuelston house. William was riding with some friends. Showing off William asked the warlock what he was doing so near to the estate. Without waiting for a reply he slashed the warlock with his riding crop. Hatteraick ran away screaming and William went back to the house boasting.
Later on he went riding in the woods, but suddenly his horse reared up and ran off. William saw blue lights flashing everywhere and saw the face of Hatteraick through the trees. He then knew he had been cursed!
He was found later on by villagers and taken to Samuelston House where he told his story. Within an hour he caught a fever. Lady Samuelston decided to summon Hatteraick and bribed him with a sack of beef to lift the curse. He accepted and suddenly the fever was gone from William. When Hatteraick came to collect the beef, he foretold that William would leave Scotland and never return. It came true!
Hatteraick was eventually arrested in a visit to Dunbar and was taken to Edinburgh where he was burned.
Most of this story is true but it is very unlikely that he really put a curse on William. It is now thought that Hatteraick had brain damage, causing him to act strangely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stories of Prestonpans
|
The Witches of Prestonpans
Prestonpans, another town - has had its fair share of witchcraft too. Prestonpans was involved in a huge event - a gathering of about 200 witches named ' The Gathering ' which has been printed in many books and has been put on many websites ( they are listed in ' Useful Reading ' ). The story is known throughout East Lothian and on 'Spooky Stories and Evil Articles' you will learn the full story.
Recently, historian Roy Pugh pardoned these witches and set up a memorial in their memory. This shows that people these days haven't forgotten the events from long ago...
|
|
 |
|
Part of The Memorial.
|
The Memorial
In 2004, a campaign was launched to create a memorial to 81 people who were accused of witchcraft and executed during 'The Gathering', from Prestonpans. The project received a boost of about £14,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and since then the project went well. An exhibition may be constructed and leaflets were made.
|
|
 |
|
Lists of people who were executed.
|
As Witches are largely unknown around East Lothian it is thought that the exhibition will help people understand more of the past.
In part of the memorial there is a list of all the people who were executed and a mural. (See picture on left)
To see more picture of the memorial, see The Witches and Warlocks Homepage and go down to the Extras.
I hope you enjoyed this page, to go to the next page click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
HOMEPAGE
Witches and Warlocks
What is a Witch?
Witch Hideouts