Famous Witches in History
Dame Alice Kyteler (1270-1300s)
She was accused of witchcraft in Ireland. Her only offense was her wealthy fourth husband’s family believed she used other means to persuade him to marry her. The charges were dropped and she moved to England.
Joan of Navarre (1370- 1437)
She was the wife of King Henry IV of England and was accused of being a witch wishing harm on the King. She was eventually pardoned and reinstated.
Agatha Southeil (1470-1486)
Agatha was the mother of Ursula later called Mother Shipton. She one of the youngest witches in history and was feared by many people. She died giving birth to Ursula at the age of 16.
Mother Shipton (1486-1651)
Her real name was Ursula Southeil, a 15th Century Yorkshire witch. She’s one of the greatest witches in history and said to have the powers of healing and spell casting. Her prophecies about the creation of airplanes and cars have come true. She also made accurate predictions dealing with war, politics as well as a variety of scientific inventions.
The North Berwick Witches (16th Century)
A group of men and women who were accused of witchcraft in Scotland in the late 16th Century. They were tortured and burned to death because they were accused of creating a storm with the intention of drowning King James I.
Margaret Jones (1600s)
She was the first to be executed throughout the Massachusetts Bay Colony, when the condition of patients under her care became sicker. In reality, the patients grew worse because they decided against taking their medicine.
Elizabeth Sawyer (1621s)
Also called the “Witch of Edmonton”, accused of bewitching her neighbor’s children and cattle when the folks refused to buy her brooms. She confessed to being a witch and was hanged.
Florence Newton (1650s)
She was also known as “The Witch of Youghal”. She was the center of one of the most famous witch trials in Ireland. She was accused of causing people to have fits which eventually killed them. She was not subject to torture but was out on display where her powers could be witnessed.
Isobel Goldie (1662s)
Legend says that she had wild sex with the devil who brought her into the art of witchcraft. She was made to confess this several times but many thought that it was just s story she had made.
Dolly Pentreath (1692-1777)
She possesses astrological and magical power which was used for both good and bad deeds.
Caroline of Brunswick (1768-1821)
She was King George IV of England’s wife who was supposed to have created a small wax model of her husband and would stick thorns and pins into it. She would then toss the effigy into the fireplace. All of this was done because she felt that she did not receive enough attention.
Tamsin Blight (1798-1856)
Well-known English witch healer who was said to have the ability to remove curses or spells. She also knew how to cast them as well.
Mary Butters (late 18th Century – early 19th Century)
She was referred to as the Carmoney Witch who was accused of killing a cow and three people but was put on trial because she created a story that let her escape persecution.
Dorothy Clutterbuck (1880-1951)
She was accused of being priestess of a group of witches. Other tales state that she was actually the protector of the real high priestess.
Zsussana Budapest (1950s)
She was the founder of the “modern feminist” witchcraft movement. Known as a powerful magic teacher who is very much into reclaiming the “wild woman within”, she was born in Hungary about 56 years ago and escaped that country as a refugee with her mother, a witch and sculptress. Stories tell that she is skilled in spells and is an advocate of hexing, specifically for warding off sexual harassment at work.
