Buzz
Witches have become a prominent part of modern culture, making it easy to overlook how seriously people once took the fear of encountering a witch and suffering a curse. For centuries, this fear was a matter of life and death. Some witches were believed to wield powers rooted in what would later be understood as science, while others gained influence through rumors and reputation—often more potent than any actual ability. Accusations of witchcraft could arise from the slightest suspicion, leading to trials and outcomes that were as peculiar as they were fatal.
10. Ursula Kemp
Ursula Kemp faced trial on March 28, 1582, alongside 13 other women accused of witchcraft. Kemp, a village midwife, was accused of cursing a mother who had opted for another midwife’s services. Shortly after the child’s birth, it allegedly died after falling from its cradle. Recalling the bitter argument between Kemp and the mother, the local magistrate singled her out, leveling accusations of witchcraft against her.
Ursula faced accusations of harboring multiple familiars, such as a black toad called Pygine and a gray cat named Tiffin. Rumors claimed she fed them cake, beer, and even her own blood. Her eight-year-old son was pressured into testifying against her, and others alleged her curses caused the deaths of several villagers. Ursula and another woman, Elizabeth Bennett, were convicted and hanged, while the remaining accused received lighter sentences for their alleged crimes.
The exact location of the women’s execution remains unclear, but their tale persisted long after their deaths. In 1921, a St. Osyth resident unearthed two severely damaged skeletons during construction work. Since they were buried outside consecrated ground and the Kemp legend was still well-known, he assumed they were the witches’ remains and began charging visitors to see them. A mysterious fire in 1932 ended this venture, and the skeletons were reburied. They were later exhumed during redevelopment and briefly displayed in a witchcraft museum before the remains believed to be Ursula’s ended up in an artist’s home, displayed alongside the preserved body of a local beggar.
Eventually, a documentarian focused on uncovering the forgotten stories of 16th- and 17th-century witches arranged for the skeleton to be returned to St. Osyth. Analysis of the bones confirmed they date back to Ursula’s era, with traces of iron nails still embedded in them. After centuries, Ursula was finally given a proper burial in 2011.
9. Hypatia
Hypatia was born in the fourth century, the daughter of the director of the Library at Alexandria. Raised in an environment rich in astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy, she became a renowned teacher, lecturer, and thinker. In the 19th century, she was remembered as a tragic figure killed due to superstition. Over time, the line between myth and history in her story has blurred. Historians suggest her death followed accusations of witchcraft and sorcery.
The events leading to her death are complex. During her lifetime, Christianity was rapidly growing, challenging traditional pagan beliefs. Hypatia’s vast influence and intellect made her a perceived threat to many.
Cyril, a prominent Church patriarch, frequently clashed with the prefect Orestes over the Church’s role in governance. In 414, tensions escalated when Orestes rejected Cyril’s peace proposals. Cyril’s supporters blamed Hypatia for the failed reconciliation, and rumors of her witchcraft knowledge and sorcery began circulating. She was accused of using spells to manipulate the city.
Soon after the rumors spread, a mob took matters into their own hands. They dragged her from her chariot on her way to the library, flaying her alive with shells and pottery shards. Her remains were burned after the brutal attack.
8. Giovanna Bonanno, The Old Vinegar Lady
By 1788, Giovanna Bonanno was widely recognized in Palermo as a witch. An elderly beggar, she was rumored to possess the dark art of creating lethal spells and potions.
While Bonanno may not have been summoning demons or performing rituals under the Moon, she had something far more effective—a genuine poison that delivered results. The tale goes that she learned of a child who nearly died from a lice-killing potion. Seeing an opportunity, she adapted it for her clients, who often sought her out to eliminate their enemies. She tested her concoction on a stray dog and then marketed it as a harmless vinegar-like liquid that could be added to food, causing an untraceable and slow death. The dosage was precise, allowing victims to linger long enough to receive last rites, sparing the poisoner from the guilt of damning a soul.
Bonanno’s trial produced around 1,500 pages of court records. The original creator of the lice potion was summoned to recreate the formula, proving it wasn’t witchcraft. Bonanno insisted her potion was different but denied any involvement with magic. The trial centered on whether this was witchcraft or plain murder. After being tortured, she was convicted and executed on July 30, 1789.
7. Thomas Doughty
The details of Thomas Doughty’s demise vary, but the core narrative remains consistent—he defied Sir Francis Drake.
In 1577, Drake, Doughty, and a crew of sailors departed Plymouth, sailing south. They seized several Spanish and Portuguese vessels, including one renamed the Mary, which Doughty commanded. The expedition was plagued by misfortune, from storms damaging their ships to growing dissent among the crew, largely fueled by Doughty. Drake tried to quell the mutiny by giving Doughty his own ship and opportunities to prove his loyalty, but Doughty persisted in inciting rebellion across the fleet.
After enduring weeks of crew disputes, ships vanishing overnight, and sudden storms, Drake became convinced that the ill-tempered and foul-mouthed Doughty was more than just a troublemaker—he was a practitioner of dark magic. Doughty’s actions seemed aimed at sabotaging the mission, prompting Drake to take decisive action. He assembled his crew, arresting both Doughty and his brother John.
Drake accused Doughty of conspiring with the devil, claiming his witchcraft endangered everyone aboard the ships. Officially, the trial was for mutinous behavior, and Doughty was convicted. After his final meal, Doughty requested that Drake pardon anyone suspected of aiding him. Drake agreed, and Doughty was subsequently beheaded.
6. John and Elizabeth Middleton
The fear of witches and witchcraft also reached Bermuda. In May 1653, John Middleton’s trial took an unusual and unexpected turn.
In 1652, residents of Bermuda claimed to have heard John Middleton confess to being a witch. His wife, Elizabeth, who had also been accused of witchcraft, openly accused him of involvement in the occult. By December, she was adamant that he, not she, was the witch in town. Her accusations were so persuasive that even John began to doubt his own innocence by the time his trial began.
The charges against John included bewitching a local man, John Makeraton, who lived in the governor’s home. Makeraton became so disturbed that he had to be restrained and jailed for his safety. Witnesses, including a boy named Symon, described a large, black, shadowy figure tormenting Makeraton. Makeraton himself recounted being haunted by a demon that “sat heavily upon him and asked if he would love it, to which he replied no.”
During his trial, John hesitantly confessed, even though Elizabeth retracted her earlier accusations. Initially, the jury dismissed her recantation as an attempt to shift blame away from herself. However, John failed the water trial, where witches were believed to float—and he did. His case was further weakened by his admission of stealing a turkey and engaging in adultery. Despite claiming he hadn’t realized he was a witch, his pleas for mercy were ignored, and he was hanged shortly after the trial.
5. Leatherlips
Leatherlips was a Wyandot chief during the early 19th century. The Wyandots, a Native American tribe displaced by the Iroquois, relocated to Ohio, where they faced further conflict with European settlers. After their defeat in war, the Wyandots were offered a treaty outlining coexistence terms, including land boundaries and rights. While many tribal leaders refused to attend the negotiations, Leatherlips not only attended but also signed the treaty.
This occurred in 1795. Simultaneously, Tecumseh and the Shawnee were battling to retain the land Leatherlips had effectively surrendered.
Many viewed signing the treaty as a grave misstep, and Tecumseh saw it as direct defiance, eroding his influence among other tribes. As tensions escalated, Tecumseh and his allies accused Leatherlips of witchcraft. In 1810, they captured Leatherlips and several of his followers, alleging he had brought sickness and death to his people.
To the accusers, the act of writing names on a treaty was akin to witchcraft. Literacy was feared not only for superstitious reasons—some even had dreams warning against learning to read and write—but also because it enabled invading forces to share information, document their enemies, and track familial ties, giving them a significant strategic edge.
Leatherlips was executed kneeling before his grave. After being struck in the head with a tomahawk, the sweat on his neck was cited as evidence of his guilt.
4. The Witches of Belvoir
The tale of the witches of Belvoir begins conventionally. In 1619, the Earl of Rutland lost his two sons, and suspicion fell on two recently dismissed servants accused of theft. Their mother was also implicated in witchcraft but died before facing trial.
The trial was swift. The sisters were convicted and hanged at Lincoln Castle. The execution of Margaret and Philippa Flower was gruesome. As they approached the gallows, they were asked to recite the Lord’s Prayer one final time. Both faltered, which onlookers interpreted as evidence of their deep ties to the devil, rendering them unable to utter sacred words. They were slowly strangled rather than hanged and buried in unmarked, unconsecrated ground. The boys they allegedly killed were interred, and the family’s monument reads: “Two sons—both died in infancy by wicked practice and sorcery.”
Modern historians suggest there was more behind the accusations than fear of witchcraft. The Earl of Rutland had a daughter who attracted the Duke of Buckingham’s attention. With male heirs in place, her inheritance was limited. Some theorize the Earl orchestrated his sons’ deaths and blamed witchcraft to secure his daughter’s future.
3. The Pappenheimer Family
One of the most tragic stories of witchcraft trial executions is that of the Pappenheimer family. The family—parents Paul and Anna, along with their children, 22-year-old Gumpprecht, 20-year-old Michel, and 10-year-old Hansel—were arrested in February 1600. Initially, they were charged with minor offenses typical of a poor family in the 1600s. However, the Duke of Bavaria decided to use them as an example and subjected them to torture. Under duress, they confessed to a harrowing tale of witchcraft and dealings with the devil.
Forced to confess, they described horrifying acts. They claimed to have flown on sticks, met the devil, and even engaged in sexual relations with him. They admitted to crafting magic potions, controlling the weather, and committing murders, cannibalism, and theft—all in service of the devil.
The entire family was executed on July 29, 1600. After enduring brutal torture, they were displayed before a massive crowd. Red-hot pincers tore their flesh, and the boys were forced to watch as their mother’s breasts were cut off and the bloody remains smeared on their faces. The youngest child witnessed his family being burned alive before meeting the same fate.
Their executions marked a pivotal moment in Bavarian law. Prior to this, there was no formal witch-hunting policy, as the danger posed by witches was debated. Many accused were simply folk healers or elderly women. However, the Pappenheimers’ confessions shifted perceptions, leading to stricter measures.
In 1611–1612, the Territorial Ordinance against Superstition, Magic, Witchcraft, and Other Criminal Arts of the Devil was enacted, emphasizing the grave threat of witchcraft. This law mandated the hunting and eradication of witches and remained in effect until 1813.
2. Christence Kruckow
Christence Kruckow was a young noblewoman from Denmark in the 1580s. She spent her youth in the household of Sir Eiler Brockenhuus, where she became the target of witchcraft accusations by two servant girls.
Following the marriage of her host to Anna Bille, the deaths of 15 infants prompted the household to search for a culprit. Initially, one servant was accused, but she claimed she had been coerced into aiding Christence with dark spells dating back to the wedding. Two servants were executed as witches in 1587, but Christence’s noble status spared her life.
She relocated to Aalborg, but the accusations persisted. She and her sister allegedly quarreled with a neighbor named Maren, and they were accused of attending a birth where a wax idol named Maren was created to cast curses. Once again, servants were executed, while Christence evaded punishment.
In 1618, she faced another accusation, this time for allegedly using a wax figure to harm the wife of a local vicar. Her case was brought before the House of Lords in Copenhagen, where she was stripped of her titles and nobility before being sentenced to death. However, her noble status afforded her the privilege of being beheaded rather than burned, allowing for a dignified burial. Her wealth was later transferred to the University of Copenhagen.
1. Ruth Osborne
In 1751, John Butterfield, a cattle farmer from Tring, Hertfordshire, became convinced that the elderly Osborne couple was to blame for the downfall of his farming business. He accused Ruth and John Osborne of witchcraft, claiming they had cursed his cattle, leading to their deaths. Despite efforts by local officials to protect the Osbornes, Butterfield managed to rally a mob of thousands to assault them.
Leading the mob was Thomas Colley, a butcher fueled by beer supplied by Butterfield. Colley spearheaded the assault on the Osbornes, subjecting them to a brutal trial by water. Ruth Osborne did not survive the horrific ordeal.
No evidence or formal legal proceedings were involved. Authorities were left dealing with a clear case of murder. Colley was apprehended and tried for the old woman's death. With thousands from the mob as witnesses, his involvement was undeniable. He was convicted and executed for murder, yet many believed justice remained incomplete. Locals felt Colley deserved credit for ridding Hertfordshire of what they saw as an evil witch.
