Marable Couper
Marable Couper | |
|---|---|
| Era | 17th-century Birsay, in Orkney. |
| Known for | Scottish woman executed in Orkney for witchcraft in 17th century. |
Marable Couper (Marybel Cooper) was a young woman who lived in Birsay and was tried and executed for the crime of witchcraft in 1624.[1]
Background
[edit | edit source]Couper lived in the settlement of Northside in Birsay with her husband John Spence and their son Robbie.[1]
She was known locally as someone consulted for charms and potions to treat illnesses.[2] This resulted in accusations of witchcraft which led to Couper's banishment from her parish, which she refused to comply with.[2]
She was involved in a quarrel with her neighbours, David Mowat and Margaret Corftoun, who had some misfortune with their cattle for which they blamed Couper, accusing her of putting a curse on them.[3]
Trial
[edit | edit source]Couper was brought from Birsay to St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall and held in Marwick's Hole until her trial, which took place on 7th July 1624.[1] The prosecutor of her case was Robert Chalmer and the judge was John Buchanan.[1]
She was found guilty of the crime of witchcraft and was sentenced to death by public strangulation and burning at Gallow Ha in 1624.[1]
References
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- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).