List of people executed for witchcraft

Artistic depiction of the execution by burning of three alleged witches in Baden, Switzerland in 1585

This is a list of people executed for witchcraft, many of whom were executed during organised witch-hunts, particularly from the 15th–18th centuries. Large numbers of people were prosecuted for witchcraft in Europe between 1560 and 1630.^[1] Until around 1420, witchcraft-related prosecutions in Europe centred on maleficium, the concept of using supernatural powers specifically to harm others. Cases came about from accusations of the use of ritual magic to damage rivals.^[1] Up until the early 15th century, there was little association of witchcraft with Satan.^[2] From that time organised witch-hunts increased, as did individual accusations of sorcery. The nature of the charges brought changed as more cases were linked to diabolism. Throughout the century, a number of treatises were published that helped to establish a stereotype of the witch, particularly the Satanic connection. During the 16th century, witchcraft prosecutions stabilised and even declined in some areas.^[2] Witch-hunts increased again in the 17th century. The witch trials in Early Modern Europe included the Basque witch trials in Spain, the Fulda witch trials in Germany, the North Berwick witch trials in Scotland and the Torsåker witch trials in Sweden.

Witch-hunts also took place during the 17th century in the American colonies. These were particularly common in the colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Haven. The myth of the witch had a strong cultural presence in 17th century New England and, as in Europe, witchcraft was strongly associated with devil-worship.^[3] About eighty people were accused of practicing witchcraft in a witch-hunt that lasted throughout New England from 1648-1663. Thirteen women and two men were executed.^[4] The Salem witch trials followed in 1692–93, culminating in the executions of 20 people. 5 others died in jail.

It has been estimated that tens of thousands of people were executed for witchcraft in Europe and the American colonies over several hundred years. Although it is not possible to ascertain the exact number, modern scholars estimate around 40–50,000.^[A] Common methods of execution for convicted witches were hanging, drowning and burning. Burning was often favoured, particularly in Europe, as it was considered a more painful way to die.^[5] Prosecutors in the American colonies generally preferred hanging in cases of witchcraft.^[5]

List and images of those executed for witchcraft

Hypatia was a philosopher in Alexandria. Her knowledge of astronomy and mathematics led to suspicion of sorcery and she was flayed alive by a mob of monks. She is considered by scholars such as Soldan and Heppe to have been the first famous woman to be persecuted for witchcraft by the Christians.^[6]

Agnes Bernauer, executed in 1435.

Catherine Deshayes aka La Voisin, executed in 1680.

Urbain Grandier, executed in 1634.

Execution of Ann Hibbins on Boston Common, June 19, 1656. Sketch by F.T. Merril, 1886

Giles Corey being crushed to death, 1692

Martha Corey was executed in 1692

The Trial of George Jacobs who was executed in 1692. Painting by Thomkins Matteson, 1855

Agnes Waterhouse was executed in Chelmsford, England in 1566

Name	Lifetime	Nationality	Notes
Adelgrief, Johann AlbrechtJohann Albrecht Adelgrief	d. 1636	German	Executed after claiming to be a prophet.[7]
Arriens, MarigjeMarigje Arriens	ca. 1520–1591	Dutch	Burned to death for sorcery
Barthe, AngeleAngéle de la Barthe	ca. 1230–1275	French	Found guilty of sexual relations with the devil and burned to death.[8]
Bassett, GoodwifeGoodwife Bassett[9]	d. 1651	Colonial American colonist	Hanged at Fairfield, Connecticut
Bernauer, AgnesAgnes Bernauer	ca. 1410–1435	German	Convicted of witchcraft and thrown in the Danube to drown, following accusations by her father-in-law Ernest, Duke of Bavaria.
Bien, MergaMerga Bien	1560s–1603	German	Convicted as part of the Fulda witch trials and burned to death.
Birgitta, LassesLasses Birgitta	d. 1550	Swedish	The first woman executed for witchcraft in Sweden; beheaded.
Bishop, BridgetBridget Bishop	ca. 1632–1692	English (emigrated to British America)	The first person to be tried and executed during the Salem witch trials.[10]
Bonanno, GiovannaGiovanna Bonanno	d. 1789	Italian	A widow and beggar accused of selling potions and spells intended to kill people to her neighbours. Accused of sorcery and hanged.[11]
Borcke, SidoniaSidonia von Borcke	1548–1620	Pomeranian	Confessed to murder and witchcraft under torture; beheaded, corpse burned.
Burroughs, GeorgeGeorge Burroughs	ca. 1650–1692	Colonial American colonist	Congregational pastor, executed as part of the Salem witch trials.[12]
Carrier, MarthaMartha Carrier	d. 19 Aug 1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials; her children had claimed she was a witch.
Chantraine, AnneAnne de Chantraine	1605–1622	French	Burned to death.
Chauderon, MichéeMichée Chauderon	d. 1652	Swiss	Confessed under torture to summoning demons and was the last person executed for sorcery in Geneva.[13]
Cheveron, NyzetteNyzette Cheveron	d. 1605	Belgian	Confessed to being a witch; was strangled and burned to death.
Clarke, ElizabethElizabeth Clarke	ca. 1565–1645	English	The first woman persecuted by the Witchfinder General, Matthew Hopkins; hanged.
Cleary, BridgetBridget Cleary	ca. 1870-1895	County Tipperary, Ireland, UK	Unclear; body immolated, possible posthumously.[14]
Corey, GilesGiles Corey	ca. 1611–1692	English (emigrated to British America)	Crushed to death for refusing to plea during the Salem witch trials.
Corey, MarthaMartha Corey	1620s–1692	English (emigrated to British America)	Hanged during the Salem witch trials
Curtens, HelenaHelena Curtens	1722–1738	German	One of the last people to be executed for witchcraft in Germany.
Delvaux, JeanJean Delvaux	d. 1595	Belgian	Roman Catholic monk; beheaded
Deshayes, CatherineCatherine Deshayes	ca. 1640–1680	French	AKA La Voisin; burned to death following the Affair of the Poisons
Doughty, ThomasThomas Doughty	d. 1578	English	Nobleman and explorer accused by Sir Francis Drake of witchcraft, mutiny and treason; beheaded
Eastey, MaryMary Eastey	1634–1692	English (emigrated to British America)	Hanged during the Salem witch trials
Eriksdotter, AnnaAnna Eriksdotter	1624–1704	Swedish	The last person executed for sorcery in Sweden.
Francesco, MatteucciaMatteuccia de Francesco	d. 1428	Italian	Confessed to having flown on the back of a demon; burned to death.
Gardiner, JeaneJeane Gardiner	d. 1651	British	Executed in Bermuda.
Garnier, GillesGilles Garnier	d. 1573	French	Serial child murderer; convicted of witchcraft and lycanthropy, and burned to death.
Glamis, JanetJanet, Lady Glamis	d. 1537	Scottish	Accused of witchcraft by King James V; burned to death.
Glover, AnnAnn Glover	d. 1688	Irish-born emigrant to Colonial America	Last person hanged for witchcraft in Boston.
Goguillon, PeronnePeronne Goguillon	d. 1679	French	Burned to death; one of the last women to be executed for witchcraft in France.
Göldi, AnnaAnna Göldi	d. 1782	Swiss	Beheaded; known as "the last witch in Switzerland".
Good, SarahSarah Good	1655–1692	Colonial American colonist	One of the first to be convicted in the Salem witch trials.
Grandier, UrbainUrbain Grandier	1590–1634	French	Convicted following the Loudun possessions and burned to death.
Greensmith, GoodwifeGoodwife Greensmith[9]	d. 1663	Colonial American colonist	Hanged at Hartford, Connecticut
Guilladot, BertrandBertrand Guilladot	d. 1742	French	Priest who confessed to having made a pact with the devil
Ham, MechteldMechteld ten Ham	d. 1605	Dutch	Confessed under torture and was burned to death.
Hausmannin, WalpurgaWalpurga Hausmannin	d. 1587	German	Midwife who confessed to child murder, witchcraft and vampirism; burned to death.
Henot, KatharinaKatharina Henot	1570–1627	German	Postmistress; burned to death.
Heur, AdrienneAdrienne d'Heur	1585–1646	French	Burned to death.
Hibbins, AnnAnn Hibbins	1656	Colonial American colonist	The fourth person executed for witchcraft in Massachusetts Bay Colony; hanged on Boston Common
Horne, JanetJanet Horne	d. 1727	Scottish	Last British person to be executed for sorcery; burned to death.
Horsnas, ElinElin i Horsnäs	d. 1611	Swedish	Beheaded after her second trial for witchcraft.
Howe, ElizabethElizabeth Howe	1635–1692	English (emigrated to English America)	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Hypatia	370–415	Alexandrian	Stripped and torn to pieces by a Christian mob.[6]
Jacobs, GeorgeGeorge Jacobs	1620–1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Johnson, MaryMary Johnson	ca.1648	Colonial American colonist	Hanged at Hartford, Connecticut
Jones, MargaretMargaret Jones	1648	Colonial American colonist	The first person to be executed for witchcraft in Massachusetts Bay Colony; hanged.
Jonesdochter, KatherineKatherine Jonesdochter	d. 1616	Scottish	Strangled; burned to death at Scalloway
Jonsdotter, MäretMäret Jonsdotter	1644–1672	Swedish	Beheaded
Junius, JohannesJohannes Junius	1573–1628	German	Tortured, burned to death during the Bamberg witch trials
Kemp, UrsulaUrsula Kemp	ca. 1525–1582	English	Confessed to witchcraft and hanged.
Kendall, Mrs.Mrs. Kendall[9]	ca.1650	Colonial American colonist	Hanged at Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Knapp, GoodwifeGoodwife Knapp[15]	d. 1653	Colonial American colonist	Hanged at Fairfield, Connecticut.
Koldings, AnnaAnna Koldings	d. 1590	Danish	Burned to death.
KolgrimKolgrim	ca. d. 1407	Greenlandic	Burned to death.
Kruckow, ChristenzeChristenze Kruckow	1558–1621	Danish	Noblewoman who confessed to cursing the marital bed of a rival; beheaded.
Lake, AliceAlice Lake[9]	1620 - ca. 1650	Colonial American colonist	Wife of Henry Lake; hanged in Massachusetts.
LeatherlipsLeatherlips	1732–1810	Native American	Native American leader who was sentenced to death for witchcraft and executed with a tomahawk.[16]
Lemp, RebeccaRebecca Lemp	d. 1590	German	One of 32 women convicted of witchcraft in a witch hunt in Nördlingen, burnt at the stake.[17]
Magee, LaurienLaurien Magee	1689-1710	Irish	Burnt at the stake as part of the Islandmagee witch trial.[18]
Martin, SusannahSusannah Martin	1621–1692	English (emigrated to British America)	Executed during the Salem witch trials.
Matsdotter, MalinMalin Matsdotter	1613–1676	Swedish	Burned to death.
Meath, PetronillaPetronilla de Meath	ca. 1300–1324	Irish	Burned to death.
Nurse, RebeccaRebecca Nurse	1621–1692	English (emigrated to British America)	Hanged during the Salem witch trials
Nypan, LisbethLisbeth Nypan	ca. 1610–1670	Norwegian	Cunning woman accused of making people sick to earn money; burned to death.
Osborne, RuthRuth Osborne	1680–1751	English	Murdered by an unruly mob during a "trial by ducking".
Paisley witchesPaisley witches	d. 1697	Scottish	Also known as the Bargarran witches, the last mass execution for witchcraft in western Europe.[19]
Palles, AnneAnne Palles	1619–1693	Danish	The last person officially executed for witchcraft in Denmark; beheaded.
Pappenheimer familyPappenheimer Family	d. 1600	German	Tortured and burned to death.
Parker, AliceAlice Parker	d. 1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Parker, MaryMary Parker	d. 1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Pauer, MariaMaria Pauer	1730s–1750	Austrian	Last person executed for witchcraft in Austria; beheaded.
Pedersdotter, AnneAnne Pedersdotter	d. 1590	Norwegian	Burned to death.
Pendle witchesPendle witches	d. 1612	English
Plainacher, ElisabethElisabeth Plainacher	1513–1583	Austrian	Only person to be executed for witchcraft in Vienna; burned to death.
PolissenaPolissena of San Macario	d. 1571	Italian	Burned to death.
Proctor, JohnJohn Proctor	ca. 1632–1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Pudeator, AnnAnn Pudeator	d. 1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Punasuomalainen, MarkettaMarketta Punasuomalainen	1600s–1658	Finnish	Cunning woman, burned to death.
Redd, WilmotWilmot Redd	1600s–1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Repond, CatherineCatherine Repond	1662–1731	Swiss	Strangled and burned to death.
Rognvaldsson, JonJòn Rögnvaldsson	d. 1625	Icelandic	Burned to death.
Saenger von Mossau, Maria RenataMaria Renata Saenger von Mossau	1680–1749	German	One of the last to be executed for witchcraft in Germany.
Sampson, AgnesAgnes Sampson	d. 1591	Scottish	Midwife, garrotted and burned to death during the North Berwick witch trials.
SoulmotherSoulmother of Küssnacht	d. 1577	Swiss	Burned to death.
Spandemager, GydeGyde Spandemager	d. 1543	Danish	Burned to death.
Spliid, MarenMaren Spliid	ca. 1600–1641	Danish	Burned to death.
StedelenStedelen	d. ca. 1400	Swiss	Confessed under torture to summoning demons; burned to death.
Waterhouse, AgnesAgnes Waterhouse	ca. 1503–1566	English	The first woman executed for witchcraft in England; hanged.
Weir, ThomasThomas Weir	1599–1670	Scottish	Strangled and burned to death.
Wildes, SarahSarah Wildes	1627–1692	English (emigrated to British America)	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Willard, JohnJohn Willard	ca. 1672–1692	Colonial American colonist	Hanged during the Salem witch trials.
Witches of BelvoirWitches of Belvoir	d. 1618	English	A mother and two daughters, the daughters were hanged.
Witches of WarboysWitches of Warboys	d. 1593	English	Alice Samuel and her family; hanged.
Young, AlseAlse Young	ca. 1600–1647	Colonial American colonist	The first person recorded to have been executed for witchcraft in the American colonies; hanged.
Zdunk, BarbaraBarbara Zdunk	1769–1811	Polish	Burned to death.
Zippel, AnnaAnna Zippel	d. 1676	Swedish	Beheaded for abducting children.
Tokoi, AnttiAntti Tokoi	d.1682	Finnish	Accused and convicted of witchcraft, blasphemy, disgracing priests and healing. Most likely he was first executed, then left for ravens to eat. Tokoi's father is known to have been a witch, too.
Zippel, BritaBrita Zippel	d. 1676	Swedish	Beheaded for sorcery.
Renard, MimaMima Renard	d. 1692	French Brazilian	Prostitute, was accused by popular belief to bewitch men; burned to death.
da Conceição, MariaMaria da Conceição	d. 1798	Brazilian	Accused and convicted of witchcraft to produce medicines and potions to attract men.
de Jesus, UrsulinaUrsulina de Jesus	d. 1754	Brazilian	Accused of removing her husband's virility to avoid having children; burned to death.
Liang, ZhangZhang Liang	d. 646	Chinese	Accused of witchcraft and treason; executed.

Notes

1. ^ According to Kors & Peters, modern scholars place the number of executions for witchcraft at no greater than 50,000.^[20] According to Merriman, some estimates are higher.^[21] Levack multiplied the number of known European witch trials by the average rate of conviction and execution, to arrive at a figure of around 60,000 deaths.^[22] Barstow adjusted Levack's estimate to account for lost records, estimating 100,000 deaths.^[23] Hutton argues that Levack's estimate had already been adjusted for these, and revises the figure to approximately 40,000.^[24]

References

Footnotes

1. Levack, p. 204
2. Levack, p. 205
3. Hall, P. 4
4. Fradin, Judith Bloom, Dennis Brindell Fradin. The Salem Witch Trials. Marshall Cavendish. 2008, pg. 15
5. Stack, p. 20
6. K.M. Sheard (2011), "Hypatia", Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names for Pagans, Wiccans, Witches, Druids, Heathens, Mages, Shamans & Independent Thinkers of All Sorts who are Curious about Names from Every Place and Every Time, pp. 285–86, ISBN 9780738723686
7. Ripley, George; Dana, Charles Anderson (1859). The New American Cyclopaedia. D. Appleton and Company. p. 122.
8. Russell, Jeffrey Burton (1984). Witchcraft in the Middle Ages. Cornell University Press. p. 164. ISBN 0-8014-9289-0.
9. Jewett, Clarence F. The memorial history of Boston: including Suffolk County, Massachusetts. 1630-1880. Ticknor and Company, 1881. pp. 138-141
10. Upham, Caroline E. (2003). Salem Witchcraft in Outline. Kessinger Publishing. p. 88. ISBN 0-7661-3900-X.
11. Fiume, Giovanna (2001). "The Old Vinegar Lady". In Levack, Brian P. New Perspectives on Witchcraft, Magic, and Demonology: Witchcraft in the Modern World. Taylor & Francis. pp. 261–283. ISBN 0-8153-3670-5.
12. Burr, George Lincoln (2003). Narratives of the Witchcraft Cases 1648 to 1706. Kessinger Publishing. p. 215. ISBN 0-7661-5773-3.
13. Lea, Henry Charles (2004). Materials Toward a History of Witchcraft. Kessinger Publishing. p. 1118. ISBN 0-7661-8359-9.
15. Profile of Goodwife Knapp
16. Carpenter, William Henry; Arthur, Timothy Shay (1854). The History of Ohio: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Lippincott, Grambo & Co. p. 209.
17. Guiley, Rosemary Ellen (2008). "Lemp, Rebecca (d. 1590)". The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca (3rd ed.). New York: Facts On File. p. 206. ISBN 978-1-4381-2684-5.
18. Islandmagee witch trial
19. Burns, William E. (2003), Witch hunts in Europe and America: an encyclopedia, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 3, ISBN 978-0-313-32142-9
20. Kors, Alan Charles; Peters, Edward (2001). Witchcraft in Europe, 400-1700: a documentary history. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 17. ISBN 0-8122-1751-9.
21. Merriman, Scott A. (2007). Religion and the law in America, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 527. ISBN 1-85109-863-1.
22. Levack
23. Barstow
24. Hutton

Sources

• Barstow, Anne Llewellyn (1994). Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts. Pandora. ISBN 0-06-250049-X.
• Hall, David D. (2005). Witch-Hunting in Seventeenth-Century New England: A Documentary History 1638-1693. Duke University Press. ISBN 0-8223-3613-8.
• Hutton, Ronald (2001). The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-285449-6.
• Levack, Brian P. (2006). The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe. Pearson Education. ISBN 0-582-41901-8.
• Stack, Richard A. (2006). Dead wrong: violence, vengeance, and the victims of capital punishment. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-275-99221-7.