Grissel Jaffray

Accused of witchcraft

Grissel Jaffray
Born1600s
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Died1669
Dundee, Angus, Scotland
Known forexecuted for witchcraft
SpouseJames Butchart
A blue plaque commemorating Grisell Jaffray, the last woman to be executed as a witch there. The plain blue disc has the words Dundee Women's Trail along the top and the logo of the National Lottery at the bottom. Across the centre, it reads 'Grissel Jaffray, Spaewife, ?-1669'.
Blue plaque commemorating Grissel Jaffray as part of the Dundee Women's Trail

Grissel Jaffray (? in Aberdeen – 1669 in Dundee) was a Scottish woman burned at the stake having been accused of witchcraft. Jaffray was one of an estimated 4000 to 6000 people who were tried during the Scottish Witch Trials of this period. She was the last person burned for witchcraft in Dundee and is commemorated in the city with a plaque and a mosaic marking the place of her execution.

Life

Jaffray was born in Aberdeen and then moved to Dundee.[1] Little is known about her life, however it is known that Jaffray married James Butchart, a Dundee Burgess, in 1615. It is suspected she was part of the influential Jaffrays of Aberdeen, where Alexander Jaffray was Provost in 1651.

Accusations and death

Jaffray was accused of being a spaewife.[2] Her husband was also charged.[1] The records relating to the accusations have been lost, however the names of the three responsible are known. All three of the accusers were leading ministers in the Dundee Presbytery at the time: Harry Scrymgeour of St Mary's, John Guthrie of South Church and William Rait of Third Charge (now St Paul's).

Jaffray was interrogated and during her torture she accused several others of being witches.[1] She was sent to trial by Dundee Privy Council on 11 November 1669. She was found guilty.[3] Before being burned, Jaffray was strangled. Her husband escaped execution and he finished his life in a poorhouse.[1]

Legacy

On Peter Street in Dundee, there is a mosaic on the ground commemorating Grisell Jaffray, the last woman to be burnt as a witch there. There are two elements to the mosaic, one representing fire and the other representing water. This image is of gold and red mosaic tiles representing fire, surrounded by cobble stones.
One end of the mosaic commemorating Grissel Jaffray on Peter Street, Dundee. This part represents fire.

A marker in the Howff graveyard in Dundee has come to be known as the 'witches stone' where Jaffray is supposedly buried. However it is unlikely that an alleged witch would be buried on consecrated ground. Local legend has it that leaving her an offering can bring good luck, and the marker can frequently be found with coins, ribbons and other simple offerings placed upon it. The marker is likely to be the conveners stone, the place where the nine trades of Dundee used to meet to conduct business.[4]

Jaffray's name is featured on a plaque that was installed on Peter Street as part of the Dundee Women's' Trail. There is also a mosaic on the ground of two torches, one filled with fire and the other with water. that allegedly marks the spot of her death.[5]

Her life has inspired a book of fiction titled I Am Grissel Jaffray by Claire-Marie Watson, which won the Dundee 6000 award.[1]

On Peter Street in Dundee, there is a mosaic on the ground commemorating Grisell Jaffray, the last woman to be burnt as a witch there. There are two elements to the mosaic, one representing fire and the other representing water. This image is of blue and gold mosaic tiles surrounded by cobble stones.
One end of the mosaic commemorating Grissel Jaffray in Peter Street, Dundee. This part represents water.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Ancient tale of Dundee casts new spell on city". Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  2. ^ Larner, Christina (2005). A Source-Book of Scottish Witchcraft. Grimsay Press. ISBN 9781845300289.
  3. ^ Della-Piana, Patricia (2010). Witch daze. [Place of publication not identified]: Lulu Com. ISBN 978-0557763337. OCLC 943051317.
  4. ^ "A History of the Howff". graveyards.angus-antiquarian.info. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Grissell Jaffray | Dundee Women's Trail". www.dundeewomenstrail.org.uk. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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