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]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]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
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Goodare, Julian; Yeoman, Louise; Martin, Lauren; Miller, Joyce (2010-08-18), Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, 1563 - 1736, University of Edinburgh. School of History, Classics and Archaeology, doi:10.7488/ds/100, retrieved 2025-08-20
- ^ a b "Dress dedicated to Orkney woman convicted of witchcraft to be unveiled at Orkney Library and Archive". www.orkney.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-20.
- ^ Dusty (2019-10-28). "Orkney Archive - get dusty: Orkney Witchcraft Trial Source Books and Archives". Orkney Archive - get dusty. Retrieved 2025-08-20.