Agnes Finnie Explained

Agnes Finnie (died 6 March 1645) was an Edinburgh shopkeeper and moneylender who was executed for witchcraft on 6 March 1645.

Biography

Agnes Finnie, widow of James Roberston, sold consumer goods, such as fish and cakes in Potterrow, Edinburgh. She had a reputation for cursing people in her neighbourhood.^[1] She was charged with causing harm to several neighbours,^[2] including an attack on her neighbour, James Cochrane.^[3]

In June 1644, she was arrested on 20 counts of witchcraft and sorcery. She was tried on 20 December 1644 and executed on the Castle Hill of Edinburgh on Thursday, 6 March 1645.^[4]

Posthumous petition for pardon

In 2008, Agnes Finnie's name was one of thousands presented for posthumous pardon to the Scottish Parliament.^[5]

Art work

Agnes Finnie was one of thirteen accused witches persecuted under the Witchcraft Act of 1563, who featured in an exhibition called Witches in Word, Not Deed by Carolyn Sutton, held at the Edinburgh Central Library and toured Scotland in 2023.^[6]

Notes and References

1. News: Agnes Finnie: Edinburghs most prolific Witch. Supernatural Magazine. 2017-07-28. en-US.
2. Book: Millar, John. A History of the Witches of Renfrewshire: Who Were Burned on the Gallowgreen of Paisley. 17. Agnes Finnie.. 1809. J. Neilson. en.
3. Book: The British Critic, Quarterly Theological Review, and Ecclesiastical Record. 442. Agnes Finnie.. 1834. C. & J. Rivington, and J. Mawman. en.
4. News: The war on witches. History Extra. 2017-07-28. en.
5. Web site: Time for witches to rest in peace. www.scotsman.com. en. 2017-07-28.
6. Web site: edinburghcitylibraries . 2023-09-20 . Witches in Word, not Deed – an exhibition at Central Library until 30 November 2023 . 2023-11-24 . Tales of One City . en.