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

witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have us ...

on 6 March 1645.

Biography

Agnes Finnie, widow of James Roberston, sold consumer goods, such as fish and cakes in Potterrow,

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. She had a reputation for cursing people in her neighbourhood. She was charged with causing harm to several neighbours, including an attack on her neighbour, James Cochrane. In June 1644, she was arrested on 20 counts of witchcraft and

sorcery Sorcery may refer to: * Magic (supernatural), the application of beliefs, rituals or actions employed to subdue or manipulate natural or supernatural beings and forces ** Witchcraft, the practice of magical skills and abilities * Magic in fiction, ...

. She was tried on 20 December 1644 and executed on the Castle Hill of Edinburgh on Thursday, 6 March 1645.

Posthumous petition for pardon

In 2008, Agnes Finnie's name was one of thousands presented for posthumous pardon to the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...

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.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finnie, Agnes 1645 deaths 17th-century Scottish women People executed for witchcraft Scottish people executed for witchcraft Executed Scottish women 17th-century Scottish businesspeople