Margaret Barclay

Margaret Barclay (died 1618), was an accused witch put on trial in 1618, 'gently' tortured, confessed and was strangled and burned at the stake in Irvine, Scotland. Her case was written about with horror (Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft, 1830) by the romantic novelist Sir Walter Scott, and in the 21st century, a campaign for a memorial in the town and for a pardon for Barclay and other accused witches was raised in the Scottish Parliament. Family life Margaret Barclay was married to Alexander Dein, a burgess and merchant in the town or Irvine, Ayrshire. She was known to have a 'fiery temper' and poor relationships with her husband's family. She had a daughter, Isobel Insch, and said to have had a servant. Trial for witchcraft Margaret Barclay was accused of being the leader of a witches' coven by her sister-in-law and others, involved in cursing the Irvine ship The Gift of God and causing it to sink near Cornwall, killing all on board, including the owner and skipper, her brother-in-law John Dein and the town Provost Andrew Tran.