Geillis Duncan

This article is about the 16th century Scottish maid accused of being a witch. For the character in the Outlander TV series, see Geillis Duncan (character).
Geillis Duncan
Born
Tranent, Scotland
Died4 December 1591
Castlehill, Edinburgh.
Occupationmaid
Years active1590s
Known forAccused witch during the North Berwick Witch Trials

Geillis Duncan also spelled Gillis Duncan (b. unknown d. 4 December 1591) was a young maidservant in 16th century Scotland who was accused of being a witch.[1][2] She was also the first recorded British named player of the mouth harp.[3]

The anonymous pamphlet, Newes from Scotland, published in late 1591 details how she was made to confess to witchcraft and records how the North Berwick witch trials originated,[4] in which as many as seventy people were implicated.[4]

  1. ^ "The tragic tale of 16th century Tranent maid Geillis Duncan who inspired Outlander witch". www.scotsman.com. 2019-09-26. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  2. ^ "Outlandish fact or devilish fiction? – The real Geillis Duncan". History Scotland. 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  3. ^ Wright, Michael (2017-07-05). The Jews-Harp in Britain and Ireland. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-54330-9.
  4. ^ a b Rosemary Goring, ed. (2018). "The North Berwick Witches". Scotland : her story : the nation's history by the women who lived it. Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-1-78027-531-4. OCLC 1063693807.