Florence Newton
Encyclopedia
Florence Newton was an alleged Irish witch, known as the "Witch of Youghal
". The case against Newton is described as one of the most important examples of Irish witch trial
s. The trial displays many similarities with the witch trials in England
.
Florence Newton was arrested and imprisoned 24 March 1661 accused of having enchanted Mary Longdon. She was put on trial 11 September 1661. In the Christmas of 1660, Newton had visited the house of John Pyne and asked to be given a piece of beef
, and when she was denied, left mumbling curses. Afterward, she had met Longdon, an employee of Pyne, on the street and kissed her. Longdon had then become sick, and experienced fits, cramps and visions, and the house had been affected with poltergeist
s. People suspected sorcery as the cause. At this point, a coven of witches were suspected to exist in the area. Two of the supposed members, Goody Halfpenny and Goody Dod, were taken to her, but without affect. When Newton was brought to her, Longdon's fits grew worse, and she eventually pointed out Netwton. Soon, Newton was accused of another case of sorcery; she was charged with having caused the death of David Jones. At the trial, the widow of Jones said that Newton had kissed the hand of Jones in prison, and afterward, he had become sick and died after having screamed the name of Newton on his death bed. Unfortunately, the court documents are missing, and the verdict are therefore not confirmed. It is estimated that she was judged guilty, which means she would have been executed.
Witch trials were not common in Ireland, and those cases mentioned are poorly documented. In 1606, the clergyman John Aston was accused of having used spells to discover missing people and hidden treasures, and was upon the king's orders sent to England; the result of the trial is not known. In 1685, the son of Christopher Crofts was taken ill at Cork
, and his sickness blamed upon Gammer Welsh, whom his father had sent to prison, and in 1699, a woman is reported to have been arrested, sentenced to death, strangled and burned at Aston
for having cast a spell on a nine-year-old girl.
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
". The case against Newton is described as one of the most important examples of Irish witch trial
Witch trial
A witch trial is a legal proceeding that is part of a witch-hunt. * Witch trials in Early Modern Europe, 15th–18th centuries** Salzburg witch trials - 1675-1690, Salzburg, Austria** Spa witch trial - 1616, Belgium...
s. The trial displays many similarities with the witch trials in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Florence Newton was arrested and imprisoned 24 March 1661 accused of having enchanted Mary Longdon. She was put on trial 11 September 1661. In the Christmas of 1660, Newton had visited the house of John Pyne and asked to be given a piece of beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
, and when she was denied, left mumbling curses. Afterward, she had met Longdon, an employee of Pyne, on the street and kissed her. Longdon had then become sick, and experienced fits, cramps and visions, and the house had been affected with poltergeist
Poltergeist
A poltergeist is a paranormal phenomenon which consists of events alluding to the manifestation of an imperceptible entity. Such manifestation typically includes inanimate objects moving or being thrown about, sentient noises and, on some occasions, physical attacks on those witnessing the...
s. People suspected sorcery as the cause. At this point, a coven of witches were suspected to exist in the area. Two of the supposed members, Goody Halfpenny and Goody Dod, were taken to her, but without affect. When Newton was brought to her, Longdon's fits grew worse, and she eventually pointed out Netwton. Soon, Newton was accused of another case of sorcery; she was charged with having caused the death of David Jones. At the trial, the widow of Jones said that Newton had kissed the hand of Jones in prison, and afterward, he had become sick and died after having screamed the name of Newton on his death bed. Unfortunately, the court documents are missing, and the verdict are therefore not confirmed. It is estimated that she was judged guilty, which means she would have been executed.
Witch trials were not common in Ireland, and those cases mentioned are poorly documented. In 1606, the clergyman John Aston was accused of having used spells to discover missing people and hidden treasures, and was upon the king's orders sent to England; the result of the trial is not known. In 1685, the son of Christopher Crofts was taken ill at Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, and his sickness blamed upon Gammer Welsh, whom his father had sent to prison, and in 1699, a woman is reported to have been arrested, sentenced to death, strangled and burned at Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
for having cast a spell on a nine-year-old girl.