The Witch Ancestry Database is a collection of information and records pertaining to individuals with a lineage connected to witchcraft. The database seeks to trace family lines and uncover the rich history and heritage of those with a magical ancestry. With roots dating back centuries, witchcraft has played a significant role in many cultures and societies. Despite being shrouded in mystery and often misunderstood, there are those who proudly embrace their magical lineage and seek to learn more about their ancestors who practiced witchcraft. The Witch Ancestry Database aims to provide a comprehensive resource for individuals interested in exploring their magical roots. It is a collaborative effort where users can contribute their family histories, stories, and artifacts related to witchcraft.
Boasting almost 20 million pages from coast to coast, this Library of Congress project digitizes US newspapers from 1777 to 1963 and offers a directory to help you find newspapers in libraries.
This venerable free site still serves up how-to articles, databases of surnames and US locations, mailing lists, pedigree files and much more making it an oldie but a goodie. These so-called witches didn t attend a fancy wizardry school, and they couldn t Expecto Patronum their way out of trouble, earning this title is actually much darker than Harry Potter would have you believe.
It is a collaborative effort where users can contribute their family histories, stories, and artifacts related to witchcraft. By sharing and connecting with others, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of their heritage and the practices of their ancestors. The database includes various types of information, such as birth and death records, marriage certificates, family trees, historical documents, and even personal accounts of witchcraft experiences.
Are You Descended From Witches? New Digital Document Could Help You Find Out
Genealogy has gotten pretty sophisticated in recent years. There are now massive online archives that make it easier than ever to hunt down obscure ancestors, not to mention mail-in DNA tests that can reach back centuries. But an approximately 350-year-old manuscript published online for the first time can reveal another fascinating detail about one's family history: whether any ancestors were accused of practicing witchcraft.
Just in time for Witch's Night (Halloween that is, not Walpurgisnacht), London’s Wellcome Library, which specializes in medical text and history, has digitized Manuscript 3658, Names of Witches in Scotland, 1658. The ledger records all the men and women accused of witchcraft in Scotland in between 1658 and 1662, during the apex of a century-long witch scare. According to a press release, the bound book contains the names of the accused, their town and notes about their “confessions,” which likely took place under some sort of torture.
According to The Scotsman, about 3,000 to 5,000 people in Scotland were publicly accused of witchcraft in 16th and 17th centuries, spurred on by the Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1563, which made witchcraft a crime punishable by death. That Act was vague, both in its definition of witchcraft and in how to identify witchcraft. At least 2,000 people were killed for being witches before the Act was repealed in 1736.
“This manuscript offers us a glimpse into a world that often went undocumented,” says Christopher Hilton, Senior Archivist at the Wellcome Library says in a press release on Ancestry.com, which hosts the list, though the manuscript is also available for free from the library. “How ordinary people, outside the mainstream of science and medicine, tried to bring order and control to the world around them. This might mean charms and spells, or the use of healing herbs and other types of folk medicine, or both. We’ll probably never know the combinations of events that saw each of these individuals accused of witchcraft.”
According to the extensive Survey in Scottish Witchcraft, there are records for 3,837 people accused of witchcraft, and 84 percent of the accused are women. About 65 percent of the accused were over the age of 40. Contrary to popular legend, the Survey found that folk healers and widows only made up a fraction of the accused witches. Nor were they necessarily poor; while nobles only made up about 6 percent of accused witches, about 64 percent of the accused came from what would now be considered the middle class.
Torture was often used to elicit confession, with sleep deprivation being a favorite tactic. In Scotland, at least, the swimming test, known as indicium aquae, was rare. The test judged whether those believed to be witches (or criminals) were guilty by tying them up and then tossing them into water. If the water rejected them as a “servant of the devil,” they floated and were deemed guilty. If they sank, and often subsequently drowned, they were found not guilty. Most witches were tortured into a confession. If they were found guilty they were typically strangled at the stake then burned.
Over time and especially during the panic covered by the Wellcome manuscript, lawyers in Scotland began to distrust some of the tactics used to identify witches, such as searching for "witches marks" or "witches teats" on their bodies which were often just scars, moles, warts, skin tags or birth marks. As the state became more secular and the Enlightenment began to take hold, belief in witchcraft decreased. In 1736, when the Scottish Witchcraft Act was repealed, it was replaced with the crime of “pretended witchcraft” which carried a 1-year prison sentence instead of death.
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Jason Daley is a Madison, Wisconsin-based writer specializing in natural history, science, travel, and the environment. His work has appeared in Discover, Popular Science, Outside, Men’s Journal, and other magazines.
An offshoot of 101 Best Websites fave WorldCat, ArchiveGrid searches more than 7 million descriptions of archival records from 1,400 different institutions. Learn about historical documents, personal papers, family histories and other materials that may mention your ancestors. A clickable map makes it easy to find archives near you.
Each entry is carefully verified and authenticated to ensure accuracy and reliability. In addition to being a valuable resource for personal exploration, the Witch Ancestry Database also serves as an important tool for historians and scholars studying the history of witchcraft. It provides a centralized hub of information that can be used to analyze trends, trace migrations, and identify connections between different magical lineages. The Witch Ancestry Database is easily accessible online, allowing users from all over the world to connect and contribute to this growing community. It is a living archive that is constantly evolving as new information is added and existing data is updated. Through this collaborative effort, individuals can honor their ancestors and keep their magical traditions alive. Overall, the Witch Ancestry Database serves as a valuable resource for those interested in exploring their magical lineage. It not only provides a means to trace family history but also fosters a sense of connection and community among those with a shared heritage. Through this database, the rich and diverse history of witchcraft can be preserved and celebrated for generations to come..
Reviews for "Connecting with the Spirit of the Past: How the Witch Ancestry Database Can Help Discover Family Roots"
1. Julia Davis - 2/5
I was really excited to try out the Witch Ancestry Database, but I was quite disappointed with the results. The information provided was very limited and didn't delve deep into the history or lineage of witches. The database mostly consisted of vague generalizations and folklore, lacking any substantial evidence or factual information. Overall, I found it to be a misleading and underwhelming experience.
2. Michael Thompson - 1/5
I have always been fascinated by witchcraft and the occult, so naturally, I was drawn to the Witch Ancestry Database. However, I found it to be a complete waste of time and money. The information provided was minimal at best, and it felt more like a collection of random stories rather than a comprehensive database of witch ancestry. I expected a more scholarly approach with accurate historical details, but instead, it was just a disappointment.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2/5
I had high hopes for the Witch Ancestry Database, hoping it would shed light on my family's connections to witchcraft. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The information provided was scattered and lacked proper organization. There were no clear explanations or sources cited, making it difficult to trust the accuracy of the information. I was left feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed with the database's content.
4. Robert Moore - 1/5
As someone who has a keen interest in genealogy and witches, I was excited to explore the Witch Ancestry Database. However, it turned out to be a complete disappointment. The information provided was very limited and lacked any depth. It seemed more like a collection of random anecdotes rather than a comprehensive database. I did not find it helpful or informative at all and would not recommend it to anyone seeking legitimate information on witch ancestry.