10 Real Life Historical Witch Hunters

10 Real Life Historical Witch Hunters

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today well be discussing those individuals who sought out and persecuted accused witches throughout history.

Thomas Colley

This former chimney sweep wasnt a witch hunter by trade, he just moonlighted within this space when it came to the accusation and eventual murder of Ruth Osborne. The latters only crime was allegedly running afoul of a local dairy farmer, who refused Osborne buttermilk when she came begging at his door. This farmer, named Butterfield, soon fell ill alongside his dairy calves, and rumors quickly began to spread of occult influences instituting these illnesses. This is where Thomas Colley comes in, since it was this aforementioned chimney sweep who led the mob and participated actively in drowning Osborne. Colley was hanged for his crimes soon after his trial, on July 30, 1751.

John Kincaid

There were many devious ways by which those seeking out a living hunting witches could ply their trade. Witch-pricker was the title given to those who used a special method to reveal witches within their community. In the 17th century, John Kincaid held this title within his native Scotland, utilizing specific tools that fooled communities into believing folk tales about supposed witches marks. Kincaid would take a bodkin or needle with a retractable point, which enabled him to control which of his victims could be proven innocent, and which could be designated in league with the devil. He was ultimately found out, however, and spent time in jail before finally giving up his witch-finding ways.

Jindich Frantiek Boblig of Edelstadt

The number of deaths attributed to the direct involvement of Jindich Frantiek Boblig of Edelstadt are said to be close to a hundred people, including two members of the clergy. These inquisitions occurred during the Northern Moravia witch trials of 1622, a period which lasted over seventy years to 1696. It was further alleged that Boblig found witch-finding to be financially lucrative during this period, as the lawyer frequently hired out his services to wealthy clientele. Boblig was also firmly in the pro-torture camp when it came to his methodology, with some accused witches, such as Dorota Davidová, dying in custody before he trial and sentence could be carried out.

Christian Caldwell

The world of witch-finding doesnt historically have too many stories of comeuppance or justice for those that took advantage of this hysteria. This is why the story of Christian Caldwell is so interesting. For starters, she disguised herself as a man so she could carry out her duties as a Scottish witch-hunter. However, she eventually accused the wrong person during her exploits, a royal associate with friends in high places. This associate, named John Hay, had Caldwell arrested, and it was here where her gender-swap ruse was uncovered. She was banished to an area of Barbados beset by fever and disease for her punishment.

Helen Ukpabio

We often think of this business of witch-finding as being something of the past, but this is sadly not the case. Helen Ukpabio has been preaching her own personal gospel of Biblical literalism in Nigeria since 1992, during which shes accused countless children of witchcraft. Uppabios organization, the Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries, has unfortunately grown in power and influence since then, although not without worldwide media scrutiny. This organization has spread the dangerous belief that children can serve as vessels for witchcraft spirits, which has resulted in increased rates of abuse and ostracization. Helen Ukpabios ministry is still active at the time of this writing.

Alonso de Salazar Frías

Reason thankfully ruled within the head of Alonso de Salazar Frías, a lawyer and inquisitor who abstained from the usual paranoia and hysterics associated with witch-trials. Instead, Frias became known as The Witches Advocate, since he actively worked against the execution and torture of the accused who stood before his court. His work during the Spanish Inquisition was rooted in reason, of conducting grounded interviews which greatly reduced the number of forced or coerced confessions. This isnt to say that nobody died on account of Frias ruling, since one witch who allegedly campaigned for the occult was burned at the stake under his watch.

Joan Malet

It takes one to know one might have been the motto of Joan Malet, a 16th century man who escaped a violent homelife to supposedly shack up with a real-life witch. It was here where Malet allegedly learned the dark arts, utilizing this knowledge to aid his new career as a part-time witch-hunter. Malet apparently needed little but his own word to successfully prosecute dozens of women in the Catalan region, during the sixteenth century. News of these hangings and illegal burnings soon reached the actual Spanish Inquisition, however, and Malet was put on trial. He was eventually executed by The Inquisition in Barcelona on July 2nd, 1549.

John Stearne

It wasnt uncommon for some witch-hunters to have some help along the way, usually in the form of an assistant or witch-pricker. In the 17th century, John Stearne worked to these ends for Matthew Hopkins, with some sources claiming that the former proved to be a negative influence upon Hopkins as The Witchfinder General. This was seen primarily with regards to Stearns willingness to lie in order to acquire confessions from his accused. He eventually retired from the business of witch-finding, and wrote a book that attempted to reframe his collaboration with Hopkins in a less devious light.

Heinrich Kramer

It was known as the Malleus Maleficarum, or The Hammer of Witches, and it served as ground zero for witch-trial hysteria and cruelty. Heinrich Kramer was the author of this book, published in 1487 and which contained detailed descriptions of demonology that struck an imaginative chord within its readership. Kramer also proclaimed in the Malleus Maleficarum that the Catholic Church should actively prosecute those accused of sorcery or witchcraft. Meanwhile, his trials were controversial, specifically one against a woman named Helena Scheuberin, who vehemently denounced Kramers sermons and growing influence. Scheuberin was ultimately acquitted, and Kramer expelled for reportedly being obsessed with the womans personal independence and sexuality.

Matthew Hopkins

The genre of witch-hunter pictures isnt exactly a big one, but Witchfinder General from 1968 is one of the most famous and successful examples of folk horror. Genre icon Vincent Price portrays the real-life Matthew Hopkins, a self-styled Witchfinder General who was, unfortunately, quite successful at his job. Its been alleged that Hopkins and his assistant, John Stearne were responsible for the deaths of approximately three-hundred women during the course of their careers. His legend today is almost akin to that of a slasher villain, a harrowing figure with dubious morals and a revealing desire for notoriety and financial gain.

What are some examples of modern era witch-hunts? Let us know in the comments.