Scotland’s misty glens and ancient castles are steeped in tales of myth, mystery, and magic. Among the clans that have shaped the nation’s turbulent history, Clan Forbes stands out—not just for its feuds and political alliances, but for a chilling chapter rooted in the dark days of Scottish witch trials. This is the haunting story of how a noble family became entangled in a web of suspicion, superstition, and fear—a tale echoing through the corridors of time.
The Rise of Clan Forbes
Originating in Aberdeenshire, Clan Forbes emerged as a formidable Highland family during the 13th century. With ancestral lands sprawling across the northeastern Highlands, the Forbeses quickly rose to prominence. Their loyalty to the Scottish crown, military prowess, and strategic marriages earned them vast estates and titles. Castle Forbes, near Alford, became their ancestral stronghold—a symbol of both dominance and tradition. The distinctive Forbes tartan, a visual emblem of the clan’s enduring identity, is still proudly worn today by those honoring their lineage.
Yet, with great influence came enemies. Feuds, particularly with Clan Gordon, marked their history with bloodshed. While these disputes were often political or territorial, a darker, more insidious threat would soon cast its shadow: the Scottish witch hunts.
Fear and the Witch Craze
Between the 16th and 18th centuries, Scotland witnessed one of Europe’s most intense witch-hunting periods, surpassing even England in per capita executions. The Witchcraft Act of 1563 made practicing witchcraft—or even associating with suspected witches—a capital offense. Religious zeal, social upheaval, and patriarchal paranoia collided, fueling a national hysteria. Highland and Lowland communities alike saw neighbors accuse one another of consorting with the Devil. The fear was not confined to the poor and powerless. Even noble families, like the Forbeses, found themselves drawn into the madness—not as victims of witchcraft, but as judges, jurors, and sometimes, accused.
Lady Forbes and Her Legacy
Among the darkest tales associated with Clan Forbes is that of Lady Margaret Forbes, a lesser-known figure whose name surfaced in connection with witchcraft accusations during the early 1600s. As folklore suggests, Margaret, known for her herbal knowledge and independent spirit, became the subject of gossip in Aberdeenshire.
While no surviving legal records directly sentence her, oral histories and 17th-century manuscripts hint at an interrogation by Kirk. It’s believed she was accused by local parishioners of using charms to cure cattle diseases and predicting deaths—both seen as signs of maleficium, or harmful magic. Though her fate remains uncertain, her name lingers in the whispers of the glens.
Forbes and the Aberdeen Witch Trials
The city of Aberdeen, within the Forbes sphere of influence, became a hotspot for witch trials. In 1597 alone, over 20 women were tried and executed in the Great Scottish Witch Hunt, with several interrogations documented in chilling detail. The Forbeses, being prominent landholders and civic leaders, were likely present during proceedings, either as magistrates or observers.
Notably, John Forbes of Corse, a Presbyterian minister and theological scholar, was active during this period. While he promoted religious reform, he also supported rigorous moral scrutiny—creating a fine line between piety and persecution. His writings do not directly advocate for witch hunts, but the cultural climate he shaped indirectly contributed to the era’s dangerous zeal.
Faith and Fear in Forbes History
Clan Forbes aligned closely with the Protestant Reformation, distancing themselves from older Catholic traditions. This religious pivot brought new values but also intensified fears of heresy and diabolism. Ministers, often under Forbes patronage, reinforced strict doctrines condemning all forms of folk magic, second sight, and pagan ritual. This tension between traditional Highland customs and emerging Calvinist orthodoxy placed healers, midwives, and wise women in jeopardy. While some members of Clan Forbes championed Enlightenment ideals in later generations, the clan’s involvement—direct or indirect—in endorsing ecclesiastical authority gave weight to witchcraft accusations during earlier centuries.
Echoes of Forbes Lore
Legends endure long after facts fade. In the parishes once governed by Forbes lairds, stories of witch stones, cursed wells, and haunted woods abound. In Strathdon and Alford, local tales still mention women who “disappeared” or were “burned for knowing too much.” While folklore blurs historical truth, it reflects a community memory shaped by trauma and fear. One enduring tale tells of a woman named Jean of Kildrummy, said to have cursed a Forbes son who spurned her. When the young man died of fever, locals whispered of sorcery. The story passed down for generations, reinforcing the dangerous blend of patriarchal guilt, superstition, and emotional retribution that fueled many Scottish witchcraft accusations.
Josie Forbes and the Mystery of Taskee
In early 20th-century Taskee, Missouri, Josie Forbes—known as the “Witch of Taskee”—was a mysterious yet beloved figure. By day, she worked as a schoolteacher; by night, she was a clairvoyant known for trance-like states, visions, and spiritual insights. Unlike the fear that once surrounded witches in Scotland, Josie was respected and even consulted by law enforcement. She famously helped secure an acquittal in a local murder case and reportedly saw thousands of visitors during her lifetime. Her story contrasts sharply with that of Lady Margaret Forbes, who faced persecution centuries earlier. Josie’s life reflects a shift in how society viewed mystical women—from threats to trusted spiritual guides.
Enlightenment and the End of Witch Trials
By the early 18th century, Scotland’s intellectual climate began to shift. The Scottish Enlightenment emphasized reason, science, and skepticism—dampening the fires of witch persecution. Influential families like the Forbeses supported higher education, particularly at the University of Aberdeen, where emerging thinkers challenged superstitions once held as gospel.
The final executions for witchcraft in Scotland occurred in the early 1700s. While the scars of hysteria remained, the culture gradually turned away from persecution. Clan Forbes, by this point, had begun to focus on politics, commerce, and law, distancing themselves from the darker chapters of their past.
Remembering the Forgotten
Today, there is a growing movement across Scotland to acknowledge the injustices of the witch trials. Memorials in places like Edinburgh and Fife have inspired local historians in Aberdeenshire to reexamine records and revive stories of the forgotten. While the role of Clan Forbes in these trials was not singularly villainous, their presence in positions of authority and influence reminds us that silence and complicity were part of the wider tragedy.
Efforts are underway to digitize court documents, church registers, and folklore archives to reconstruct the stories of women like Lady Margaret Forbes—figures caught between legend and history.
Honoring Clan Forbes’ Full Story
The story of Clan Forbes and Scottish witchcraft is not one of evil or innocence, but of complexity. It’s a reflection of a society gripped by fear, shaped by power structures, and driven by the struggle between old beliefs and new ideologies. The Forbes family, like many clans, walked the thin line between upholding law and enabling injustice. By revisiting these chapters with empathy and historical context, we do not tarnish their legacy—we enrich it. Acknowledging the shadows in Clan Forbes’ story is part of embracing the full tapestry of Scottish heritage.
