Jannet Cornfoot (Corphat)

Woman, Victim

Not much is known of Janet Cornfoot's life but her horrific death in Pittenweem in the East Neuk of Fife is well documented. After a local boy, Partick Morton accused 2 others of being witches, Beatrice Laing and Thomas Brown. Laing escaped conviction and died shortly after alone in St Andrews and Brown died in prison from starvation.

Cornfoot escaped where she was being held in the tollbooth in Pittenweem through a low window and fled home. Once home Cornfoot was dragged from the house by a mob of villagers to the harbour where she was tied up between the shore and a ship and stoned by her neighbours. 

Following this Janet was taken down and then crushed, the mob lying a door on top of her and then heavy stones on the door. This killed Janet but the mob wasn’t done, running her body over several times with a cart. 

This horrific lynching has gone unpunished, both the mob who carried out these acts and Patrick Morton, who was exposed as a liar after this, were never brought to justice for what they did. 

Janet Cornfoot was buried in 'Witches Corner' an unmarked mass grave. Currently, there is no memorial to Janet or to commemorate this event in Pittenweem.