Alison Pearson (accused witch)

Alison Pearson was born 1533. She worked as a healer around the St Andrews area with a ghost of her uncle, William Simpson, as a spirit guide. Simpson's ghost associated with fairies and a vision of him had cured Pearson of illness when she was a child. == Witchcraft ==

She was investigated for witchcraft in 1583 by Patrick Adamson, Archbishop of St Andrews; however, when he was ill and others could not cure him, treatment by Pearson led to his full recovery. Adamson's enemies claimed this was witchcraft and Pearson was imprisoned in St Andrews Castle, from where Adamson helped her to escape. Scottish Ballad-writer, Robert Sempill, wrote about Pearson and Adamson. == Investigation, confession and conviction ==

In 1588 she was again investigated and tried for witchcraft, which led to her conviction and execution by burning. had been carried by a whirlwind, and might wake up somewhere unexpected. Yeoman notes that Pearson described losing the power in her left side and that such loss of bodily faculties was often described in witch confessions of the period as well as in the religious trance descriptions of late 17th century visionaries like Barbara Peebles. == References ==