Grissell Jaffray

A respectable citizen married to a Dundee city burgess, she was accused in her later years of ‘the horrid crime of witchcraft’. Although we don’t know exactly what she had done, as the records were destroyed, we do know she was strangled, then burned at the stake.

We do, however, know the names of the three men responsible. They were all leading ministers in the Dundee Presbytery at the time: Harry Scrymsour of St Mary’s, John Guthrie of South Church and William Rait of Third Charge, now St Paul’s.

As well as the plaque in Peter Street, you can see a mosaic depicting her punishment.

Image of mosaic in Peter Street symbolising the flames. Copyright GSR Photographic