Britain's Last Surviving Witch | Helen Duncan
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- čas přidán 30. 11. 2020
- Welcome to Forgotten Lives! In today's episode we are looking into the life of Helen Duncan, a medium who some claimed was a fraud, she was later tried under the 1735 Witchcraft Act, leading to her being known as Britain’s Last Witch!
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#HelenDuncan #ForgottenLives #Medium
She never declared herself as a witch, just a medium. They declared her a witch so they could shut her up during the war. Her knowing the ship went down is what gets me! Maybe she added a mixture of theater to her actual abilities.
@@myunknownland9272 Are you trying to say 'same thing'? Yeah no, witches and mediums are not the same thing lol witches can, but don't have to also be mediums. Mediums can, but don't have to be witches. A witch is someone who practices witchcraft, meaning someone who uses various methods of manipulating energy to influence their environment and/or mood or whatever. It's not some Harry Potter stuff lol
A medium, however, is one who is able to communicate with spirits. Pure and simple. No more than that.
@@eunefelisso7513 👍
@@eunefelisso7513 except neither of those things are real, so who cares.
They didn't declare her a witch because the 1735 act didn't recognise the existence of witches. They declared her a fraud.
Pretty sure word got round from the relatives and she exploited it. She seems to have been clever about that
I’m saving this in “Witch Later”
😂
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂😂😂
Boooooo!!
Ah! I see what you did there! 😂😂
She was an entertainer....some loved her others hate her....just like all entertainers
She Had To Make A Living Some Way. I Hate Saying It, But I Give Her Credit...She Was Inventive.
@@rebeccalee1065 exactly! Women didn’t have many options in Britain in those days
Entertainers don't usually manipulate people into marrying people.
@@bunnymad5049 What Anyone CHOOSE To Do -- Is On Them! Nobody Can FORCE Them To Be With Anyone (Against Their Will).
@@rebeccalee1065 Arranged marriages throughout history and the present would disagree with that statement...
Think she was a total fraud. But if she made people happy. Who am I to judge.
I never believed in mediums, but my auntie used to go to organised nights sometimes. She said she totally believed it, and she got comfort from it, it did make her happy, believing my gran and granda had contacted her, and everything was ok. I believe it is duplicitous, but I can't get too angry, when it did help with my aunties grief 🤷🏼♀️
I'm glad you respect us, even if you don't believe in us
She was no fraud
Well she sure made herself and her hubby fat and happy, not so sure about her victims
Haven't watched yet but I doubt very seriously she's the last surviving. They are well and kicking til this day! The practice never stopped just not mainstream.
The video is about the last person to be TRIED and SENTENCED as a witch in Britain.
That's for sure, I think a couple of witches live in this cul de sac!!!🙏🧹🪄🤔
@@thankyouverymuch But she wasn't tried as a witch, she was tried as a fraud. The video is based on a misunderstanding of the 1735 witchcraft act.
The government couldn't get her on fraud charges. So, they settled for trying as a "witch" 🤣🤣? Talk about grasping at straws.
@Timothy McCaskey the only thing she was turning was profit from hustling grieving individuals...
I was thinking the same thing. The justice system got her on some 1700's law. Im shook!!!!
@Timothy McCaskey I got better!
So...was this an actual...WITCH HUNT?
Didn't they have regular laws against scamming people? Yeah she was guilty but seems like the punishment was a little harsh for the crime lol.
There are still witches. Some solo. Some in small pagan or Wiccan covens. Some work as healers, herbalists, nurses and regular everyday workers.
This woman was a clairvoyant or reader of some sort. Not all mediums are witches, and not all witches are mediums.
You do know that “Wicca” was invented by Gerald Gardner and his rich Bohemian friends in the 1940’s. It’s not some ancient pagan religion that has been passed on from ancient times. This woman here was not a “Wiccan”. She was a Spiritualist. Spiritualism started in New York in the 1840’s. It became enormously popular in England too. And after WWI, it was especially popular in England because they lost so many men in the War.
healers and herbalists are worse then witches they earn money with AIR and false promises
@@katrinaolsen2444 it wasn't invented it has been around for centuries. Gardner just gave it a name that took off... the religion dates back to the beginnings of Christianity.
@@crossbowskiss I thought it went back much further than Christianity??
@@crossbowskiss No, Gerald Gardner and Bohemian friends didn’t just put a name on ‘ancient pagan rituals’. They made up the rituals too. And the “spells”, “Calling the Quarters”, all of that.
Helen Duncan was held in Holloway not really because of her séances were frauds but because the British authorities knew she paid people for information and that she learned of the sinking of the ship from someone connected to the war office, either a sailor or a secretary. She was purposefully held in prison until either the war had ended or just before the war had ended to keep her from potentially exposing more wartime secrets. I saw it from another documentary years ago on Holloway prison.
So interesting and a sharp contrast to today’s media standards where the reporters seem to be just as focused on her weight and appearance as on her crimes!
@Andrew Phillips
I do too
Brilliant idea bringing people of history to life in these short videos. Some of these things I would've never heard of. You're uncovering the blanket of history.
How could a paper mache doll take a wedding ring off her own finger and put it on somebody else's finger? 🤔 Not to mention looking like somebody's wife who had passed away.
Exactly.
I know...she may have put on a show on some things, but some were clearly real because that couldn't have been faked...and faked well enough that they came back a year later for the dead sisters blessing?!🙄 He knew his own wife, and she knew her SISTER from a paper machee doll!!
Of you've listened, these "seances" were held in darkness, or with the people behind curtains etc...that's why there are the photos of her taken that caught the dolls etc when the camera flash showed them. Also it's mentioned the lights were switched back on several times exposing her. So there's that...
Fancy if they locked up all the charlatans out there now - there'd be no room !!
I think I would've like to have a drink with her - funky old broad who made a few bucks making people feel good. There's always a 'law' to piss on someone. RIP
Wonderful story, thanks for your terrific narration.🍻
Glad you enjoyed!
I think the prosecution changed charges so she wouldn’t release her client list.
Why would the change of the charge so that it permitted a more serious punishment cause her to not publish her client list? Shouldn't it be the other way around? 7 shilling would have been a much lighter punishment than the 9 months in jail she got (not to mention the even higher punishment she risked!)
Brilliant! 🌬💨 🇨🇦🕊 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I think people believe what they want to, especially when they are unhappy.
Thats the problem.they want to believe so badly in somthing so extraordinary they fall prey to liars and theives.
She was not a witch. A remote viewer more likely. She was able to access info from a downed ship. Also the DDay info could’ve been accessed by her. She was a natural phenomenon and quite helpful.
Edgar Cayce was a medical medium in Virginia Beach USA and was able to help people with medical issues. To this day his remedies have been documented and used by millions.
FP. What a great story and perfect narration. Thanks for your research.
Glad you enjoyed the story and narration! Thanks for the support :)
She was a fraud.
@@zafferung4440 Remote viewing.
@@Agapy8888 lmfao, the only "remote viewing" that exists in the real world is the kind you do through your smart tv. She got lucky with an educated guess and that's it. Looks like you're one of those gullible suckers that "mediums" still manage to scam money off of even to this day.
What's nuts is her name comes up in my family tree. Never knew anything about her, so this is cool and strange at the same time lol. Thank you.
😮woah , do you have powers ?
One of my older siblings had a book about her.. Not kidding living in a haunted house something about that book scared the crap outta me. Was never able to read more than a couple pages. The fear from just trying to read it was way to much for me!🥴🥴🥴
@Chorey Brown it was just called Helen Duncan last witch or something. As I said I couldn't read it the vibe scared me.
Sorry I cant give better response I was in my early teens then n I'm in my 40s now.
I felt like that when attempting to read one of LeVey's devil books. Ended up throwing it to the tip.
@@bonniemagpie1552 I feel like words are definitely powerful and giving those subjects just never know what feeling n intent is behind the words. I keep thinking I should really right my story down. But that brings back alot of feeling n alot of it unease and at times fear. So it waits for someday.
@Chorey Brown its unfortunately not much help but your welcome 🙂🙂
Bizarre case! Maybe she had some ability, but it seems she enhanced or embellished that ability !
That was the shame of it. She did have true abbilities but felt she had to embellish her performance with cotton rolls and bed linens. The sad back story here was the incredible mortality rate of infants during her time. Imagine having 12 babies then 6 of them die.
Yeah that's what I think !!!!
@@juaquiene7733 because people love spectacle, drama and being scared regardless of if it's established religion or not
@@Introvertsan So true about people's love of drama and a good scare, Introvertsan . Though now days you can maintain anomonousity and submit a good story to Creepy pasta or some other horror story site.
Fascinating case! Thank you for your hard work-- I always look forward to your posts!
Lol the title has me laughing...💅🏽
Where my Witches at!? 🌛🌝🌜
Blessed Be!
🧿
Merry Meet!
Blessed Be! 🌛🌝🌜
Blessed be
I throughly enjoyed this video of Helen Duncan as I had all your videos I've seen. They are all informative and I have learned so much about historical figures I've never heard before. Thank you and keep it up.
FL . What a great story. Im undecided as to whether she was a medium or not. She certainly knew some classified information. Love the part about Winston Churchill.Whatever the outcome I really enjoyed this story. Thank you F.L.
Glad you enjoyed it :D
@@ForgottenLives I really did thank you! .
Thanks friend, that was interesting. There is no last witch, they are in the world today and always have been, including my girlfriend. Salute from Texas.
Glad you found it interesting!
Yep. There’s plenty of witches today. My friend and I are both witches, and there a few in my school who are as well.
Hey, girl from Texas. Since when is Texas in the UK? The title is Britain's last witch. I guess you did some witchcraft to make Texas magically be part of Britain now?
@@tuesday1672 Are you in Britain? Were you TRIED and SENTENCED as a witch? Then, no, you're not who the video is about.
There is no such thing as witches.
🎵That old black magic
that you weave so well🎵
Thanks Forgotten Lives💜
I was lucky enough to watch Marie Roues on Brief Case today... Did not know about your channel until I did! Thank you for telling about it! I love all the fascinating stories, as well as your fantastic voice and intelligent delivery of every story!
Thanks for the support!
She wasn't a Witch in any sense of the word.
What do you consider a which? Please describe? Also what do they call a witch in today's times?
She was a fraud with misplaced intentions.
@@supportyourtroopsathletes6460 Wiccan and others of the same vein.
@@supportyourtroopsathletes6460 ; People who do Medium work aren't necessarily Witches. Mediums are only a tool between the living and the dead. Witches do many other different things.
@@bonniemagpie1552 .. I do agree with you.
Some people in a vulnerable emotional state will believe anything. Even after she was exposed people still believed in her. I wonder if her stay in prison contributed to her death? It was ridiculous to send her there. Someone really had it in for her. She never really hurt anyone.
Just like Trumpsters!
@@Lori79Butterfly Yes!
Excellent presentation, as usual. Thank you so very much!
Thanks for the support!
Umm it was the fraud charges for me. Also she is not the last witch. It is many of us around. Some people refuse to be known by just that title but it is many gifted people like myself.
We need to also get these preachers and other crooks on trial for fraud.
Televangelists for sure
you are always fair and present a balanced and very interesting report.
Gracias and being able, finally, to go out and enjoy the spring. :) 🌷
About 30 years ago I met an old guy who knew her. He said despite her fraud antics, he believed she did have psychic powers.
That's an amazing memory to cherish. I believe she did as well. By adding the theatrics though, caused many to doubt her 😔. Many are born with what others call "gifts" Unfortunately for most born with them, they're more curse than gift.
@Forgotton Lives Thank you so much for such an enjoyable and interesting video. I had not heard of Helen Duncan prior to watching this episode. With regard to Helen's abilities, I think she had a psychic gift, but she needed (or felt she needed) the theatricality to make it
I have someone that might interest you. Her name is Gala Dali, the wife and muse of the artist Salvador Dali. She was ten years his senior, and their relationship was odd to say the least! Gala is truly a complicated character because she did inspire some of her husband's best works, but she could also be a despicable person too. Here is the link in case you are interested: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gala_Dal%C3%AD
Will be sure to link into her!
@@ForgottenLives thanks! :)
Checking it out as well! Thank you
Love these types of videos, so informative.
Great story! Loved it FLives.
You always do such a good job narrating the stories! Thank you so much.
Sorry i am later, but had sad issue in my life. I think Mortis told you?. Take care. I enjoyed the video, as always. Thanks.
Thanks as always! And yep I saw the comment on morts vid! Hope you are keeping well :)
@@ForgottenLives
Thank you FLives. And you are very welcome! Will relisten more of your videos too, as always.
She. didn't force people to see her or listen to her seance , they chose to pay her, she didn't hurt people or kill anyone, so I don't think she should have been sent to prison it was a great Story thank you
Well let’s be glad times are different or half of CZcams would be in jail.
She’s our ancestor. I’ve recently been perusing the internet looking for more info on her. Ty for putting this together it will get passed around the family.
Keep the following in mind, as you search. You must realize much of the info will be edited or blatant fiction to discredit her.
Copy of my comment:
*Not a witch, an Intuitive.*
A Medium, and possibly Channeler. Ability to Raise her Vibrational Frequency and allowing Nonphysical to offer communication through her.*
Quantum Physics Science defines the "How of this", and how One labels it is based on their own level of understanding, education, Intellect.
Clearly there's a varied application of the various Writer's creative coloring the stories.
Today countless have an established a frequency allowing for Nonphysical to share information.
The Government interfered with the facts by editing the stories, to meet their own fears needs.
The CIA has always done this to misguide the Public or their target.
*The frauds far more likely the News Media and Government.*
Churchill's statement supports my point.
Awesome Video As Always💙Thank U So Much. I haven't heard bout her before
Glad you enjoyed! :D
I dont get it, why did they go to her if they thought she was a fraud?
I belive there are people who have the gift.
Very good story, thank you so much
I think she was the greatest meduim that lived in that life time.
Witch craft has always been around..it's with us now..
Not all are bad..
This woman has been labelled wrong..She never declared herself to be a witch.
Very unusual case though.
I came on your videos now I can’t stop watching. You are awesome
Helen would have hated Derren Brown, after he made that show revealing how all these medium tricks are done lol.
I believe she was a fraud, but I feel a perverse pride, being Scottish, that the last 'witch' was Scottish too 😂
The idea of police raiding séance parlors makes for a funny picture in my mind. Spiritualism was very popular in the Victorian period and had a resurgence after the world wars. Poor grieving families looking for comfort and answers from scammers. There were others who went just for entertainment though -- especially upper class people.
I still believe people are capable of having certain gifts of intuition and clairvoyance, but I believe it's highly unethical to charge anyone for advice using these gifts. A barter of services or handmade goods is a better way. Money in itself taints everything it touches.
It sounds like the government wanted a stiff penalty for her, but the jury was more fair. She was certainly a charlatan, but no more so than many others of the time. She could be viewed as someone who stubbornly insisted on practicing the craft that supported her family and many others at a time when it was quite popular. As for the knowledge of the ship, she probably learned of it from a member of one of the families who lost someone and wanted to reach out.
Helen may have been the last "witch " to be prosecuted, but there are still plenty of witches around the world
There is no such thing as a witch.
She impended doom on her enemies by telling the ones who tormented her as a kid what was going to happen to them. A gifted seer and psychic - 💜
Enjoyed the new episode FL. Very interesting 🤨. I can’t believe they jailed her on witchcraft charges 😆. I think there are certain people that are sensitive. Take it from me. Don’t mess around with Séances or Ouija boards. If you don’t know what you are doing! Stay Safe FL!😀
Glad you enjoyed, stay safe!
Well said !
I think she was REAL but used props for others to visualize what she could See. She was silenced for speaking the TRUTH. It still happens today unfortunately.
I wasn't going to sleep without getting my dose of Forgotten Lives 🤗
She was a Parlin...McParlin...McPharline......or whatever the spelling may have been. It was a small Scottish Clan that seemed to always be at odds and in contentions with their neighbors. That is a trait that seems to follow the family line wherever they may be found.
Enjoyed this story about Helen Duncan, aka the last witch of England. It's difficult to say if she was fraudulent or not, I would have to know if she gave alot of people accurate information on their deceased relatives. Great investigating, of this story.
Thanks for watching :D
I just can see her as a 🧙♀️ witch more like an entertainer for the Curious, thats what she was. Enter at your own risk' she should had written on her door.
Selfhealherbs 13 MS..., I have the exact words as a sign on my door of my voodoo boutique.😉
@@simplymoonchild3908 😎 🆒️
💚💚 very interesting! Thank you 😊
Unregurgitated ectoplasm is no joke...
Oh what is it ? Never heard of such a grose thing in Mediumship.
🤣
😂😂😂
😂
Lovely as usual
Thank you so much 😊
Not the Last! 💞 🌜🌟🌛💞
Great story indeed well done
Great vid. Thanks bud.
No problem 👍! Thanks!
definitely fraud needing props, grieving leaves people desperate to believe..sad..maybe there are genuine ones but many are frauds.
Enjoyed this story! I would be totally grossed out with ectoplasm coming out of my mouth! Maybe she needed a good decongestant! Lol thanks FL
Thanks for watching :D
That was a very educational video! I don't know if I believe it or not since I was aware of her existence. But thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the comment :)
Thank you and stay safe.
Fraud or not she helped a lot of people...granted under false pretenses but still helped....great video!💜💜
Thanks for watching!
I love how obsessed they were with ectoplasm. Where did the absurd idea that it’s a supernatural phenomenon even come from??
You sound exactly like Mortis (the great) today for some reason....😂👍love witch info , so I enjoyed this one. So T.Y
S.M. & LOTS OF LOVE FROM OKLAHOMA.....😘
Talk about using diversion tactics HOLY CRAP ! She was really something else,,,,,,,,,,and I don’t mean a medium , even though I have an open mind about such things,,,,,,the woman who works with a big police department and the detectives ,who finds bodies and evidence . There use to be a tv show about her but I saw the real medium with the police detective and it was incredible,,,,no histrionics like this woman ,,,no cheating grieving people ,,,,non of the nonsense and showmanship that this woman in the story used I really think she did it all for attention since she was a school girl and turned it into a craft that she called ,,,being a medium,,,,,dreadful woman! 😒😏. WHAT A GREAT story teller you are ,,,,,the research you do and the art you use to depict your stories,brilliant,,,please continue sharing you gift,,,,,,,your fan base is going to BLOW UP,,,😁 🙂 🙃 ,,,,,,,,🌬💨. 🇨🇦🕊. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼,,,,,last thought,,,she probably contracted ailments while she did her stint in a deplorable prison which shortened her life !?
Wow what a roller coaster ride..
Love your channel
Some people rather spend a fortune on a medium than dealing with grief by cherishing the fond memories shared with the lost ones and live on.
Hey F.L.i only now saw your story but better nowthan never. Hope you are ok and Happy New Year.As always great story❤
Thanks as always for the support! Happy new year!
@@ForgottenLives Thank you
Yessss can’t wait.
Hi there Ayape!
@@bettyjames4155 Hiya Betty.
I hope Mrs. Ducan helped more than she hurt.
Regurgitating cloth and egg and such as spirits, a strange bird
I'm hip, Old Magic.
It's good to know where the inspiration for the character Catherine Vandergelt came from. 💖
Omg just found this .. this was so interesting thanks ..
Such a creepy and evil practice. Horrific!
So strange to think that my grandparents were alive in Scotland when this was happening. I'll have to ask my grandfather if he's ever heard of this lady.
Thank you.
I'm so ashamed that they would do such a thing My grandma has a xrystàl ball and could see things and they all come true or happened. She also read tarot cards
A lot of people are so gifted. You are lucky your grandma is able to see. Ask her if she knows of Edgar Cayce?
Hello, and thank you for your video. She was totally a real medium. Because that is what a medium is, "for entertainment only". Not really a fraud, because there is no such thing. Silly humans. our need to believe in gods and devils and ghosts. We are so silly.
Thanks for watching :D
I think she was a little bit of both: I feel like she had a certain clairvoyant ability, and what she could not do to back it up or produce to prove, she resorted to parlor tricks. Whatever she was, she was at least somewhat intuitive, and creative.
Thank You FL Happy Holidays Everyone 😁
Happy holidays!
How could anyone believe she was a real medium? The physical evidence was even photographed!!
Great story...hadnt heard about it!! Think she was real but the ectoplasm may have been a bit extra!! Like what Winston Churchill said!!! I've just subscribed...thanks for theses interesting stories! From uk!🖤🖤🖤
This story is insane.. it’s like arresting, convicting and jailing a magician. Churchill was spot on.
Very interesting.
I suppose people just loved to hate her . There’s a definite difference between a “ medium “ and a “ witch “ . I don’t believe she was either .
good show , thanks
Glad you enjoyed it :)
This woman was not a “Witch”. She practiced Spiritualism AKA holding seances and acting a Medium, to allow the dead to speak through her. Spiritualism began in New York State in the 1840’s. It became enormously popular in the US, UK, and Europe. Its popularity peaked in the UK after WWI, because so many men were lost by the British in the War. Also, “Wicca” was invented by Gerald Gardner and his rich, Bohemian friends in the 1940’s. It isn’t some Pagan practice that has been passed along since the Celts and Druids of ancient times.
I've seen ectoplasm and you can't cut it with a knife anymore than you can cut smoke.
I... just, wow.
My grand parents were alive during WW1 and WW2. They were children at the time.
What year was this? Late 18 early 1900s I think. Did the technology she would need to pull off faking plasma coming from her mouth to the extent it produced a believable image, one so strong a man married his dead wife's sister? If she stuffed something up her nose or mouth, how would she begin/conduct a seance? Surely breathing and talking would be quite difficult. People commenting how gullible people are but if you accept the courts conclusions, without question, simply bcuz they're the courts....you're just as gullible. To me, the courts sound just as ridiculous as they claimed her to be.
Last witch? Right... Even western governments are using them
The gvnment is one big coven look at the ritual and spell people are under now through organised fear. Satanic magick.
Lol
@@YT_HATES_FREE_SPEECH Get a grip
@@ellabrookes341 prove me wrong or pull up ur mask & jog on bcz you havent got a clue luv.
@@YT_HATES_FREE_SPEECH Time will prove that you're a tin foil hat wearing wackadoodle. It's embarrassing 😳
Interesting re-telling of this one.
Reminds me of the Eddy Brothers of Vermont, also famous mediums (media?)
Very interesting...Did not know the name of Helen Duncan or she being a witch......