Euphame MacCalzean
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Euphame MacCalzean | |
|---|---|
| Died | 25 June 1591 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Spouse | Patrick Moscrop |
| Father | Thomas MacCalzean, Lord Cliftonhall |
Euphame MacCalzean (born before 1558, died 25 June 1591)[1] was a victim of the North Berwick witch trials of 1590–1591.[2]
She was born at Clifton Hall, west of Edinburgh, the only child of Thomas McCalzean (Lord Cliftonhall), an eminent Edinburgh judge, future Provost of Edinburgh, and Senator of the College of Justice from 1570, who recognized Euphame legally as his daughter and heir in 1558.[3]
MacCalzean married Patrick Moscrop or Moscrope, who served as a Justice deputy, but the relative power of their families meant that Patrick took his father-in-law's surname of MacCalzean.[3] This was normal practice where trying to preserve a family name where the sole heir was female. They were married by December 1579 when they made a joint contract with a Canongate burgess.[4]
In 1586 Eufame and Patrick were involved in a dispute with Edinburgh town council. During an outbreak of plague, on Christmas Day 1585, the council had moved the quarantined and infected people from the Borough Muir to her property at "Quhytehous", or Whitehouse, without permission or compensation. The Privy Council found in her favour.[5]
Euphame and Patrick had at least five children.[2]
