ELEN GILBERT / ANN JONES
Cafodd Elen Gilbert, neu Ann Jones, ei chyhuddo o ‘wrachyddiaeth droseddol’ yn Sir Ddinbych yn 1635.
Er nad ydym ni’n gwybod pam y cafodd ei chyhuddo, cafodd ei chyhuddo o dwyll hefyd, am iddi hawlio ei bod yn gallu gwella rhai afiechydon nad oedd ganddi’r gallu i’w hiacháu.
Yn ôl llyfr Richard Sugget, mi fyddai Ann yn dweud wrth rieni oedd â phlentyn sâl y gallai berswadio’r tylwyth teg i wella’r plentyn. Byddai hi’n dweud fod y tylwyth teg angen arian roedd y plentyn sâl wedi anadlu arno, ond gan nad oedd gan y tylwyth teg yr angen ar gyfer arian dynol, mi fyddai’r arian yn cael ei ddychwelyd iddynt yn y man.
Pan fyddai’r rhieni’n rhoi’r arian iddi, mi fyddai hi’n symud o’r ardal yn gyflym, ac yn diflannu.
Cafwyd hi’n euog, a chafodd ddirwy o ugain punt; roedd yn rhaid iddi aros yn y carchar am flwyddyn.
Dri mis yn ddiweddarach, bu farw Ann Jones o ‘ymweliad gan Dduw’.
Darllen Pellach:
Welsh Witches – Narratives of Witchcraft and Magic from 16th and 17th century Wales – Richard Suggett.
E. Lois yw arlunydd Prosiect Drudwen, Rhithganfyddiad a phrosiect #GwrachodCymru, ymhlith pethau eraill. Mae hi ar Instagram fel @efalois a Twitter fel @efalois.
ELEN GILBERT, or Ann Jones
Elen Gilbert, also known as Ann Jones, was accused of ‘felonious witchcraft’ in Denbighshire in 1635.
Although it is unclear why she was accused, she was also accused of fraud, as she claimed that she could cure illnesses that she did not have the ability to cure.
According to Richard Suggett’s book, Ann would tell the parents of children that were ill that she could persuade the fairy folk to heal the child. She said that the fairy folk would need money that the sick child had breathed on, but as the fairy folk had no need for human money, the money would be returned to the parents once the child had been healed.
Once the parents had given Elen Gilbert the money, she would quickly move from the area and disappear.
She was found guilty, and charged to a year in prison and a fine of twenty pounds. She died three months into her prison sentence from ‘a visitation by God.
Further Reading:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/history-witchcraft-wales-15334964`
Welsh Witches – Narratives of Witchcraft and Magic from 16th and 17th century Wales – Richard Suggett.
E. Lois is the illustrator of Prosiect Drudwen, Rhithganfyddiad and the #GwrachodCymru project. She is on Instagram as @efalois and Twitter as @efalois.