More commonly known as the Wizard of West Bow
In the early part of the seventeenth century there lived in Bow of Edinburgh, along with his sister Grizel, one Major Thomas Weir.
Major Thomas Weir was born in 1599 in Carluke (South Lanarkshire) he went on to become an officer in the army. On retiring from the service in 1649 he was appointed Captain of the Town Guard of Edinburgh. He lived with his sister Jean (also referred to as Grizel) in West Bow at the bottom of the Grassmarket. He was a pillar of the community and was seen as an authoritative figure, dressed in his dark cloak and always carrying around his wooden staff. He was know to attend religious meetings and would often lead the prayers.
The front of Major Weir's House West Bow.
It was at one of the prayer meetings that the assembled townsfolk were shocked when instead of leading the prayers Major Weir started to talk of foul crimes. His own foul crimes. He went on to publicly confess to witchcraft, Satanism and incest. At first the people had thought he had gone mad, but his sister Jean later confirmed his confession and added that he had got his power from the demonic wooden staff. Doctors were consulted and priests were sought for their advice but Weir persisted. His confession was so detailed and consistent he could not be ignored. Doctors finally came to the conclusion that Major Weir was sane. There was no other option but to believe his story.
The trial began on the 9th April 1670, Jean had told the court how they inherited the talent of witchcraft from their mother and how Major Weir had the mark of the Devil on his body. She went on to tell them how they travelled the countryside in a fiery coach, going to Musselburgh and Dalkieth to do their evil deeds. Jean had warned the court of the power of Weir's staff. She claimed it was the source of all his power and was given to him by the Devil himself. With all the evidence and the shocking confessions from both Weirs the court took no time at all to reach a verdict. Weir was found guilty of witchcraft.
An old image of the Devil's coach used by Major Weir to roam the countryside
Major Weir was taken to a spot on the city boundaries with Leith called Gallowlea and here he was strangled and burnt. When the rope was placed around his neck he was asked to say "lord be merciful to me" instead he replied "let me alone, I will not. I have lived as a beast and I must die as a beast". Jean was also unrepentant and history says that she tore off her clothes on the scaffold making the scene even more shocking. As Major Weir burned his staff was thrown on the fire, witnesses said it took an unusual time to burn and was moving in a strange way.
The Weir house in West Bow lay empty for over a 100 years no one dared to live there as sounds of revelry were reported to come from the empty house. It was eventually pulled down in the 19th century. During the demolition of the house it was said that a secret stairs leading to an upstairs room were found. Also found was recesses in the walls containing relics of more then one evil crime. One contained the remains of a child and another an assortment of human bones.
some say they have seen Major Weir wandering around the streets and closes in West Bow. Others have seen the wooden staff roaming by itself looking for it master.
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