Torsåker Parish, Diocese of Härnösand

History

The Torsåker witch trials began when Laurentius Christophori Hornæus of Ytterlännäs parish, was told by Johannes Wattrangius, of Torsåker parish, to investigate witchcraft in his parish. Ytterlännäs and Torsåker were both in the Diocese of Härnösand. Hornæus was zealous in his work, by time the witch hunt was complete, 71 people, 65 women, and six men, had been beheaded and burned. This was the largest witch hunt in Sweden. All the executions were held in a single day, making it one of the largest mass killings of accused witches in recorded history.

Ministers