Alexander
“Sawney” Bean:
“Sawney” Bean:
Before beginning I’d like to
mention that Sawney Bean is often considered a mythical figure, there is no
real conclusion if his story is real or fake. There are also many different
versions of the story, expanding from the 1300s to the 1600s: so I will be
telling the tale that I found the most of. The first documented mentioning of
Sawney comes from “The Newgate Calender,” which was a crime catalogue of the
Newgate Prison in London. Within this documentation, it states that Sawney was
born in East Lothian during the 1500s. His father was a ditch digger and a
hedge trimmer, but when it came to taking up the family trade Sawney felt
little to no interest in the honest labor. He left home with a woman sometimes
named Black Agnes Douglas, and the couple found their way to a coastal cave in
Bennane Head between Girvan and Ballantrae. The cave was 200 yards deep and
during high tide the entrance was blocked by water. This is where they lived,
committing their crime, for twenty-five some years.
mention that Sawney Bean is often considered a mythical figure, there is no
real conclusion if his story is real or fake. There are also many different
versions of the story, expanding from the 1300s to the 1600s: so I will be
telling the tale that I found the most of. The first documented mentioning of
Sawney comes from “The Newgate Calender,” which was a crime catalogue of the
Newgate Prison in London. Within this documentation, it states that Sawney was
born in East Lothian during the 1500s. His father was a ditch digger and a
hedge trimmer, but when it came to taking up the family trade Sawney felt
little to no interest in the honest labor. He left home with a woman sometimes
named Black Agnes Douglas, and the couple found their way to a coastal cave in
Bennane Head between Girvan and Ballantrae. The cave was 200 yards deep and
during high tide the entrance was blocked by water. This is where they lived,
committing their crime, for twenty-five some years.
Between the two, they had eight
sons, six daughters, eighteen grandsons and fourteen granddaughters; various
grandchildren were products of incest.
The clan survived by ambushing at night to rob and murder individuals
and groups. After the murders, their bodies were brought back to the cave where
they were dismembered and eaten. Any leftovers were pickled and often body
parts would wash up on nearby beaches.
sons, six daughters, eighteen grandsons and fourteen granddaughters; various
grandchildren were products of incest.
The clan survived by ambushing at night to rob and murder individuals
and groups. After the murders, their bodies were brought back to the cave where
they were dismembered and eaten. Any leftovers were pickled and often body
parts would wash up on nearby beaches.
Regardless the disappearances
didn’t go unnoticed, but the Beans were smart on their antics and stayed in the
caves by day and attacked by nights and due to their secretiveness, the
villagers were unaware of the murderers living nearby. Eventually the villagers organized a search to
find the criminals, and on such a search they found the cave, however the men
refused to believe that anyone could live inside. Angered they couldn’t find
the real culprits the villagers began to lynch several innocent people, hoping
they’d catch the culprits but the disappearances kept going. One of the suspects
was the local innkeepers since they were the last to have seen many of the
people who’d gone missing.
didn’t go unnoticed, but the Beans were smart on their antics and stayed in the
caves by day and attacked by nights and due to their secretiveness, the
villagers were unaware of the murderers living nearby. Eventually the villagers organized a search to
find the criminals, and on such a search they found the cave, however the men
refused to believe that anyone could live inside. Angered they couldn’t find
the real culprits the villagers began to lynch several innocent people, hoping
they’d catch the culprits but the disappearances kept going. One of the suspects
was the local innkeepers since they were the last to have seen many of the
people who’d gone missing.
Caught
Red Handed
Red Handed
One night the Beans
ambushed a married couple who were riding home from a fair on a single horse,
but what they didn’t expect was that the husband was a skilled fighter and was
able to hold off the clan with sword and pistol. He was able to hold them off
until a large group of fairgoers appeared on the trail. Before fleeing, the
clan was able to fatally maul the wife when she fell off the horse during the
conflict but it is said the husband survived.
ambushed a married couple who were riding home from a fair on a single horse,
but what they didn’t expect was that the husband was a skilled fighter and was
able to hold off the clan with sword and pistol. He was able to hold them off
until a large group of fairgoers appeared on the trail. Before fleeing, the
clan was able to fatally maul the wife when she fell off the horse during the
conflict but it is said the husband survived.
The Bean’s existence was
revealed and it wasn’t long before King James VI of Scotland led a manhunt with
a team of 400 men and several bloodhounds. They soon found the Beans’ cave and
within they saw a horrendous site. Within the cave was scattered human remains;
body parts were pickled in jars and some were even hung up on the walls.
Possessions of the numerous victims were left in piles throughout the cave.
revealed and it wasn’t long before King James VI of Scotland led a manhunt with
a team of 400 men and several bloodhounds. They soon found the Beans’ cave and
within they saw a horrendous site. Within the cave was scattered human remains;
body parts were pickled in jars and some were even hung up on the walls.
Possessions of the numerous victims were left in piles throughout the cave.
The clan was captured alive and
taken in chains to the Tolbooth Jail in Edinburg, from there they were
transferred to Leith or Glasgow where they were executed without trial: the men
had their genitalia cut off, hands and feet severed and then bled to death, the
women and children watched as the men died and then were burned alive.
taken in chains to the Tolbooth Jail in Edinburg, from there they were
transferred to Leith or Glasgow where they were executed without trial: the men
had their genitalia cut off, hands and feet severed and then bled to death, the
women and children watched as the men died and then were burned alive.
A
Runaway?
Runaway?
The acclaimed town that was
said to be located near the scene of the murder, known as Girvan, has another
legend about the clan. One that states that one of the Beans’ daughters left the
clan before their capture and settled in Girvan where she planted a Dule Tree
that became known as “The Hairy Tree.” After the capture of the clan, the
daughter’s identity was revealed and the angry locals hung her from the very
tree she planted.
said to be located near the scene of the murder, known as Girvan, has another
legend about the clan. One that states that one of the Beans’ daughters left the
clan before their capture and settled in Girvan where she planted a Dule Tree
that became known as “The Hairy Tree.” After the capture of the clan, the
daughter’s identity was revealed and the angry locals hung her from the very
tree she planted.
Another tale tells of the
daughter escaping and being adopted by a local family; at 17, she married and
they had a son. The family would kill two to three people in times of hunger in
order to survive. The villagers found out, captured the daughter and hung her
while the husband and son escaped. They bought a charter to one of the colonies
in the New World and establish within the colony of Roanoke Island.
daughter escaping and being adopted by a local family; at 17, she married and
they had a son. The family would kill two to three people in times of hunger in
order to survive. The villagers found out, captured the daughter and hung her
while the husband and son escaped. They bought a charter to one of the colonies
in the New World and establish within the colony of Roanoke Island.
Today:
There is a display of Sawney
Bean at the Edinburgh Dungeon that is very popular. And most in North America
would recognize a similar story to that of the Wes Craven 1977 movie, “The
Hills Have Eyes,” Which Wes Craven was inspired by an article on Sawney Bean.
There is also a small influence from the tale in the “The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre,” which was also inspired by Ed Gein.
Bean at the Edinburgh Dungeon that is very popular. And most in North America
would recognize a similar story to that of the Wes Craven 1977 movie, “The
Hills Have Eyes,” Which Wes Craven was inspired by an article on Sawney Bean.
There is also a small influence from the tale in the “The Texas Chainsaw
Massacre,” which was also inspired by Ed Gein.
Fact
or Fiction:
or Fiction:
These are just my theories and
what I was able to gather up logically and scientifically from my standing – it
does not all mean it’s the truth. Let’s begin: Sawney Bean was said to be the
leader of a clan of 48, most of the grandchildren – I can imagine – if not all,
were by incest. With six daughters and having to wait 12-13 years each of them
to be able to produce children up to about 48 is actually possible. I’ve even
tried debunking this by doing the math, extracting 12 years for each girl and
then adding a child to per girl after the following years if they were to give
birth every year would be close to 60 grandbabies if I collected right.
Surprisingly, I have to rule out that logic. Let’s now try ruling out the cave
situation – that floods during high tide. Believe it or not it is still
possible for them to live in that cave since it is recorded to have tunnels up
to 2-3 miles long (at least that I read.) But to kill up to 100 and now being
said to have killed up to a 1,000 in 25 years? If you were to kill 1 person per
day, it is very likely.
what I was able to gather up logically and scientifically from my standing – it
does not all mean it’s the truth. Let’s begin: Sawney Bean was said to be the
leader of a clan of 48, most of the grandchildren – I can imagine – if not all,
were by incest. With six daughters and having to wait 12-13 years each of them
to be able to produce children up to about 48 is actually possible. I’ve even
tried debunking this by doing the math, extracting 12 years for each girl and
then adding a child to per girl after the following years if they were to give
birth every year would be close to 60 grandbabies if I collected right.
Surprisingly, I have to rule out that logic. Let’s now try ruling out the cave
situation – that floods during high tide. Believe it or not it is still
possible for them to live in that cave since it is recorded to have tunnels up
to 2-3 miles long (at least that I read.) But to kill up to 100 and now being
said to have killed up to a 1,000 in 25 years? If you were to kill 1 person per
day, it is very likely.
So I looked into when pistols
were invented and brought over to Scotland if they were not already made in the
Highlands. Pistols were invented around 1364, matching early on with the
possible years but unfortunately I couldn’t find when they were brought to
invent in Scotland. But most likely early on as they were invented.
were invented and brought over to Scotland if they were not already made in the
Highlands. Pistols were invented around 1364, matching early on with the
possible years but unfortunately I couldn’t find when they were brought to
invent in Scotland. But most likely early on as they were invented.
If the tale I read is the most
likely to believed (which I am not sure, I only found one other tale, though
I’ve read there are tons of others.) Then I dug into James VI, he was born 1566
and died in 1625, marking that the Beans’, if they existed would have been in
the late 1500s but prior to the 1605s; since he was coronated and living in
England in the early 1600s. So from that information we can pinpoint them
living possibly around the 1580s to the 1600s. King James was the sort of King
that told his people what he was doing when things got down to business – so if
he were hunting for a clan of cannibalistic murderers, it would have been known
and popularized and detailed in accounts that mostly would have been preserved.
likely to believed (which I am not sure, I only found one other tale, though
I’ve read there are tons of others.) Then I dug into James VI, he was born 1566
and died in 1625, marking that the Beans’, if they existed would have been in
the late 1500s but prior to the 1605s; since he was coronated and living in
England in the early 1600s. So from that information we can pinpoint them
living possibly around the 1580s to the 1600s. King James was the sort of King
that told his people what he was doing when things got down to business – so if
he were hunting for a clan of cannibalistic murderers, it would have been known
and popularized and detailed in accounts that mostly would have been preserved.
More on how it was impossible
for the Bean clan to exist in the 1300s is them being taken to the Tolbooth
Jail – which was completed in the 1400s. To expand on this timeline theory is
this, if the daughter escaping and marrying to be true, and husband and son
reaching Roanoke that also puts the Beans’ existence in the late 1500s due to
Roanoke being established around that time. Now before I move onto another
persons’ viewpoint on the matter, let me bring up one other thing:
for the Bean clan to exist in the 1300s is them being taken to the Tolbooth
Jail – which was completed in the 1400s. To expand on this timeline theory is
this, if the daughter escaping and marrying to be true, and husband and son
reaching Roanoke that also puts the Beans’ existence in the late 1500s due to
Roanoke being established around that time. Now before I move onto another
persons’ viewpoint on the matter, let me bring up one other thing:
The story of the daughter
escaping to Girvan. I am not saying this is not possible but it’s an odd
coincidence. Why, you ask? Dule trees are widely known in Britain, but do grow
in Scotland, but are known as the Gallows for public hangings. They are known
for this very aspect throughout history and yet, the daughter planted a Dule
tree and then was hung from one is just an unexpected coincidence if it were to
have ever actually happen. It was as if, she planted her own demise. I did look
into Girvan and any possible “Dule” or “Hairy Tree” there and couldn’t find
anything so it could or might not exist.
escaping to Girvan. I am not saying this is not possible but it’s an odd
coincidence. Why, you ask? Dule trees are widely known in Britain, but do grow
in Scotland, but are known as the Gallows for public hangings. They are known
for this very aspect throughout history and yet, the daughter planted a Dule
tree and then was hung from one is just an unexpected coincidence if it were to
have ever actually happen. It was as if, she planted her own demise. I did look
into Girvan and any possible “Dule” or “Hairy Tree” there and couldn’t find
anything so it could or might not exist.
In the 2005 article released by
Sean Thomas, he notes that the historical documents such as newspapers and
diaries during the era that Bean was said to be active, doesn’t mention any
hundreds to thousands of disappearances. He also notes that there are inconsistencies
in the stories but believes there could be some small truths as well as
possible inspiration from other murder cases. I am not saying his research is
invalid, I am 100% positive he had better sources than me but since the legend
ranges from the 1300s to the 1600s, I’d imagine it to be impossible to get all
the documentation from all the newspapers and diaries of those eras, especially
with a high chance that they were lost in time, destroyed, or even hard to
translate.
Sean Thomas, he notes that the historical documents such as newspapers and
diaries during the era that Bean was said to be active, doesn’t mention any
hundreds to thousands of disappearances. He also notes that there are inconsistencies
in the stories but believes there could be some small truths as well as
possible inspiration from other murder cases. I am not saying his research is
invalid, I am 100% positive he had better sources than me but since the legend
ranges from the 1300s to the 1600s, I’d imagine it to be impossible to get all
the documentation from all the newspapers and diaries of those eras, especially
with a high chance that they were lost in time, destroyed, or even hard to
translate.
Let’s talk politics. A subject I
am actually quite terrible at. The first books mentioning the story, including
the Newgate Article, were published in England at a time where there was
widespread prejudice against the Scots. On the rise of this, the name Sawney
itself, was a popular English name that was more of a racial slur for the
Scots. Many historians believe now that the story was made up for propaganda,
or that if the Bean Clan did exist that it was greatly exaggerated.
am actually quite terrible at. The first books mentioning the story, including
the Newgate Article, were published in England at a time where there was
widespread prejudice against the Scots. On the rise of this, the name Sawney
itself, was a popular English name that was more of a racial slur for the
Scots. Many historians believe now that the story was made up for propaganda,
or that if the Bean Clan did exist that it was greatly exaggerated.
Now tell me, what do you
believe?
believe?
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videos like mine, please check out my patreon page and if you choose too,
become a patron and support me. I do videos on true crime, Cryptids, Abductions,
haunting and much more. I would also like to thank my supporting Patron thus
far.
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