There is a very interesting story regarding "The Sea Witch of Orkney" Janet Forsyth. The version, I wrote a song about, was that her boyfriend was suspected to be on a ship in trouble off the coast of Orkney and she rowed in mountainous waves in a small rowing boat to it and guided them to safety. The villagers reported her as a witch and she was tried and sentenced to burn on the stake. She was saved by her boyfriend and members of the crew, who broke her out of Stronsay Prison.
She was later reported to be seen working in a clothes shop in Manchester.
Al