Tamsin Blight [Blee] mid 19th Century
Tammy Blee, the so-called 'White Witch of Helston,' was undoubtedly the greatest of the Cornish conjurors during the nineteenth-century. Born during the closing years of the eighteenth-century, Thomasine Blight (as she was more properly known) achieved great success as a conjuror in West Cornwall, at first during her time at Redruth, and later after her removal to Helston. She began practising as a cunning-woman about 1830 and was certainly well known as one by the time she married James Thomas, another conjuror, in 1835. From the time of her marriage through until the 1850s the two of them formed a remarkable magical double-act, and were widely consulted by their many clients. Many of Blight's customers were farmers who came to see her about sick cattle, others were young women anxious about their marriage prospects. In most cases Blight was able to provide uncanny cures that confirmed her magical reputation. Blight's and James Thomas's marriage came to an end after Thomas proposed sleeping with another man at St Ives, who promptly reported him to the local magistrates. With the threat of arrest Thomas fled Cornwall, and Blight publicly distanced herself from him. The two of them were thereafter estranged. Tammy Blee died on 6 October 1856.
This account is kindly provided by Jason Semmens.
http://www.karisgarden.com/cunningfolk/gallery.htm