The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003

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Case Details

C/EGD/211 Alleson Patersone

name of accused
Alleson Patersone
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/200
Case date start
21/1/1650
Given case date
no information
Case commission
no information
case complaint
no information
case correspondence
no information
case chronicle
no information
other details
no information

characterisation

  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The whole case is about quarrels about daily business and household dealings, followed by curses and threats, followed by illnesses and household problems. Interestingly, an unknown presbytery commentator on the case wrote that they needed more evidence concerning the quarrels and threats!

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
None

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Female infertility
  • Male impotence
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Quarrels, threats (and curses) followed by illness. The quarrels about borrowing a courche (kerchief/ cap), cloth bought on credit, refusal to pay, milling wheat. She supposedly caused male impotence (the night after a wedding) after a quarrel.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • no information

Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
Part of a group of 7 investigated by the presbytery of Dumfries on this date.
references
name notes
Process Notes JC26/13 Bundle A None