The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

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

The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Case Details

C/EGD/297 Margaret Duchill

name of accused
Margaret Duchill
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/286
Case date start
11/5/1658
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Claimed the devil was called 'Johne'. He lay on top of her cow and was like a cow.
  • Male in brown clothes and black hat

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • Devil's Mark eyebrow
  • Sex
  • Servant
  • Want nothing

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Malificium
  • Dancing
Notes
Several meetings at various places. Often met at the house of the person who they intended to harm

Meeting places

  • neighbour's house House
  • Alloa cross Cross
  • Cunigar?
  • at barn door Barn
  • other person's house House

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Shape changing
Notes
Often met the devil and others at 12 o'clock at night.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Midnight

Shape-changing

  • Animal cat
  • Animal black dog

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
Notes
Confessed that she complained to the devil about people who had insulted her or owed the group money and the devil would punish them and kill them. Caused death of people and animals. Took a man and tried to drown him.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Revenge
  • Debt
  • Verbal Insult

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Animals

    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
    None
    references
    name notes
    Stirling Presbytery records CH2/722/6, pp.89-99. None
    Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'Stirling witches', item 20, 21 mentioned