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/317 Bessie Stevenson

name of accused
Bessie Stevenson
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/306
Case date start
16/3/1659
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

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (primary characteristic)
  • white magic (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

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

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
she knows a blasted person, which means a bewitched person 'by the gogling of their eyes and turning hither and tither to ather side.' Washes their clothes in St. Ninian's well for healing. This will either 'end them or mend them.' She learned it from lady McFarlens daughter 24 years prior. She transfers the disease if she meets anyone on the way back from the well. Also layed two foxtree leaves under their head and middle. She cures maw turning by leading people around an oak tree three times, repeating words. For curing persons forespoken she recites words and takes some of the illness into herself. For curing heart fires she uses a belt and two threads she rolls them and if the threads are on the top and the bottom the person has heart fires.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • Diagnose Bewitchment

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Pin
  • Flesh
  • Shirt
  • Foxtree Leaves
  • Water
  • Belt
  • Thread

Religious motif

  • Holy well

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human death
  • Transferring disease
  • Removal bewitchment
  • Rec. healer
  • Healing humans
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Charming
  • Sorcery
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
Circuit Court Books JC10/1 fo. 239r-240r None
Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'stirling witches', item 17 arraignment list
Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'stirling witches', item 11 the manner of charmes of the Stirling witches.
Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'stirling witches', item 12, item 14, 22 witnesses summond, 2 witness lists
Process Notes JC26/26 Stiriling Court Roll None