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/1139 Katherine Lawder

name of accused
Katherine Lawder
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1127
Case date start
3/11/1629
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

  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Denounced by Alexander Hammilton (c/egd/166).

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

Notes
None

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
Appealed to Privy Council to change the location of their trial to Edinburgh, rather than Haddington. Questioned the competency of the local commissioners. Appeal denied.
Case Notes
None
references
name notes
RPC 2nd series, iii, 334, 361-2, 515, 544, 556. RPC gives details of stages of legal process demonstrating the relationship between the central and local authorities. Also appeal from accused and three others objecting to local trial and the local commissioners. Appeal denied but PC appoint only the Sheriff of Haddington to the trial.
Haddington Presbytery records CH2/185/4, f38v, 42r. Mentioned in presbytery minutes. Appeared before the presbytery to hear dittays read out 11/2/1630 Trial to be held on 2/7/1630, imprisoned in tolbooth, Haddington.
Process Notes JC26/9 item 9 Hammilton Documents