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/1225 John Smith

name of accused
John Smith
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1213
Case date start
7/8/1623
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)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
He was implicated by Alexander Hammiltoun and persued by James Mowat, Sheriff clerk of Berwick. He was accused of being part of a conspiracy to kill Sir George Home of Manderston and other justice officials (a bailie, a clerk, and a minister's wife). The depositions against him were declared by PC to be falsifications by Mowat. A small bit about quarrels and misfortune, but his whole dittay was dominated by the supposed conspiracy.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Smith supposedly witnessed the Devil having sex with all the women at the meeting and said it was 'behind lyk beistis ilk ane eftir uther'. But he himself was not described as having a physical relationship with the Devil.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Tacit pact

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
The meeting was populated with witches and fairies. He was supposedly seen by a non-witch witness at the coldingham Law meeting. The other witches and fairies disappeared leaving Smith there, the witness then followed him home and found him in bed.

Meeting places

  • Coldingham Law Hilltop
  • Duns Law Hilltop
  • Borthwick Hill Hilltop

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
He was accused of consulting with the Devil to cure himself. He was told to put his wet shirt in the doorway of a witch (presumably and unwitching strategy, the 'witch' in question being his supposed bewitcher). He was also accused of being part of the supposed conpiracy to kill Manderston by leaving a dead bird in his barn and a dead hand in his path. He was also accused of stealing the shoe of Mowat and buring it as a way of harming him.

Counter strategies

  • Counter-magic

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Group of fairies

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Shirt
  • Bird (dead)
  • Hand (dead)
  • Shoes

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Removal bewitchment
Notes
He tried to remove his own bewitchment.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Weather modification

    • Damage to property

    • no information

    weather modification

    • Tempest
    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
    RPC 2nd S, v3 p. 571, 582, 584, 587, 603 Commissions of investigation.
    RPC 2nd S, v4 p. 265-266 Complaint from the accused
    Process Notes JC26/9 item 2 Alexander Hammilton Document
    Process Notes JC26/10 'John Neil' bundle, item 1 None