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/1295 Mary Cunningham

name of accused
Mary Cunningham
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1283
Case date start
6/8/1644
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
She and her daughter were denounced by a witch.

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

  • Adultery
  • Incest
Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
She was tried twice, first in Culross but was found not proven, so the commissioners asked her to be retried by the lord advocate arguing that the procurator fiscal (local judge) did not have any legal expertise and was not equipped for the trial. The lord advocate agreed. The bailies harrased her defence advocate and others who stood up for her. She claimed that the bailies possessed their lands and yards. It appears that the Privy Council granted her and her daughter's request of 6/8/1644 for release from prison and investigation of the conduct of the bailies.
references
name notes
RPC 2nd S, v8 p. 37-38, 39, 43, 139 None
RPC 2nd S, v8 pp. 101-103 her and her daughter's supplication to the Privy Council concerning her treatment in prison.
RPC 2nd S, v8 pp. 105 None