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/1373 Issobell Smith

name of accused
Issobell Smith
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1360
Case date start
31/5/1661
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)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Mostly demonic but mentioned man in green as well so fairies also ticked as secondary.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Asked about copulation, did not give any details but confirmed that she did the same as the others. Added detail about sex and name at later date when she confirmed her confession.
  • Male black man in green

Demonic pacts

  • Servant
  • Anti-baptism
  • Head and foot
  • Want nothing
  • Sex cold nature
  • New name Magie

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • Baigbiemure Moor
  • Black burn Burn

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
Mentioned a man in green clothes in her confession.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Green

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
None
Case Notes
None
references
name notes
RPC 3rd series, vol 1, pp. 649-50. Record of confession
APS vol 7, p 437. None