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/1379 Isobell (Elspeth) Crockett

name of accused
Isobell (Elspeth) Crockett
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1365
Case date start
22/7/1658
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • Male

Demonic pacts

  • Sex he was heavy
  • Devil's Mark

witches meetings

Notes
Other accused claimed she was present at meetings. No statement from Crockett.

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
None
Case Notes
She was tried twice (with two others). In her first trial on 23/3/1659 in the circuit court she was found guilty and ordered to be transported. Until that could be arranged she was to be held in Stirling prison. Apparently after two years of imprisonment they petitioned privy council, who ordered another trial due to irregularities. The second trial was a local one, we don't know the outcome.
references
name notes
RPC 3rd series, vol 1, p 26; 75 Petition from accused to PC. First local trial had irregularities. Order for another trial or to be freed by 1/9/1661. Later another order for trial by 1/1/1662
High Court Process Notes JC 26/27, 'Margaret Hutcheson ' bundle copy of commission extending date of trial to 1/1/1662. JCs to be re-catalogued so check with NAS staff. Un-numbered item in bundle. Also JC 26/26 to be checked.
Stirling Presbytery records CH2/722/6, pp. 89-99. None
Process Notes JC26/26 Bundle 3 'Stirling witches' item 17. Arraignment list.
Circuit Court Books JC10/1 fo. 241v, 242v None
Circuit Court Books JC10/1 fo. 244v, 245r essentially sentenced to transportation.
Process Notes JC26/26 bundle 3 'Stirling witches', item 20 mentioned
Process Notes JC26/26 Stirling Court Roll None