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/1533 Margaret NcLevin

name of accused
Margaret NcLevin
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1519
Case date start
26/1/1662
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

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
There is quite a lot of detail from NcLevin's confessions. She named at least 20 or more other people who attended meetings. The objective for these meetings would appear to have been malefice, particularly killing children and adults.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
She refused his advances initially but the the devil hurt the middle finger of her right hand - he almost cut it off - which was very painful. Also her right leg was hurt. She then agreed to make a covenant with him in return for his healing her injuries.
  • Male man

Demonic pacts

  • New name Jonat
  • Paction made covenant

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
A group carried a corpse on a beirtree. NcLevin appears to have named various people who attended different meetings.

Meeting places

  • Corsmore Moor
  • between Kilmachalmok and Edinmore
  • between Mikell Kilmorie and Killeferne Moore Moor
  • Lochfyne

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Said she knew charms to cure the evil eye, wristing or brising (?) and the glaick. These involved rituals and charms spoken in Gaelic. She used water, a curchif (handkerchief or scarf), herbs. To cure the glaik she would take the person (child) to the place where the herb grew, avoiding seeing any other person. Picks up the herb through a broch (brooch) takes it home and seiths (sains?/bless) it on the fire. Thsi she would give as a drink, three times.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water
  • Cloth
  • Herb

Religious motif

  • Three

Calendar customs

  • All Saints Day
  • Harvest

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Removal bewitchment
  • Healing humans
  • Healing animals
Notes
Said they took the life of a child when they went to Scoulage. Also confessed to other killings on different occasions, and they all seem to have been children. Asked to remove a bewitchment

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage
  • Weather modification

    • Damage to property

    • Boats

    weather modification

    • Storm
    Notes
    Claimed the devil took her under his arm out to a boat. She was then to pull out the mast, but the boat did not sink because God intervened. Also said she raised a storm by throwing a stone in the sea.

    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
    Highland Papers Vol III, pp 4-12. None
    Highland Papers Vol III, p 24-5 Named in another person's confession.