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/1581 Cristian Neil Ferquhar Vic Ean Baik McNish

name of accused
Cristian Neil Ferquhar Vic Ean Baik McNish
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1567
Case date start
3/7/1662
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

  • property motive (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Complicated case as a number of people from the McLean family accused. There may have been some family rivalry between the McLeans and Chisholms and the Chisholms wanted to acquire the lands belonging to the group. Claimed that the McLeans had been 'kindly tenants' for several hundred years.

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

  • 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
One of a group of 15 related to the McLeans who were accused of witchcraft by the Chisholms.
references
name notes
RPC 3rd series, vol 1, pp. 237, 242, 259. Record of petition and counter-petition from McLean and Chisholm about illegal imprisonment.