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/1756 Mary Mitchell

name of accused
Mary Mitchell
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1739
Case date start
4/1677
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)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Main accusation was the murder of 2 sons of Robert Douglas of Barloch, but demonic features included as suspects were searched for marks.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
One of the group confessed to demonic pact and it was claimed that they all had marks.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark

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

  • Human death
Notes
Accused of murder by drowning of 2 boys

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Murder
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 5, pp 187, 193. Record of supplication from Robert Douglas and Stirling magistrates to either release the suspects or hold trial at public expense. Commission to examine suspects issued.
Process Notes JC26/34 halfway through the box Examined and released.