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/1770 Catharin Mactargett

name of accused
Catharin Mactargett
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1753
Case date start
9/9/1679
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)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
  • white magic (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Main accusation was that her language and begging behaviour convinced people that she was a witch and that despite this reputation she had not complained about any slander. When she was given charity she would demand more, and threaten those who refused by predicting damage or harm for them. Although malefice and pact featured, it is likely that this was more of a neighbourhood dispute as all the accusers and the accused came from Dunbar. [The healing was not central, but ticked folk healing because she did recommend a cure that supposedly worked (LEM).] She was previously tried in 1679.
additional persons
name involvement notes
John Sinclair Commissioner
William Baird Commissioner
Robert Hamilton Commissioner
Archibald Murray Commissioner
James Muir Commissioner
Robert Lauder Commissioner
James Forrest Commissioner
William Kirkwood Commissioner
James Smith Commissioner
George Purves Commissioner
George Rutherford Commissioner
George Sinclair Commissioner
Thomas Wood Minister
Patrick Brown Prosecutor
Alexander Crombie Sheriff-depute
John Hall Commissioner
James Crombie Chancellor
Alexander Cairns Confession Witness

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
A dumb man put a long pin in her shoulder which caused her no pain in 1683. Confessed to demonic pact and that a Highland woman had taught her what to do.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark shoulder
  • Anti-baptism
  • Body and soul

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
On handsel Monday she came upon people playing pennystone and offered one man bread and cheese. He refused to take it initially, but then ate some and let the rest fall on the ground. His wife took ill later. Threw a hair tether into a neighbour's house before he became ill. Accused of using water and a sign (movement) to cause the death of animals. Put bonnet on child's head the wrong way - later he died. Verbal charm spoken three times. After accusation that she had bewitched a woman the accused went to her and gave her onions which she told her to boil with a sheep's draught and then drink it. The woman recovered her health. Another cure involved an egg mixed with ale.

Counter strategies

  • Appeasement

white magic

  • Prophesy

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Tether
  • Water
  • Animal dung
  • Egg
  • Onion
  • Salt

Religious motif

  • Three

Calendar customs

  • Handsel Monday

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Transferring disease
  • Laying on
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
  • Healing humans
Notes
Main accusations involved death or harm to both people and animals after a dispute or argument. On one occasion she was hit by one of her neighbours. Her offer of bread/cheese on handsel Monday was refused and later a woman took ill.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Grudge
  • Physical insult
  • Social slight
  • Debt
  • Exclusion from social events

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Dairy
    • Animals
    • Ale
    • Whole Estate

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Accused of putting salt in ale to make it go off?

    Other charges

    • Cursing
    • Charming
    • Sorcery
    • Necromancy
    Notes
    None

    Plea

    Claimed bewitched
    no
    Claimed possessed
    no
    Admitted lesser charges
    no
    No defence
    no
    Claimed natural causes
    no
    Notes
    Said that one of her accusers had a grudge against her. Some of her other actions were meant as a joke. Admitted she recommended certains cures.
    Case Notes
    She was tried twice, first in the circuit court at Haddington in 1679, when she was declared fugitive. Then again under a commission of justiciary in 1688. The Haddington porteous roll (like the Edinburgh one of the same date) of delinquent dittays from 8/9/1679 all have the standard tag line of accusations: witchcraft, sorcery and necromancy; and renunciation of baptism and giving themselves over to the Devil, body and soul.
    references
    name notes
    RPC 3rd series, vol 13, pp. 234-6, 245-62. RPC includes commission and details about witness statements, dittay and members of assize. Verdict included but no details about sentence.
    Circuit Court Books JC10/3 fo. 24v. None
    Process Notes JC26/51 None