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/1856 Catharin Skair

name of accused
Catharin Skair
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/1827
Case date start
11/4/1650
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)
  • Implicated by others (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Confessed that she had a spirit, in the shape of a cat, which she fed with bread and milk. She also consulted it for advice about what to do when she was in trouble or short of food etc. The spirit told her to ask people for things and that she would not be refused.
  • Animal Devil round headed cat
  • Animal Devil black dog
  • Male cold man

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • New name Isoble Fairwedder

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Familiars
Notes
Witnesses claim they saw her going to a well and collecting water, which she cast on her rigg. She spoke nothing on her way and forbade witness to follow her to the well. Cursed witness who argued with her son, he then took ill.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
  • Poisoning
  • Healing humans
  • Healing animals
Notes
Accused confessed that she consulted her spirit for advice about curing her servant, and also how to charm animals. Confessed that she gave drink and a concoction of sugar and damson plums to a man whose money she had stolen, who then died.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Revenge

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Sorcery
  • Charming
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
Brechin Presbytery records CH2/40/1, f 82. None