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/2123 Issobel Barroun

name of accused
Issobel Barroun
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2070
Case date start
9/3/1597
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Barroun seems to have been quite argumentative and quarrelled and cursed her neighbours. Was also named by others (Christen Michell).

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Barroun did not confess to the accusations and the dittay does not contain any description of demonic pact or relationship other than she was a witch by 'opin voce and common fame'.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Dancing
Notes
Christen Michell claimed that Barroun and others danced at the fish and meal cross and James Thomson's yard. Barroun denied the accusations.

Meeting places

  • James Thomsoun's yard Yard
  • Fish cross Cross
  • meal mercat Mercat Cross

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Seen at the Nether Mylne Burn on Ruidday. Gathered stones some of which she threw in front of her and others over her shoulder. The she took three sips of water from a dish and spat them back into the burn. The burn then stopped flowing to the mill and the mill stopped working.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water
  • Stones

Religious motif

  • Three

Calendar customs

  • Ruidday

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Cursed some women after disagreements, they later took ill and died. Cursed man who took ill but he did not die. Later his property was damaged and he lost £1000.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Business interactions

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Whole Estate
    • Mill

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Was seen to have carried out a ritual at the Nether Mylne Burn, which caused the water flow to the mill to stop and the mill to stop working.

    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
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol I, pp. 168-9, 169-70. None
    Spalding Club Miscellany Vol V, p 66 None