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/2153 Jonat Davidsone

name of accused
Jonat Davidsone
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2100
Case date start
4/1597
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
This appears to have been a case of slander and flyting between Jonat and the wife of one of her accusers. In 1597 she was associated with others and named by Margaret Bane but seems to have got into trouble later for quarrelling.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Dittay refers to the devil being onvisibill - invisible.
  • Animal Devil Beast

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Devilworship
  • Dancing
Notes
Meetings described by Margaret Bane but details were included in the dittay against Davidsone.

Meeting places

  • Hill of Cragleauche Hilltop

musical instruments

  • Unspecified

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Used cloth of various colours. I think she used nail trimmings rather than iron nails as it refers to 'peces of nails'. Claimed to have had a piece of paper on which there was writing and that a neighbour took ill and died after picking it up.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Cloth
  • Hair
  • Nail trimmings
  • Herb
  • Paper

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Halloween

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Quarreling
Notes
It was claimed by witnesses in 1598 that Davidson could cause illness in a child, but this seems to have been slander as she denied all accusations and had witnesses to support her. In 1597 trial accused of causing death by bewitchment.

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
None
references
name notes
Ellon Presbytery records CH2/146/1, f. 19v and 22v. None
Spalding Club Miscellany Vol 1, pp. 150-1, 156, 193. None