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/2260 Alison Dick

name of accused
Alison Dick
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2196
Case date start
17/10/1633
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)
  • refused charity (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Accused by her husband.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Body and soul
  • Paction

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
Notes
None

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Urine

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Alison appears to have argued and cursed her neighbours, who later took ill or had some misfortune. Claimed that her husband (Coke) had cursed boats and she tried to save them. Pissed outside meal cellar and spoiled meal.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Exclusion from social events
  • Refusal of alms

Other maleficia

  • Property damage
  • Damage to property

    • Boats
    • Meal

    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
    Kirkcaldy Presbytery records CH2/224/1, f 55v, r. D Webster 'Tracts on Witchcraft' Edinburgh, 1820, p. 113-124. There is a reference to Alison Coke suspect of witchcraft in 1621 in Church & Parish, Kirkcaldy, p. 166. See also Simpkins 'County Folk Lore Vol VII, Fife, Clackmannan and Kinross'. The project did not check Larner's reference to these printed secondary sources as part of the research.
    Kirkcaldy Old Kirk Session records CH2/636/34. Entry for the accounts/costs of execution, dated 17/12/1633. It lists the costs spent by the church bringing men to try the accused, for purchasing the commisison (£9 3s), for the coal and for making waistcoats for them ('for harden to be jups to them'). It also notes that the town's expenses were for the barrels, ropes, the executioner and his expenses.
    Privy Council Register of Commissions Adv. MA 31.3.10, fo. 64v. None