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/2312 Mareon Cumlaquoy

name of accused
Mareon Cumlaquoy
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2247
Case date start
4/5/1643
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
Notes
Accused of going to someone's house at sunrise, then went three times withershins round the fire. It was claimed this act caused a neighbour's bear (meal) to go rotten and his oats did not grow. Accused of hitting a cow three times with the skirt of her coat (?).

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • Sunrise

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Fire

Religious motif

  • Three

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Transferring disease
  • Healing animals
Notes
Accused of curing a cow after the owner threatened her with burning. Later another animal took sick and died.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Revenge

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Crops

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Claimed that she spoiled crops by going three times withershins around a fire and also stared at another man while he was sowing his seed.

    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
    Orkney Presbytery Records CH2/1082/1. P 228. See also J G Dalyell 'Darker Superstitions of Scotland' Edinburgh, 1834, pp. 8, 109, 390, 459. The project did not check this printed secondary reference as part of the research.
    Marwick Collection D31/4/3. Marwick collection in Orkney Archives also notes there was/is information in Records of Orkney Sheriff Court but the primary source has not been located.