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/2362 Margaret Murray

name of accused
Margaret Murray
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2295
Case date start
12/11/1646
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

  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

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

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Accused of casting water on a plaid, which she then rubbed against a dog (her own dog?) who immediately died. Also accused of casting water and salt onto neighbour's property.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Water
  • Salt
  • Cloth

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Animal death
Notes
Accusations a bit vague.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • 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
    Elgin Presbytery records CH2/144/1, pp. 118-121. See also W Cramond 'The Records of Elgin' Aberdeen, 1903-8, Vol 2 pp. 356-357. The project did not check this secondary reference as part of the research.