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/2387 Jonat Couper

name of accused
Jonat Couper
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2318
Case date start
25/11/1649
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)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • refused charity (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
It is difficult to tell whether this is a neighbourhood dispute or refusal of charity as there is no indication of Janet's economic status. She asked for ale and cream to churn and when refused the produce was spoiled so may be that she was less well off than her neighbours but I have included both as secondary characteristics.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • Male

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • Devil's Mark neck
  • Sex
  • New name Nikkie Clark

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • None Mill
  • None Bridge
  • West Mill Waterside

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

  • Fire

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
Notes
Witnesses claimed accused cause death of baby and illness. Also ale and cream was spoiled after she had asked for some and been refused.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Ale
    • Dairy

    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
    Brechin Presbytery records CH2/40/1, f81. W Cramond 'Extracts from the Records of the Kirk Session of Elgin' Elgin, 1897, pp. 31-5. The project did not check Larner's reference to this printed secondary source as part of the research.