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/2425 Mareon Twidie

name of accused
Mareon Twidie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2351
Case date start
29/12/1661
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)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Not enough information but seems to have been a male neighbour complained to the KS about the three woman and said he had seen them dancing round a fire and after that his horse died. They all denied the accusations.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
The KS noted that the women had agreed to be tried by the pricker and had been found to be clean, so no evidence of demonic pact.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Dancing
Notes
It was claimed that they had danced round a fire but they denied the charges.

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
Notes
Witness claimed that he had seen them all dance round a fire waving a napkin in their hand. They all denied the accusations.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Fire
  • Cloth

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Animal death
Notes
Male neighbour claimed his horse died after he had seen them all dance round a fire at night.

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
Penicuik Kirk Session records CH2/297/1. WILSON p. 181 Larner did not give the full citation so we were unable to check it.