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/2427 Christian Purdie

name of accused
Christian Purdie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/2353
Case date start
21/12/1661
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
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Dancing
Notes
Neighbour claimed he had seen them dancing around a fire holding a napkin in their hand. They all denied this and wanted searched as proof of their innocence.

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
None

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
Neighbour claimed they caused the death of his horse after he had seen them dancing around a fire at night. They all denied this.

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 for this reference.