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/400 Jonet Miller

name of accused
Jonet Miller
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/389
Case date start
16/8/1659
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)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Seems to have had a reputation and people wanted to stay away from her, unclear why. With so many witnesses and disputes over land it is possible that this was a neighbourhood dispute.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • Male young man
  • Male with cloven feet like an ox

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark shoulder
  • Anti-baptism
  • Head and foot
  • New name Margaret
  • Servant
  • Sex

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
Notes
A group of witches blew up a locked door and wanted to take a woman's new born baby during her lying in period, but they had no power and left in confusion.

Meeting places

  • 'Breastmilne' Mill
  • Brownesmith?
  • howe by standing stone near Newbridge/Kirkliston Howe
  • Cliftonhall side of the water Shore

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Shape changing
Notes
Accused of using orations to make Mungo Steill ill, but no description. Met the devil at dusk. Went down on her knees and cursed a man.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • Animal cat

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Dispute over entitlement (tailzie) of a piece of land. Threatened man who later took ill. Two animals died after man refused to sell her a sheep or a horse.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Failed business interaction

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Dairy

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    None

    Other charges

    • Sorcery
    Notes
    Accused of using charms, sorcery and witchcraft

    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
    Books of Adjournal JC2/11; JC2/10 fo. 2 JC2/10 and 2/11 have the same information. Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 20/8/1661, this index did not distinguish between circuit and high court cases. This list of names was added in the margins with a modern hand, no indication of where the person got the list.
    High Court Process Notes JC 26/27, bundle 1, item 1. Also 'Gilmerton witches' item 3. Also 'Janet Miller' bundle Verdict included with others who were tried at same time. JC 26/27 is likely to be re-catalogued at some future date. Check with NAS. Note about trial misfiled in 'Gilmerton witches' bundle. Dittay, confession details, assize list, order for trial in 'Janet Millar' bundle.
    Books of Adjournal JC2/11 None
    Books of Adjournal JC2/11; JC2/10 fos. 21v-27r JC2/11 and JC2/10 have the same text.
    High Court Process Notes JC26/27/5 item 5 a process note about being held.