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/408 Margaret Porteous

name of accused
Margaret Porteous
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/397
Case date start
29/7/1661
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

  • 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
Some information about quarrelling with neighbours over borrowed money, and working conditions.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Devil promised her all the pleasure in the world.
  • Male met him at 10pm

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • Servant

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
None

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • Lammas
  • Whitsunday

Diseases or illness

  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
Notes
None

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
She was ordered released from prison on caution not to use charms, sorcery or witchcraft again.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC2/11; JC2/10 fos. 30v None
High Court Process Notes JC 26/27, 'Margaret Hutchison' bundle. un-numbered item in wrong bundle. Ask about JCs.
High Court Process Notes JC26/27/5 item 9 She was not tried with the rest of the 12 people indicted in this group draft dittay. Unclear why.
High Court Process Notes JC26/27/5 item 10 Witness notes (possibly towards the builidng of a draft dittay)
High Court Process Notes JC26/27/5 item 12 This document is a draft dittay with notes indicating whether or not the accused witch went to the trial of an assize or not. She did not go to an assize trial. I think the Books of Adjournal edited out the accused witches who did not pass on to the assize. This is either a draft dittay or a first draft of the Books of Adjournal.
High Court Process Notes JC26/27/5 item 13 29/7/1661