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/600 Margaret McGuffock

name of accused
Margaret McGuffock
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/589
Case date start
4/1671
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)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
This case is all about quarrels, threats and misfortune.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
A boy had a nightmare that she was gripping him and he woke up on the floor in pain. She asked for someone's health on her knees and the person recovered.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • In Dream she was gripping a boy

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Angry because a man killed her dog after it had killed his lambs. Went away murmering after refused fodder and straw. Dispute over the price of the produce from a croft. Quarrel and threats with the miller. Son refused a herding job.

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
This group was first processed in 1671 and 1672. Not sure what happened to reopen things again in 1679 with the addition of Margaret Fleming.
references
name notes
High Court Process Notes JC2/13 f.141v-142r None
Process Notes JC26/50 1679
Process Notes JC26/38 the dittay not dated. Also two witness statements.