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/697 Agnes Somerville

name of accused
Agnes Somerville
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/686
Case date start
24/7/1678
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)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
It is all from her confession, no indication of why she was accused.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
At first the Devil just embraced her. Later at Heriot Back, 'the devill tempted her to uncleannes and hade carnall copulation with her and that he wes all as cold as ire.'
  • Male Black man

Demonic pacts

  • Want nothing
  • Anti-baptism
  • Head and foot
  • Sex

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • farm brae at midnight Farm
  • Line dean Dam
  • white house House

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

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Animal death
Notes
She killed animals by riding them to death

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Animals

    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
    Books of Adjournal JC2/15 ff. 20v-22v None
    Books of Adjournal JC2/15 f. 24v None
    Witchcraft Papers JC40/10 Trial verdict