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/699 Nicholas Buchanan

name of accused
Nicholas Buchanan
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/688
Case date start
5/9/1679
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)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
She was accused of killing two high ranking men with image magic.
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
She was accused of making a wax and clay images and putting them over a fire to kill two high ranking men (Lord Cochran and Hammilton)

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Wax/clay images

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human 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

  • Sorcery
Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
listed as a fugitive from dumbarton, but the document clearly states she is from Stirlingshire. Ordered to appear in Edinburgh on 5/1/1680.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC2/15 f. 96r None
Process Notes JC26/51 says her diet was deserted in 5/9/1679
Process Notes JC26/54 None