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/730 Jean Ross

name of accused
Jean Ross
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/719
Case date start
19/4/1699
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 possesion (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Her accusations stem from quarrels about the school and children falling ill. Also lots of mentions of her being associated with loud noises of rats and cats - a lot of them. Doesn't seem like enough to base a primary characterisation.
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
Mention of her being associated with a multitude of noisy cats and rats.

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

  • Human illness
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Muttering after quarrels. A rat was seen on a child that later became ill.

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
Most of the witness testimony was given in Paisley (19-21 April 1699) and it came from people who witnessed Laird's fits and denunciations among other things.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC3/1 f. 89 JC 26/81/D9