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/736 Bessie Cochran

name of accused
Bessie Cochran
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/725
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 (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic possesion (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • refused charity (secondary characteristic)
  • refused charities (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
She was a poor woman who seemed to move around a lot. She was denounced by her son (sort of) when he told other kids that he was a witch and that so was his mother. She was accused of tormenting Margaret Laird one two girls claiming possession in 1699. Very detailed documents. See Agnes Supp for description of the tormenting/possession.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Accused by her son of making him join the Devil (see c/egd/735) for details of his case.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

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

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • Grudge

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
Denounced by Margaret Laird in Paisley, a girl who claimed to be tormented by witches. Laird denounced many people while in fits. 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.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC3/1 f. 89 None
Circuit Court Books JC10/4 part 3 None
Process Notes JC26/81 f. 9 dittay roll for a trial in Glasgow 19/5/1699 that doesn't seem to have happened.