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/743 Isobell Houston

name of accused
Isobell Houston
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/732
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)
  • demonic possessions (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
she was accused of causing tormentings of Margaret Laird and of stealing milk with sympathetic magic, as well as of cursing followed by harm. See Agnes Supp for description of the tormenting/possesion.

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

  • Shape changing
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Very interesting description of a sympathetic magic ritual. She was accused of holding a leather strap as if she were milking a cow. This action supposedly magically took the cows milk from her neighbour, thereby increasing her output and destroying her neighbours milk/dairy output.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • Apparition at the foot of a man's bed

Ritual objects

  • Leather Strap
  • Wax/clay images

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human death
  • Cursing
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Dairy

    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 among other things.
    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 dated 21/4/1699