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/745 John Dougall

name of accused
John Dougall
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/734
Case date start
3/6/1695
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

  • unorthodox religious practise (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic possesion (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • folk healing (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Was indicted with others accused of tormenting children. But he seems to be a straightforward failed healer who got caught up in the 1699 prosecutions.

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

  • Specific ritual acts
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Used hair as a charm to cure. The objects were used to heal. Used rowan tree belt wrapped nine times to cure ?frigidity. Used nail clippings, eye brow hair and hairs from the crown of the head and half a penny wrapped in cloth. Told witness to sow some milk in with his corn on Beltane day. Told another man to boil a stirck (young cow) and burn the rest of the bones to ashes and then bury them. Dougall said this would cure the sturdie (scrappie) disease in his beasts.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Milk
  • Money
  • Nail trimmings
  • Tree
  • Cloth
  • Hair
  • Belt

Religious motif

  • Nine
  • Nine

Calendar customs

  • Beltane

Diseases or illness

  • Transferring disease
  • Rec. healer
  • Healing humans
  • Healing animals
Notes
He was noted as unsuccessful at healing a girl, seemed to be better at healing animals. Used charms to heal frigidity and convulsions. Hair, money and nails were left so whoever found them would get the disease and remove it from the first person.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Fishing

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Claimed he had taught a man how to get part of another man's fishing.

    Other charges

    • Charming
    Notes
    None

    Plea

    Claimed bewitched
    no
    Claimed possessed
    no
    Admitted lesser charges
    no
    No defence
    no
    Claimed natural causes
    no
    Notes
    None
    Case Notes
    He was accused with others who were denounced by tormented girls, but he appears to have been a healer (called a charmer in the record). Connected with the Margaret Murdoch cases.
    references
    name notes
    Books of Adjournal JC3/1 f. 89 None
    Paisley Presbytery records CH2/294/4. Pagination not in sequence, use dates. Also J. Murray, KILMALCOLM (Paisley, 1907) p. 110.
    Circuit Court Books JC10/4 part 3 None
    Process Notes JC26/81 f. 9 dittay dated 21/4/1699