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/749 Jannet Gentleman

name of accused
Jannet Gentleman
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/738
Case date start
22/4/1699
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)
Characterisation Notes
Accused of tormenting Margaret Murdoch and of appearing to a guy in his bed chamber with Marion Ure and Margaret Duncan. See Agnes Supp for description of the possesion.
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

  • Shape changing
Notes
appeared as an apparition to a guy in his bed chamber with 2 other witches the three also appeared as animals - a sow, a cat and an ape.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • Apparition
  • Animal

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

Notes
None

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
Her husband's bond of caution for her survives - 1699. Denounced by Margaret Murdoch in Govan, a girl who claimed to be tormented by witches. Her father was John Murdoch of Craigtown in the parish of Govan. Murdoch denounced many people while in fits. Most of the witness testimony was given in Glasgow (22 April 1699) and it came from people who witnessed Murdoch's fits and denunciations among other things.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC3/1 f. 89 None
Circuit Court Books JC10/4 third part None
Process Notes JC26/81 f. 9 dittay was dated 21/4/1699
Process Notes JC26/81 bundle 1, f. 1 bond of caution