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/791 Janet McGown

name of accused
Janet McGown
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/780
Case date start
4/5/1658
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 (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The record is just witness comments on their depositions, very patchy. She supposedly asked to borrow meal and was refused followed by cursing and malefice. I am not ticking Refused charity, because I think it was a request between equals and the word 'borrow' was specifically used. Implying that this was not 'charity'. Although she was called a 'pyker and a theif' I think this was slander, not an accurate description of her status. JC26 documents confirm definate neighbourhood disputes!

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
She was seen with a black boy who was black all over but not specified as the Devil or supernatural in any way.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • Sex
  • Devil's Mark
  • New name

witches meetings

Notes
None

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Withershins. She had a quarrel with a man who accused her of leaving a black cleise and three blue yearns under his milking cow (a charm). A man who was to confiscate their things found a black toad in his bed and died.

Counter strategies

  • Prayer
  • Appeasement

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Thread
  • Cloth
  • Toad

Religious motif

  • Prayer

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Flyting, grazing disputes (removal of kercheif), ale, borrowed meal.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Social slight

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Ale

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    a man refused to marry her daughter and married another, so the bride died.

    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
    Possibly same person as Janet McGoane, e/egd/2335.
    references
    name notes
    Circuit Court Books JC10/1 fo. 259r-260r, 260v, 269r None
    None None McDowall, W. 'History of the burgh of Dumfries' (Edinburgh, 1867), p. 376. The project did not check Larner's reference to this printed secondary source as part of the research.
    Circuit Court Papers JC10/15/3 None
    Process Notes JC26/26 Dumfries dittays 1659 (Biggest dittay roll) Dittay
    Process Notes JC26/26 loose paper None
    Process Notes JC26/26 Dumfries bundle Witness investigation before Kirk session and JPs