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/799 Katharine Russell

name of accused
Katharine Russell
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/EGD/788
Case date start
30/3/1671
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

  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None
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

Notes
She was accused of healing and casting rats and other animals and causing other beasts to suddenly die. [In the circuit court books this was described only as charming, in the Aberdeen Roll she was charged with witchcraft and charming - shows the fuzzy distinction between the two.]

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

  • Animal illness
Notes
She was accused of healing, but not sure if it was animals or people.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

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
None
references
name notes
Process Notes JC26/38 Second Aberdeen Roll She is mentioned in JC10/2 f. 57r North for charming, no witchcraft was mentioned here. But on the Aberdeen Roll of 1671 she was accused of witchcraft and charming.