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/JO/2846 Jonet Ker

name of accused
Jonet Ker
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2734
Case date start
6/5/1629
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 (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Ker denied all charges so difficult to assess characterisation

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Witness described how Ker took her to a place where the devil appeared in a dreadful shape. According to the witness Ker offered the devil the girl who called on God, whereupon the devil vanished. Ker denied all charges.
  • Male fearful shape

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

  • Devil present
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • Southhundall? Coalpit

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Shape changing
Notes
Witness told presbytery that Ker had appeared to her while she was in her bed with her husband and had abused her. The witness then took an illness and later on her knees asked Ker three times for her health. Ker denied all the accusations. Later entry in the presbytery minutes about another woman (Christian Adie) who was in trouble for having requested her health from Ker.

Counter strategies

  • Appeasement

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • Apparition as herself

Ritual objects

  • no information

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human 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
None
references
name notes
Linlithgow presbytery records CH2/242/2, p 247, 338-9. None