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/2882 Magaret Alexander

name of accused
Magaret Alexander
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2761
Case date start
12/3/1647
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)
  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Although the Devil was not mentioned specifically it seems that the descriptions of fairies indicated demonic involvement. The king of fairies seemed to = the Devil.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Mentioned that man in black clothes made her go forward and was at meetings with them all. She also referred to one man being the king of fairies who lay with her. She was asked if his nature was hot or cold to which she replied that it was cold. Told minister that she renounced her baptism to the king of fairies.
  • Male black clothing
  • Female Fairy
  • Male Fairy

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • Devil's Mark on mouth

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Malificium
  • Communal sex
  • Food and drink
Notes
A number of cats came to her house which turned into men and women. Also went with a group of male and female fairies and one man had sex with her and another woman.

Meeting places

  • own house House
  • Lintoun Bridge Bridge

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Shape changing
  • Unorthodox religious practice
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Used water from St Mungo's well to heal her father and spoke verse/charm.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • King of Fairy
  • Group of fairies

Shape-changing

  • Animal cats

Ritual objects

  • Water

Religious motif

  • Pilgrimage
  • Holy well

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human death
  • Healing humans
Notes
Confessed she and others had caused death of Mr James Ross and one of his children. This may have been the James Ross who was minister at Livingston and who died in 1641.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • None
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
Livingston Kirk Session records CH2/467/1, pp 76-83. Entries record her confession to minister. There seems to have been no 'official' trial but she was executed in some way. Entry records that there was some discussion about her being either burnt or buried. This reference was received from Chantal Hamill, Linlithgow.