The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003

The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Case Details

C/JO/2887 Helen Kirkpatrick

name of accused
Helen Kirkpatrick
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2769
Case date start
9/1/1706
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

  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The information is limited apart from the slandering and counter slandering. The implication is that the minister believed she had caused his ill-health.
additional persons
name involvement notes
Peter Rae Complainer

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
None

Counter strategies

  • Scratching

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

  • Laying on
Notes
Minister Peter Rae requested her to give him back his health. He also appears to have scratched her on the forehead in order to identify her as a witch.

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Slander
Notes
Kirkpatrick and minister involved in complex slander and counter slander case.

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
Penpoint Presbytery records CH2/298/1, pp. 287-301. Records investigation and inquiry held by presbytery. Final entry records that she was sentenced to be put out of bounds but volume ends. Next volume starts at 1714 so following years missing.