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/2905 Issobell Smyth

name of accused
Issobell Smyth
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2786
Case date start
2/6/1661
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)
  • demonic (primary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • Male gentleman

Demonic pacts

  • Anti-baptism
  • Body and soul
  • Head and foot
  • Sex nature cold
  • Servant

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
Confessed that some of the company went to Saltoun with candles.

Meeting places

  • Elizabeth Lawson's house House
  • great yard of Blause Yard
  • Black burn Burn
  • Cadger well Well

musical instruments

  • Pipe

Folk culture

Notes
None

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

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
RPC 3rd series, vol 1. Pp. 650-1. Record of confession.
APS Vol 7, p 247. Reference from 1661