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/2934 Thomas Lindsay

name of accused
Thomas Lindsay
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2811
Case date start
17/2/1697
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 possesion (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • other (secondary characteristic)
  • other (primary characteristic)
  • other text turned state's evidence for prosecution
Characterisation Notes
He was suspected then became a star witness. Not prosecuted. Complicated case involving numerous accusations of murdering children through magical strangulation and possession of several children. Much of the evidence was derived from the testimony of children who claimed to be possessed and tormented by witches. But there was great concern over the murdered children and a murdered minister. The record describes the physical torment of the possessed children in great detail. An extraordinary document!

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

  • 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
Accused but not indicted for witchcraft. Instead he and his brother were witnesses. Deemed too young to have made a viable pact with the Devil. Was not indicted with the large group on 13/4/1697 or tried with the seven who actually stood trial on 12/5/1697. He was mentioned on the last day of that trial (19/5/1697) in the closing arguments.
references
name notes
Paisley Presbytery records CH2/294/4. Pagination not good so use dates.
Circuit Court Books JC10/4 fo. 1r-81r second pagination None
Privy Council PC1/51 p. 136-9 None