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/3012 Elizabeth Ratter

name of accused
Elizabeth Ratter
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2876
Case date start
9/6/1708
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

  • folk healing (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • refused charity (secondary characteristic)
  • refused charities (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Accused appears to have been refused alms but also consulted for healing advice. The whole family appear to have been unpopular and asking for charity.

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

  • Food and drink
  • Specific ritual acts
Notes
Accused appears to have advised a man to go to Sandness church, and sit in the dark and smoke some tobacco and he would be cured of a sickness, which he claimed had been caused by being given a banock by one of the Ratter sisters.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • no information

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Bannock
  • Tobacco

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Healing humans
Notes
She had asked for some corn, which was refused, Told the person that she had got corn from her neighbour the previous year and the neighbour had a very good crop. Implied threat to the crop.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Refusal of alms

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Crops

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    None

    Other charges

    • no information

    Notes
    Presbytery notes that the accused was declared as a 'deluder and abuser of the people'.

    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
    Shetland Presbytery records CH2/1071/1, p 152. None