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/3015 Andrew Ratter

name of accused
Andrew Ratter
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2879
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

  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • refused charity (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The Ratter family appear to have been very unpopular, asking for alms and arguing. In Andrew's case the list of harm done was more extensive than his sisters.

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
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

  • Human illness
  • Human death
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Transferring disease
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Accused shared drink with another man at the peat cutting, man later took ill. Animals took ill or born dead after arguments. Refused butter - cow died later. Given alms (some bread) which he threw in fire, the family then had no calves born alive.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Refusal of alms

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Animals

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    None

    Other charges

    • no information

    Notes
    Accused of being a' deluder and abused 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 157-8. None