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/3025 Janet Wharrie

name of accused
Janet Wharrie
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/2888
Case date start
21/9/1697
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

  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (primary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Wharrie took the case herself to presbytery. She tied to prove that the witnesses had malice against her. Witnesses claimed that she had cursed them after they had refused to help her with ploughing or prevented her from crossing their land. It seems that the presbytery were not convinced by Wharrie's version but could not really do much with her.

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

  • Specific Verbal Formulae
Notes
It was cliamed that she cursed and swore at her victims.

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
  • Animal illness
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
Notes
Witnesses claimed she cursed and uttered an 'ill prayer' that a neighbour's wife 'would have many a bloody day'. Also cows would vomit their grass or rowt/rout (bellow) to death. Also wished a man to take the glengore (syphilis).

Cause of witch's malice

  • Grudge

Other maleficia

  • Property damage

    • Damage to property

    • Animals
    • Plough

    weather modification

    • no information

    Notes
    Wharrie asked neighbours to help with ploughing. When they refused they claimed she cursed their beasts and ploughs so that they could not use them to plough their own rigs.

    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
    Dumfries Presbytery records CH2/1284/4, pp. 99, 101, 102,108, 178. None