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/3161 Bessie Wanton

name of accused
Bessie Wanton
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/JO/3020
Case date start
26/2/1699
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)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
The description looks like it could have developed into a demonic possession style case.

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Accused by a young man (18 years old) of having cast an illness on him after he said her goodame was a witch. Claimed he took fits when he was unable to speak, and that she appeared to him in his bed. Also said he saw her with other woman and a man, that they put a bridle on him and rode him like a horse. The church seemed a bit dubious about this, she denied it all and was absolved.
  • 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

  • Human illness
Notes
Accused of having caused a young man to take fits which caused him to speak in tongues, then be unable to speak or stand unaided. The church repeatedly asked him if he dreamt this.

Cause of witch's malice

  • Slander

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
The process notes record that she was investigated on 26/2/1699 and 25/4/1699. But she was absolved on 14/3/1699. These dates don't match up, but this is how they were entered in the Presbytery minute books. It could be that the final date was the date that the earlier proceedings were recorded. We don't know.
references
name notes
Cupar Presbytery records CH2/82/2, pp 340, 344-7. None