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/LA/2786 Margaret Hart

name of accused
Margaret Hart
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/LA/2679
Case date start
13/7/1661
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)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
pact confessed

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
Initially refused the devil's offer of reward but second time accepted his offer. Met him at 7 am. In another document she claimed that she had refused to be his servant.
  • Male man in black

Demonic pacts

  • Servant later denied
  • Head and foot
  • Body and soul
  • Devil's Mark

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
None

Meeting places

  • Windygoul
  • Parson's Knoll Hilltop
  • green dyke Dyke

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
None
references
name notes
High Court Process Notes JC 26/27, bundle 1, item 4, 6. Also 'Gilmerton witches' bundle, item 4. witnessed confession as part of high court process notes. JCs to be re-catalogued so check with NAS staff. Note about confession misfiled in 'Gilmerton witches' bundle.
Books of Adjournal JC2/11; JC2/10 fos. 21v-27r mentioned