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/2890 Jonet Hunter

name of accused
Jonet Hunter
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/LA/2772
Case date start
2/12/1604
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

  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (secondary characteristic)
  • not enough information (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
None
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
According to Patrick Lowrie she was presented with a hairbelt in the shape of a devil's claw by Helena McBurnie, the 'devilish spirit woman' according to P. Lowrie.
  • no information

Demonic pacts

  • no information

witches meetings

Notes
Witches' meetings described by P. Lowrie, especially one on Lowdon Hill as well as the kirk and at the shore.

Meeting places

  • no information

musical instruments

  • no information

Folk culture

Notes
She was presented with a hairbelt (in the shape of a Devil's claw) from the spirit woman Helena McBurnie according to P. Lowrie, and involved in meetings at Halloween and Whitsunday.

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

  • Slander
Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
This Ayr Jonet Hunter was a different person from the one accused of witchcraft who was from Dundonald and was executed before 1604. Appeared before kirk session for punishment for being a viscious woman and a slandered but no reference to any witchcraft. Disregard the Ayr Kirk session minutes.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC2/4 fo. 59v None
Pitcairn v ii, p. 478 Same text as JC2/4
Ayr Kirk Session records CH2/751/1/1, 23v. Held at Ayr Archives. Entry records she was accused of being a 'verie vicious woman, a common slanderer. Punished by public repentance. A different person, not the witch in this case!!
Dundonald Parish Records Carnegie Library, Ayr, 941.429 DUN, p. 66 None