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/2972 Martha Sempell

name of accused
Martha Sempell
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/LA/2838
Case date start
19/3/1697
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

  • demonic (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic possesion (secondary characteristic)
  • demonic possessions (primary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • Implicated by another (secondary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
Complicated case involving numerous accusations of murdering children through magical strangulation and possession of several children. Much of the evidence was derived from the testimony of children who claimed to be possessed and tormented by witches. But there was great concern over the murdered children and a murdered minister. The record describes the physical torment of the possessed children in great detail. An extraordinary document!

Qualitative information

Non-natural beings

Notes
None
  • Male black shawl and hood
  • Male black mane, black coat, blue cravat
  • Female Antiochia, gentle wife to the devil

Demonic pacts

  • Devil's Mark

witches meetings

  • Witches meeting
  • Devil present
  • Dancing
Notes
see Agnes Naismith (c/egd/1773) for details

Meeting places

  • kilpatrick
  • christian Shaw's Yard
  • murdered minsiter, mr John Hardie Yard
  • murdered boy's House
  • kilmacolme Moor

musical instruments

  • Pipe

Folk culture

  • Elphane or Fairyland
  • Specific ritual acts
  • Sympathetic magic
Notes
Alleged use of image magic and wax images to murder children and adults. Also to enact possessions.

Counter strategies

  • no information

white magic

  • no information

Elf/fairy elements

  • 12:00

Shape-changing

  • no information

Ritual objects

  • Wax/clay images
  • Bone
  • Hair
  • Blood (animal)

Religious motif

  • no information

Calendar customs

  • no information

Diseases or illness

  • Human illness
  • Human death
Notes
None

Cause of witch's malice

  • no information

Other maleficia

Damage to property

  • no information

weather modification

  • no information

Notes
None

Other charges

  • Murder
Notes
None

Plea

Claimed bewitched
no
Claimed possessed
no
Admitted lesser charges
no
No defence
no
Claimed natural causes
no
Notes
None
Case Notes
part of the Renfrewshire cases, her trial was continued but no information about what happened.
references
name notes
Circuit Court Books JC10/4 fos. 1r-81r second pagination None
Privy Council PC1/51 p. 136-9 None