The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003

The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Case Details

C/LA/2981 Bessie Miller

name of accused
Bessie Miller
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/LA/2847
Case date start
19/4/1699
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 possesion (secondary characteristic)
  • maleficium (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (secondary characteristic)
  • neighbourhood dispute (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
I think she was a neighbourhood dispute person who got caught up in the 1699 Refrewshire possession cases. See Agnes Supp for description of the tormenting/possesion.

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

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 death
  • Animal death
  • Quarreling
  • Cursing
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
Denounced by Margaret Laird in Paisley, a girl who claimed to be tormented by witches. Laird denounced many people while in fits. Most of the witness testimony was given in Paisley (19-21 April 1699) and it came from people who witnessed Laird's fits and denunciations among other things.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC3/1 f. 89 None
Circuit Court Books JC10/4 third part None
Process Notes JC26/81 f. 9 dittay from 21/4/1699