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/2982 Agnes Supp

name of accused
Agnes Supp
designated title
no information
Accused Reference
A/LA/2848
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)
  • demonic possessions (primary characteristic)
Characterisation Notes
She was accused of tormenting Margaret Murdoch and Margaret Laird. Both girls displayed all the typical symptoms that have been described as 'demonic possession' - but the record refers to it as 'tormenting'. Both girls spit and vomitted foreign object (hair, pins, stones, wool), had convulsions, bite and nip markes on their bodies and faces, extraordinary strength, the ability to sense when their tormenters were near, bruises and blisters, excessive thrashing, and clothes falling off. Both girls were attended by physicians and ministers in order to diagnose and help them.
additional persons
name involvement notes
no additional persons recorded

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 illness
Notes
All the accusations were for tormented girls.

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, and Margaret Murdoch in Govan. Both girls claimed to be tormented by witches. Laird and Murdoch denounced many people while in fits. Most of the witness testimony was given in Paisley (19-21 April 1699, from Laird) and Glasgow (22 April 1699 from Murdoch). Testimony came from people who witnessed Laird's fits and denunciations among other things.
references
name notes
Books of Adjournal JC3/1 f. 89 None
Process Notes JC26/81 f. 9 dittay was dated 21/4/1699
Circuit Court Books JC10/4 part 3 None