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

Trial Details

T/JO/1318 Christen Michell

Name of the accused
Christen Michell
Associated case
C/EGD/2130 (9/3/1597)
Trial process type
Local Court
associated trials
trial reference accused trial type trial year trial place
T/JO/1323 Bessie Thom Local Court 1597 Aberdeen Aberdeen

Pre-trial actions

commissions
commission body type date seal notes
no recorded commission
previous commissions
commission body date
no recorded prior commission
appeals
central authority reason appeal date
no recorded appeals
complaints
type date of complaint lodged at appeal date complainent involvement
no recorded complaints
move to higher legal authority
moved to date of move
no recorded move to higher legal authority
denunciations
denuncation date dated
no recorded denunciations
imprisonments
incarceration date central trial imprison prison location moving
no recorded imprisonments
tortures
date of torture torture type
no recorded tortures
ordeals
date of ordeal ordeal type
no recorded ordeals
confessions
central trial confession date location notes
no 3/1597 Aderdeen None

other information

Pre-trial notes
None
watched?
no
watch date
no information
arrested?
no
arrest date
no information
fled?
no
date absconded
no information
action dropped?
no
action dropped date
no information
action dropped by
no information
trial action body
no information
confronting suspects?
yes

Trial phase

trial date
9/3/1597
trial place
Tolbooth

place of trial

settlement
no information
parish
no information
presbytery
Aberdeen
county
Aberdeen
burgh
Aberdeen

verdict

verdict
Guilty
defence
no
female accusers
0
male accusers
0
recorded as high status?
no
order for central judiciary trial
no
judiciary trial date
no information
circuit court (mixed central and local)
no
circuit name
no information
local court with central representatives
no
trial notes
None
persons associated with the trial
name title office occupation involvement witchpricker? notes
Alexander Rutherford None provost None Prosecutor no Involved in 1597 cases.
Thomas Leslie Mr Sheriff depute None Sheriff-depute no Involved in 1597-8 cases in Aberdeen.
James Stewart None None None Chancellor no Chancellor in Aberdeen trials in 1597.

Post-trial phase

sentence
Execution
executed?
yes
execution date
9/3/1597
execution place
no information
execution method
no information
post trial notes
financial accounts for execution
other named witches
name trial link accused link
Thomas Leyis T/JO/85 A/EGD/2068
Margrat Innes T/JO/1319 A/EGD/2078
Isobell Manteith T/JO/1320 A/EGD/2075
Johnnet Wischert T/JO/4 A/EGD/2067
Bessie Thom T/JO/1321 A/EGD/2069
Issobel Barroun T/JO/1322 A/EGD/2070

Mentioned as a witch

mentioned as a witch
type name mention date fate linked trialdate trial link notes
no mentions