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/1489 Katherine Gerard

Name of the accused
Katherine Gerard
Associated case
C/EGD/2149 (15/4/1597)
Trial process type
Local Court

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 recorded confessions

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?
no

Trial phase

trial date
15/4/1597
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
Gerard denied the charges.
persons associated with the trial
name title office occupation involvement witchpricker? notes
Alexander Rutherford None provost None procurator no Involved in 1597 cases.
Thomas Leslie Mr Sheriff depute None Sheriff-depute no Involved in 1597-8 cases in Aberdeen.
Hugh Crawford None None None Chancellor no Chancellor in 1597 Aberdeen trials.

Post-trial phase

sentence
Execution
executed?
yes
execution date
4/1597
execution place
no information
execution method
Strangle & Burn
post trial notes
Noted that she was to be taken to between the hills and to be strangled and burnt.
other named witches
name trial link accused link
Christian Reid T/JO/1488 A/EGD/2095
Hellie Pennie T/JO/1491 A/EGD/2094
Elspett Moiness T/JO/1492 A/EGD/2089
Christen Miller T/JO/1493 A/EGD/2090
Janet Degeddes T/JO/1494 A/EGD/2091
Margaret Smyth T/JO/1495 A/EGD/2093

Mentioned as a witch

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