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
associated trials
trial reference accused trial type trial year trial place
T/JO/1486 Janet Millar Mentioneed in trial no information
T/JO/419 Elizabeth Black Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/JO/421 Kathrin Black Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1130 Bessie Stevenson Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1131 Issobell Bennet Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1132 Magdalin Blair Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1133 Barbara Erskyne Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1135 James Kirk Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1136 Margaret Gourlay Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1137 Janet Millar Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1138 Issobell Keir Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling
T/LA/1139 Margaret Harvie Mixed Central/Local Court 1659 Stirling Stirling

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 None None 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?
no

Trial phase

trial date
23/3/1659
trial place
Tolbooth

place of trial

settlement
no information
parish
no information
presbytery
Stirling
county
Stirling
burgh
Stirling

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)
yes
circuit name
local court with central representatives
no
trial notes
I think this was the north circuit even though it is bound in with the West and South area. In 1661 the PC ordered that there had been irregularities in it and that another trial was to be held. Also on an undated list of people from 1658-9 to be arraigned before the justice courts. She pleaded not guilty
persons associated with the trial
name title office occupation involvement witchpricker? notes
no recorded additional persons

Post-trial phase

sentence
Banishment
executed?
no
execution date
no information
execution place
no information
execution method
no information
post trial notes
She was ordered to be held in Stirling tolbooth untill arrangements could be made for her banishement. She was banished from the nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland - essentially she was ordered to be transported. She gave her mark (signature) stating that once transported she wouldn't return.
other named witches
name trial link accused link
no recorded named witches

Mentioned as a witch

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