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/LA/1074 Margaret Thomsone

Name of the accused
Margaret Thomsone
Associated case
C/EGD/1305 (21/11/1644)
Trial process type
Local Court
associated trials
trial reference accused trial type trial year trial place
no recorded trials

Pre-trial actions

commissions
commission body type date seal notes
Privy Council Release 21/11/1644 None the privy council ordered her released on caution.
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
Suspect's 1/11/1644 Privy Council
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
None no Vestry of the Kirk Calder no
tortures
date of torture torture type
None Sleep Deprivation
None Stocks
ordeals
date of ordeal ordeal type
no recorded ordeals
confessions
central trial confession date location notes
no recorded confessions

other information

Pre-trial notes
She said she was kept awake by the minister and tutor of Calder for 20 days, being naked except for a sackcloth. She was being held in the Stocks. The Privy Council investigated her claims of being held in prison for 16 weeks, forced to stand 26 days, causing her to fall and break her face, being beaten and bleeding. On 2/10/1644 there were depositions about the treatment of her during imprisonment. The witnesses confirmed her complaint. A list of 8 men who 'walked' her at various points in her imprisonment. The tutor and the minister were summond to appear before the Privy Council along with 22 other men involved in her imprisonment, warding and investigation.
watched?
yes
watch date
no information
arrested?
yes
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
no information
trial place
no information

place of trial

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

verdict

verdict
no information
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
no recorded additional persons

Post-trial phase

sentence
no information
executed?
no
execution date
no information
execution place
no information
execution method
no information
post trial notes
None
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