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/1076 Jonet Erskine

Name of the accused
Jonet Erskine
Associated case
C/EGD/1296 (15/8/1644)
Trial process type
Local Court
associated trials
trial reference accused trial type trial year trial place
T/LA/1075 Mary Cunningham Local Court 1644 P/ST/629 Fife Culross

Pre-trial actions

commissions
commission body type date seal notes
Committee of Estates Justiciary None None a commission of some kind was presented by their prolocutor to the bailies of Culross.
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 6/8/1644 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 Tolbooth Canongate no
None no Tolbooth Culross no
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
She was ordered to pay for her imprisonment in Culross, and her transportation to Edinburgh/Canongate. She managed to get someone to authorise their release on caution and the charges seem to have dropped for over a year. She complained about her and her mother's treatment, I think they were released although it is unclear. A rather harrowing description of how they were investigated and treated in prison.
watched?
no
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
15/8/1644
trial place
no information

place of trial

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

verdict

verdict
Not Proven
defence
yes
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
There was a trial at Culross, but the the procurator did not continue with the trial, but he also didn't release them. Mention of a trial happening at 28/8/1644 as well, but possibly just her mother?
persons associated with the trial
name title office occupation involvement witchpricker? notes
David Williamson Mr None advocate Defence no Involved in trials in 1644-5.
David Moir None Procurator None Prosecutor no Involved in trials in 1644-5.

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