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/1120 Jonet Slowane

Name of the accused
Jonet Slowane
Associated case
C/EGD/782 (30/3/1659)
Trial process type
Mixed Central/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
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
None no Tolbooth Ayr 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 orginally arrested in 1651. Also, it seems that a former provost and two former bailies tried to exonerate her and the three other arrested with her (7 October 1651). There is some evidence of a commission being granted that was not acted upon (from 13 July 1652).
watched?
no
watch date
no information
arrested?
yes
arrest date
7/10/1651
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
30/3/1659
trial place
Tolbooth

place of trial

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

verdict

verdict
Guilty
defence
no
female accusers
7
male accusers
13
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
On two porteous rolls on 31 March 1658 summond to appear on 6 April 1658. First mentioned in 6/4/1568 the Justice of the Peace was to investigate and report back at the next court. They made a report that is in JC26/26. The trial was held on 30/3/1659 almost a year later. Both appearances before the circuit court were in the tolbooth of Ayr. Also have a list of witnesses 14 men and 10 women. Her daughter testified against her.
persons associated with the trial
name title office occupation involvement witchpricker? notes
no recorded additional persons

Post-trial phase

sentence
Execution
executed?
yes
execution date
no information
execution place
no information
execution method
Strangle & Burn
post trial notes
between 2-4
other named witches
name trial link accused link
Maggy Osborne T/LA/1728 A/EGD/1829

Mentioned as a witch

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