Trial Details
T/LA/1161 Elspeth Thomsone
- Name of the accused
- Elspeth Thomsone
- Associated case
- C/EGD/587 (18/5/1671)
- 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 |
| 23/4/1671 | Kirk session |
| imprisonments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| incarceration date | central trial imprison | prison | location | moving |
| None | no | Tolbooth | Dumfries | no |
| tortures | |
|---|---|
| date of torture | torture type |
| no recorded tortures | |
| ordeals | |
|---|---|
| date of ordeal | ordeal type |
| None | Bierricht (corpse bleeds) |
| confessions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| central trial confession | date | location | notes |
| no recorded confessions | |||
other information
- Pre-trial notes
- The corpse bleedingordeal was conducted unofficially. Witness statements were given on 23, 30 April 1671, 7 May 1671 and 13/5/1671. Janet Callen has supposedly lived with Elspeth before Callen was charged and executed for witchcraft. On 2 May 1671 she was summond to appear at Dumfries on 12 May 1671 for her trial.
- 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
- 15/5/1671
- trial place
- no information
place of trial
- settlement
- no information
- parish
- no information
- presbytery
- no information
- county
- Dumfries
- burgh
- Dumfries
verdict
- verdict
- Guilty
- defence
- no
- female accusers
- 3
- male accusers
- 5
- 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
- None
| persons associated with the trial | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| name | title | office | occupation | involvement | witchpricker? | notes |
| Robert Maxwell | of Cairnsaich | None | None | Chancellor | no | Involved in trial in 1671. Originally recorded as Carnsalloch. |
| John Preston | Mr | None | None | Prosecutor | no | Involved in cases in 1661 and 1671. |
Post-trial phase
- sentence
- Execution
- executed?
- yes
- execution date
- 18/5/1671
- execution place
- no information
- execution method
- Strangle & Burn
- post trial notes
- None
| other named witches | ||
|---|---|---|
| name | trial link | accused link |
| Janet Millar | T/LA/1137 | A/EGD/296 |
| Jennat Callen | T/LA/1636 | A/EGD/785 |
Mentioned as a witch
| mentioned as a witch | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | name | mention date | fate | linked trialdate | trial link | notes |
| no mentions | ||||||