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/1164 Jean Rutherd

Name of the accused
Jean Rutherd
Associated case
C/EGD/807 (16/9/1679)
Trial process type
Mixed Central/Local Court

Pre-trial actions

commissions
commission body type date seal notes
Privy Council Release 4/11/1662 None ordered to be released 24 hours after she petitioned the PC
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
11/1662 no None Lauder 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 described as delinquent, I think that means that she did not appear when summond.
watched?
no
watch date
no information
arrested?
yes
arrest date
no information
fled?
yes
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
16/9/1679
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)
yes
circuit name
local court with central representatives
no
trial notes
The circuit court says that she was to be released and cautioned to appear for trial in Edinburgh if called, 24/5/1671. She was cautioned to appear for trial at the circuit court, described as delinquent. It said 'dead' next to her name in the delinquents porteous roll.
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