Trial Details
T/LA/1189 Agnes Naismith
- Name of the accused
- Agnes Naismith
- Associated case
- C/EGD/1773 (10/6/1697)
- 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 |
| Privy Council | Justiciary | 19/3/1697 | None | text in JC10/4, and PC1/51 |
| 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 | Renfrew | no |
| 15/4/1697 | no | Tolbooth | Glasgow | no |
| 12/5/1697 | no | Tolbooth | Renfrew | no |
| tortures | |
|---|---|
| date of torture | torture type |
| no recorded tortures | |
| ordeals | |
|---|---|
| date of ordeal | ordeal type |
| None | Pricking |
| confessions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| central trial confession | date | location | notes |
| no recorded confessions | |||
other information
- Pre-trial notes
- The commission was read out on 18/3/1697 in the burgh of Renfrew, but the trial eventually took place in Paisley.This case was under a PC commission (see PC1/51 p. 136-9) along with most of the people tried at the same time. There were other Renfrewshire witchcraft suspects tried at different places and times. I am keeping this as a mixed/central local because the Privy Council maintained very strict control over the proceedings, even though they granted a commission. For details of the proceedings of Privy Council in this matter see the no named witches case c/la/3235.
- watched?
- no
- watch date
- no information
- arrested?
- no
- 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
- 12/5/1697
- trial place
- no information
place of trial
- settlement
- no information
- parish
- P/ST/1328
- presbytery
- Paisley
- county
- Renfrew
- burgh
- no information
verdict
- verdict
- Guilty
- defence
- yes
- female accusers
- 16
- male accusers
- 22
- recorded as high status?
- yes
- 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
- Trial started on 13/4/1697 but was continued until 12/5/1697 and lasted until 19/5/1697.
| persons associated with the trial | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| name | title | office | occupation | involvement | witchpricker? | notes |
| John Menzies | Mr of Cammo | None | advocate | Prosecutor | no | Involved in trials in 1697. |
| James Stewart | Sir | Lord Advocate | advocate | Prosecutor | no | Involved in trials in 1696-7 and 1709. |
| Francis Grant | Mr | None | advocate | Prosecutor | no | None |
| James Roberton | Mr | Justice Depute | None | Defence | no | Involved in cases and trials in 1628 and 1649. |
| James Crawford | None | None | merchant | Chancellor | no | Involved in trials in 1697. |
| Matthew Brisbane | Dr | None | physician | Expert Witness | no | Was he related to any of the other Brisbanes from Bishopton? Involved in cases and trials in 1697. |
Post-trial phase
- sentence
- Execution
- executed?
- yes
- execution date
- 10/6/1697
- execution place
- Gallow Green
- execution method
- Strangle & Burn
- post trial notes
- between 2-4
| other named witches | ||
|---|---|---|
| name | trial link | accused link |
| Issobell Lachlane | T/LA/1207 | A/LA/2832 |
| Janet Waugh | T/LA/1206 | A/LA/2831 |
Mentioned as a witch
| mentioned as a witch | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | name | mention date | fate | linked trialdate | trial link | notes |
| no mentions | ||||||