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/1191 Margaret Lang

Name of the accused
Margaret Lang
Associated case
C/EGD/1777 (10/6/1697)
Trial process type
Mixed Central/Local Court
associated trials
trial reference accused trial type trial year trial place
T/JO/1132 Elizabeth Anderson Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/JO/1135 Mary Morisone Mixed Central/Local Court 1697
T/LA/1189 Agnes Naismith Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1209 Jannet Rodgers Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1210 Margaret Rodgers Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1211 Jean Anderson Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1212 Annabel Reid Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1213 Martha Sempell Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1214 John Reid Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1215 Angus Forrester Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1216 Katherine Flowers Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1217 Margaret Shearer Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1218 Margaret McKillope Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1219 Margaret Ewing Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1220 William Miller Mixed Central/Local Court no information
T/LA/1221 John Stewart Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew
T/LA/1222 Margaret Cunninghame Mixed Central/Local Court 1697 P/ST/1328 Renfrew

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
15/4/1697 no Tolbooth Renfrew no
12/5/1697 no Tolbooth Glasgow no
None 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
Commission read out in the burgh of Renfrew on 18/3/1697. 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 it lasted until the 19th.
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
no recorded named witches

Mentioned as a witch

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