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/1211 Jean Anderson

Name of the accused
Jean Anderson
Associated case
C/LA/2970 (28/5/1697)
Trial process type
Mixed Central/Local Court
associated trials
trial reference accused trial type trial year trial place
T/LA/1189 Agnes Naismith 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 None
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 None 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
This case was under a Privy council 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?
yes
arrest date
15/4/1697
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
13/4/1697
trial place
no information

place of trial

settlement
no information
parish
P/ST/1328
presbytery
Paisley
county
Renfrew
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)
no
circuit name
no information
local court with central representatives
no
trial notes
unclear what happened to her, she was indicted and then no more information. Diet was continued till 28/5/1697 but no evidence about what happened.
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

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