Trial Details
T/LA/411 Bessie Moffat
- Name of the accused
- Bessie Moffat
- Associated case
- C/EGD/364 (18/9/1661)
- 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 | 18/9/1661 | 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 |
| 11/7/1661 | she was denounced by Janet Watsone |
| imprisonments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| incarceration date | central trial imprison | prison | location | moving |
| no recorded imprisonments | ||||
| tortures | |
|---|---|
| date of torture | torture type |
| no recorded tortures | |
| ordeals | |
|---|---|
| date of ordeal | ordeal type |
| 11/7/1661 | Pricking |
| confessions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| central trial confession | date | location | notes |
| no | 15/7/1661 | Dalkeith | None |
other information
- Pre-trial notes
- After she was denounced she demanded the trial [meaning the test of pricking to prove her innocence]. This backfired and they found three marks, she then confessed. Then William Scot and Calderwood exorted her to confess, which she did. The PC records appear to indicate a later commission issued to try her and 2 others after she had confessed.
- 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
- 3/8/1661
- trial place
- no information
place of trial
- settlement
- no information
- parish
- P/JO/3540
- presbytery
- Dalkeith
- county
- Edinburgh
- burgh
- Dalkeith
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
- She was listed as appearing with a group of Dalkeith witches who were all tried together, but her case did not make to the High Court trial held at Dalkeith. A side note to her case says 'passes this pro loco et tempore'
| 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 |
| Jonet Watsone | T/LA/294 | A/EGD/354 |
Mentioned as a witch
| mentioned as a witch | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | name | mention date | fate | linked trialdate | trial link | notes |
| no mentions | ||||||