Wilson,Katherine

Case Reference: C/EGD/1224

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/1224
AccusedKatherine Wilson
Case Start Date22/6/1630
Case Date5/7/1631
Common NameWilson,Katherine
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Maleficium
Implicated by Another
Neighbourhood Dispute
Not Enough Info

Notes: She was implicated by Alexander Hammiltoun and persued by James Mowat, Sheriff clerk of Berwick. She was accused of participating in a supposed conspiracy to kill Sir George Home of Manderston, and many other justice officials in the area. The depositions against her were declared by the PC to be falsifications by Mowat. That said, numerous neighbourhood witnesses came forward to testify to quarrels and curses followed by misfortunes.

Devil PresentYes
Communal SexNo
Devil WorshipNo
Food and DrinkNo
DancingNo
SingingNo
Meeting Places
PlaceLocationInversion
HilltopColdinghame LawNo
HouseBessie Sleigh'sNo
HilltopBorthwick HillNo
HilltopDuns LawNo

It was alleged in her dittay that she had sex with the Devil behind the hills, and that he had sex with every other woman at the meeting.

TypeText
Sex

Elphane/Fairyland
Food/Drink
Verbal Formulae
Ritual Acts
Familiars
Shape Changing
Dreams/Visions
Unorthodox Religious Practice
Sympathetic Magic
Riding Dead

Notes: She was accused of being part of a conspiracy to kill Manderston by putting a dead bird in his barn and by leaving a dead hand in his path. Investigators supposedly destroyed some material evidence, including a wax image of Mowat, by burning. The fire was described as unnaturally big.

Ritual Objects
  • Bird (dead)
  • Hand (dead)
  • Wax/clay images

Harm
Human Illness
Human Death
Animal Illness
Animal Death
Female Infertility
Male Impotence
Methods
Aggravating Disease
Transferring Disease
Laying On
Quarreling
Cursing
Poisoning
Healing / Other
Removal of Bewitchment
Recognised Healer
Healing Humans
Healing Animals
Midwifery
Property Damage
Weather Modification

Disease Notes: lots of quarrels followed by illnesses following disputes over land, rent, and other daily dealings. She seems particularly quarrlesome.

Weather Modification Types
  • Tempest

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
Archibald Acheson SirCommissioner
Adam Bellenden MrCommissioner
John Hamilton SirCommissioner
George Home Sir of ManderstonInvestigator
Thomas Hope Sir of CraighallCommissioner
James Mowat of FawsideInvestigator
James Roughheid Cautioner
John Scott Sir of ScotstarvetCommissioner

SourceReferenceNotes
RPC2nd S, v3 p. 571, 582, 584Commissions of investigation.
RPC2nd S v4, p 265-266p. 333 James Mowat was released on caution.
Process NotesJC26/10 'John Neil' bundle, item 1
Trials (1)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/LA/98 No