Lewinstoun,Christian

Case Reference: C/EGD/132

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/132
AccusedChristian Lewinstoun
Case Start Date12/11/1597
Case Date12/11/1597
Common NameLewinstoun,Christian
Characterisation
TypePrimarySecondary
Fairies — ✓
Folk Healing ✓ ✓
Maleficium — ✓
Implicated by Another — ✓

Notes: She was part of a group of four women who appear to have been recognised folk healers who met, taught each other, cured for each other and generally worked together as professionals (the group includes c/egd/136, c/egd/133, c/egd/132, c/egd/131). There is no mention of the Devil.

Devil PresentNo
Communal SexNo
Devil WorshipNo
Food and DrinkNo
DancingNo
SingingNo

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

Notes: Her daughter was taken away by the fairies and she learned witchcraft and taught it to Lewinstoun. She found a bunch of bewitched items in their wall and cast them into a fire. For knowledge of the sex of a baby, power received from the fairy-folk. She was consulted by Saidler for cures. She could heal named diseases

Elf/Fairy Elements
  • Group of fairies
Ritual Objects
  • Thread
  • Hair
  • Nail trimmings
  • Herb

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: She supposedly worked with Christian Sadler. A man approached her 'as ane wyfe woman, haifing knaulege in the foirsaid airt [witchcraft].' ie she was a wise woman, or a healer.

Property Damage Types
  • Dairy

  • Protective magic

SourceReferenceNotes
Books of AdjournalJC2/3 fo. 224-229
Pitcairnv ii, p. 25-29Almost same text as JC2/3
Trials (1)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/LA/43 12/11/15971597 GuiltyExecution Yes