Griersoune,Issobel

Case Reference: C/EGD/141

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/141
AccusedIssobel Griersoune
Case Start Date10/3/1607
Case Date10/3/1607
Common NameGriersoune,Issobel
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Demonic
Folk Healing
Maleficium
Neighbourhood Dispute

Notes: She was described by all the accusers of having an evil will and malice against the victims. There were disputes over debt and other neighbourhood issues.

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

Notes: Peole made up with her over drinks, and a strange poor woman turned up asking for meat, and announced that the accuser was bewitched. I read her as a community healer who diagnosed the situation, but the accuser was either hiding the fact that they hired her or hiding her identity.

Shape Changing
TypeDetails
Spirit
Ritual Objects
  • Flesh

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 'pisched upon Margaret' when in spirit form. She engaged in colourful cursing. One man was in debt to her, she cursed him - he remembered this when he was sick. He paid the debt asked for help for his sickness three times and recovered.

Other Maleficia Notes: The last item involved a sickness that was removed by drinking ale, then recast with loads of curses when the cured woman called her a witch in public. There were also a couple of instances of appeasement.

Property Damage Types
  • Ale

  • Debt
  • Revenge for being called a witch

  • Appeasement
  • Community Healer

SourceReferenceNotes
Books of AdjournalJC2/4 fo. 174r-176vAlso found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 20/1/1607
Pitcairnv ii, p. 523-526Same text as JC2/4
Trials (1)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/LA/49 10/3/16071607 GuiltyExecution Yes