Mactargett,Catharin
Case Reference: C/EGD/1770
| Case Ref | C/EGD/1770 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Catharin Mactargett |
| Case Start Date | 9/9/1679 |
| Case Date | 30/5/1688 |
| Common Name | Mactargett,Catharin |
|---|
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — | ✓ |
| Demonic | — | ✓ |
| Folk Healing | — | ✓ |
| Maleficium | — | ✓ |
| Neighbourhood Dispute | ✓ | ✓ |
| White Magic | — | ✓ |
Notes: Main accusation was that her language and begging behaviour convinced people that she was a witch and that despite this reputation she had not complained about any slander. When she was given charity she would demand more, and threaten those who refused by predicting damage or harm for them. Although malefice and pact featured, it is likely that this was more of a neighbourhood dispute as all the accusers and the accused came from Dunbar. [The healing was not central, but ticked folk healing because she did recommend a cure that supposedly worked (LEM).] She was previously tried in 1679.
A dumb man put a long pin in her shoulder which caused her no pain in 1683. Confessed to demonic pact and that a Highland woman had taught her what to do.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Devil's Mark | shoulder |
| Anti-baptism | |
| Body and soul |
| Elphane/Fairyland | — |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | ✓ |
| Ritual Acts | ✓ |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | ✓ |
| Sympathetic Magic | ✓ |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: On handsel Monday she came upon people playing pennystone and offered one man bread and cheese. He refused to take it initially, but then ate some and let the rest fall on the ground. His wife took ill later. Threw a hair tether into a neighbour's house before he became ill. Accused of using water and a sign (movement) to cause the death of animals. Put bonnet on child's head the wrong way - later he died. Verbal charm spoken three times. After accusation that she had bewitched a woman the accused went to her and gave her onions which she told her to boil with a sheep's draught and then drink it. The woman recovered her health. Another cure involved an egg mixed with ale.
Ritual Objects
- Tether
- Water
- Animal dung
- Egg
- Onion
- Salt
Religious Motifs
- Three
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: Main accusations involved death or harm to both people and animals after a dispute or argument. On one occasion she was hit by one of her neighbours. Her offer of bread/cheese on handsel Monday was refused and later a woman took ill.
Other Maleficia Notes: Accused of putting salt in ale to make it go off?
Property Damage Types
- Dairy
- Animals
- Ale
- Whole Estate
White Magic
- Prophesy
- Grudge
- Physical insult
- Social slight
- Debt
- Exclusion from social events
- Handsel Monday
- Cursing
- Charming
- Sorcery
- Necromancy
- Appeasement
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Baird | Sir of Newbyth | Commissioner | |
| Patrick Brown | Mr | Prosecutor | |
| Alexander Cairns | Confession Witness | ||
| Alexander Crombie | Sheriff-depute | sheriff officer | |
| James Crombie | Chancellor | ||
| James Forrest | Commissioner | ||
| John Hall | Sir of Dunglass | Commissioner | |
| Robert Hamilton | of Pressmennan | Commissioner | |
| William Kirkwood | Commissioner | ||
| Robert Lauder | Mr | Commissioner | |
| James Muir | of Bourhouses | Commissioner | |
| Archibald Murray | of Spott | Commissioner | |
| George Purves | Mr | Commissioner | |
| George Rutherford | Commissioner | appointed clerk of the process | |
| John Sinclair | Sir of Lochend | Commissioner | |
| George Sinclair | Commissioner | ||
| James Smith | Commissioner | witnessed confession | |
| Thomas Wood | Mr | Minister | witnessed confession |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RPC | 3rd series, vol 13, pp. 234-6, 245-62. | RPC includes commission and details about witness statements, dittay and members of assize. Verdict included but no details about sentence. |
| Circuit Court Books | JC10/3 fo. 24v. | |
| Process Notes | JC26/51 |