Coutts,Jonet
Case Reference: C/EGD/1817
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/EGD/1817 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Jonet Coutts |
| Case Start Date | 4/1/1649 |
| Case Date | 4/1/1650 |
| Age at Case | 51 |
| Common Name | Coutts,Jonet |
|---|
Characterization
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Demonic | — | ✓ |
| Fairies | — | ✓ |
| Maleficium | ✓ | ✓ |
Notes: Accused of causing death of man. Later confessed to pact.
She said devil gave her a kiss.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Paction | |
| Anti-baptism | |
| Body and soul | |
| Head and foot | |
| Devil's Mark | on neck |
Devil Appearances
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Male | in green clothing |
| Elphane/Fairyland | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | — |
| Ritual Acts | — |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — |
| Sympathetic Magic | — |
| Riding Dead | — |
Elf/Fairy Elements
- Green
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: Accused of having caused death of one man and another man to injure his leg after arguing with both men.
- Grudge
- Charming
Notes: She confessed to both
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Baillie | fiar of Walston | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| Alexander Baillie | of Callends | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| John Bartrun | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar | |
| John Brown | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar | |
| William Brown | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar | |
| Robert Brown | Mr | Minister | interviewed JC in relation to her naming persons in Broughton |
| William Brown | of Dolphinton | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| George Cathie | Witch-pricker | later in trouble for 'encouraging' her to name other people | |
| Robert Chancellor | of Scheilhill | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| James Cockburn | Commissioner | ||
| John Crawford | Mr | Minister | interviewed JC regarding her naming persons from his parish |
| Alexander Dickson | Mr | Minister | to investigate |
| Robert Douglas | Mr portioner of Linton | Commissioner | |
| James Douglas | Commissioner | ||
| Robert Elliot | Mr | Minister | |
| John Fleming | Earl of Wigtown | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| Thomas Geddes | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar | |
| Andrew Hay | elder of Haystoun | Commissioner | |
| James Horseburgh | Commissioner | ||
| Robert Hunter | of Polmood | Commissioner | |
| Thomas Lindsay | Mr | Minister | interviewed JC regarding her naming of persons from his parish |
| Lindsay | of Comiston | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| John Lowes | Commissioner | ||
| William Lowes | Commissioner | ||
| Alexander Menzies | of Culterallers | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| John Muir | of Annieston | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| James Murray | of Skirling | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| David Murray | Sir of Stanhope | Commissioner | for her move to biggar |
| Alexander Murray | Sir | Commissioner | |
| Adam Murray | of Cardrona | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| Michael Scott | Mr | Commissioner | also witnessed confession |
| Henry Scott | Mr of Mossfenan | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar |
| Michael Scott | Mr | Commissioner | |
| Alexander Spittal | Mr | Commissioner | |
| Robert Thomson | Confession Witness | ||
| James Threepland | Commissioner | for her move to Biggar | |
| Andrew Watson | Mr | Investigator | |
| James Williamson | elder | Commissioner |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Committee of Estates | PA11/8 fo. 184r. | |
| Haddington Presbytery records | CH2/185/6, p 110. | Note in Haddington presbytery records information circulated from presbytery of Jedburgh (is this right as it seems that she was in Peebles presbytery?) that Jennet Coutts (confessing witch) told the commissioners that George Cathie from Tranent had asked her to name innocent people as guilty of witchcraft in return for him prolonging her life. Later notes about Cathie being questioned about his work as a pricker. |
| Peebles Presbytery records | CH2/295/3, 115v,122v, 126v, 128v | Records the investigation by presbytery into accusations against the suspect. She refused to confess, so presbytery take advice from Agnes Stuart (local woman who had also been in trouble with the church for her behaviour although nothing to do with witchcraft) about getting a pricker who had been used in other areas. Cathie then examined the women (11/10/1649) and reported that he found marks on Coutts and Twedy. |
| Peebles Presbytery records | CH2/295,4, 1r, 7r, 11v. | Note that trial to be held in Peebles. Later references refer to her naming other people. The presbytery express their concern about this and feel that under the circumstances what she was saying was not trustworthy. Although they noted that some investigations were to be made locally they did not list names and there is no later reference to any people being questioned. |
| Biggar Presbytery records | CH2/35/1, 296, 298-9. | Entries in Biggar presbytery (28/11/1649-29/12/1649) about JC's naming of several people - who were not listed by name - as witches in this presbytery. The ministers were asked to interview her and bring her to Biggar to confront those she had named. There is a distinct note of scepticism about her statements/depositions in these entries. The presbytery note they were contradictory and had a variety of names, dates, places, times etc. They prayed with her and read passages of the bible and eventually, in tears, she said she had made up a lot of false testimony. She cleared 48 people whom she had previously named as guilty. |
| Jedburgh Presbytery records | CH2/198/3. | Note in presbytery records about Janet Coutts and George Cathie (pricker). No direct reference or involvement of Jedburgh ministers or indication that she had named people from Jedburgh presbytery. |
| Committee of Estates | PA11/9 fo. 2v.-3r. |
Trials (2)
Case Notes
This was a major hunt surrounding Coutts. She seems to have put herself forward as someone who could identify witches in some way. She was moved around the presbyteries of Peebles and Biggar to confront and name suspects. She probably named around 88 people. See also c/jo/2860. The religious authorities appeared sceptical.