Twedy,Marioun

Case Reference: C/EGD/1861

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/1861
AccusedMarioun Twedy
Case Start Date17/5/1649
Case Date21/11/1649
Common NameTwedy,Marioun
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Unorthodox Religious Practice — ✓
Demonic — ✓
Folk Healing — ✓
Maleficium ✓ ✓

Notes: Main accusation about cause of death of woman and child but other charges include charming animals and people. Demonic included as it was reported that the devil's mark had been found on her by Cathie the witch pricker - but no details.

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

Notes: Accused of giving advice about cow giving blood. Told woman to take the blood three times withershins about her house then pour it into a hole in the ground.

Ritual Objects
  • Butter
  • Meal
Religious Motifs
  • Three
  • Cross
  • Prayer

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 causing or predicting a child's accident. Later the mother of the child died and Twedy was blamed for both events by the husband. Accused of having grudge against this family as the man had refused to marry Twedy's daughter

Other Maleficia Notes: Accused of causing a house to burn killing several beasts.

Property Damage Types
  • Dairy
  • Animals
  • Buildings

  • Grudge

  • Charming

Claimed Bewitched—
Claimed Possessed—
Admitted Lesser Charge✓
Claimed Natural Causes—
No Defence—

Notes: Twedy confessed to charming

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
George Cathie Witch-prickerrequested by presbytery to search the accused
James Cockburn Commissioner
Alexander Dickson MrMinisterto investigate
James Douglas of CowkthrappleCommissioner
James Douglas Commissioner
Richard Douglas portioner of LintonCommissioner
Robert Elliot MrMinisterto investigate
Patrick Fleming MrMinisterto investigate
Hugh Gray MrMinisterto investigate
Andrew Hay elder of HaystounCommissioner
James Horseburgh Commissioner
Robert Hunter of PolmoodCommissioner
William Lowes Commissioner
John Lowes Commissioner
William Lowes Commissioner
David Murray Sir of StanhopeCommissioner
Alexander Murray SirCommissioner
Patrick Purdie MrMinisterto investigate
Michael Scott MrCommissioner
Michael Scott MrCommissioner
Alexander Spittal MrMinisterto investigate
Alexander Spittal the youngerCommissioner
William Thomson MrMinisterto investigate
Andrew Watson Investigator

SourceReferenceNotes
GUNN pp. 50-51
Peebles Presbytery recordsCH2/295/3, 112v, 113v, 115r, 117v-118r, 122v, 126v,Entries record the presbytery investigation about accusations of charming and witchcraft. She refused to confess so presbytery took 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 examined the women (11/10/1649) and reported that he found marks on Coutts and Twedy.
Peebles Presbytery recordsCH2/295/4, 1rEntry records that trial to be held
Gunn, C B 'The Book of Stobo Church' (Peebles, 1907), p 50-1. The project did not check Larner's reference to this printed secondary source as part of the research.
Committee of EstatesPA11/8 fo. 190v.
Trials (1)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/JO/574 21/11/16491649 No