Barroun,Issobel

Case Reference: C/EGD/2123

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/2123
AccusedIssobel Barroun
Case Start Date9/3/1597
Case Date9/3/1597
Common NameBarroun,Issobel
Characterisation
TypePrimarySecondary
Unorthodox Religious Practice — ✓
Demonic — ✓
Maleficium — ✓
Implicated by Another — ✓
Neighbourhood Dispute — ✓
Not Enough Info ✓ ✓

Notes: Barroun seems to have been quite argumentative and quarrelled and cursed her neighbours. Was also named by others (Christen Michell).

Barroun did not confess to the accusations and the dittay does not contain any description of demonic pact or relationship other than she was a witch by 'opin voce and common fame'.

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

Notes: Seen at the Nether Mylne Burn on Ruidday. Gathered stones some of which she threw in front of her and others over her shoulder. The she took three sips of water from a dish and spat them back into the burn. The burn then stopped flowing to the mill and the mill stopped working.

Ritual Objects
  • Water
  • Stones
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: Cursed some women after disagreements, they later took ill and died. Cursed man who took ill but he did not die. Later his property was damaged and he lost £1000.

Other Maleficia Notes: Was seen to have carried out a ritual at the Nether Mylne Burn, which caused the water flow to the mill to stop and the mill to stop working.

Property Damage Types
  • Whole Estate
  • Mill

  • Business interactions

  • Ruidday

  • Murder

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
Andrew Clerk MrInvestigator
Andrew Gaw Investigator
Thomas Leslie MrSheriff-depute
Alexander Rutherford Prosecutor
James Stewart Chancellor
Alexander Vareak Investigator

SourceReferenceNotes
Spalding Club MiscellanyVol I, pp. 168-9, 169-70.
Spalding Club MiscellanyVol V, p 66
Trials (2)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/JO/1322 No
T/JO/1324 3/9/15971597 GuiltyExecution Yes