Leisk,Jonat

Case Reference: C/EGD/2174

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/2174
AccusedJonat Leisk
Case Start Date21/11/1507
Case Date21/11/1597
Age at Case55
Common NameLeisk,Jonat
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Unorthodox Religious Practice
Demonic
Maleficium
Implicated by Another
Neighbourhood Dispute
Property Motive

Notes: One of her alleged victims had obtained a tack of land that her son occupied. Appears to have been confronted by Andro Man, who identified her as a witch. This also appears to have been a dispute among different families as the charges were dropped, the pursuers were banned from taking the case further but also the accused families were not to cause the Crukshanks any trouble.

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

Notes: She cursed one of her victims before the Ruidday. Plucked 3 goose feathers from her sister's geese and blew them off her hand - geese immediately died. Claimed that she took a slaughtered cockerel and fire from her old house to her new tack at Furde of Fortrie, which was claimed to be 2 special points of witchcraft. Accused of tying red thread to the tails of her cows. Accused of using a wax picture to harm one of her victims, who sweated and burned in a fever and could not quench his thirst.

Ritual Objects
  • Feathers
  • Fire
  • Cockerel
  • Thread
  • Wax/clay images
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: Flyted with her sister after sheep had ruined her linen, which was being bleached. Accused by one of her son-in-laws of causing his impotence.

  • Revenge

  • Ruidday
  • Whitsunday

  • Murder

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
Alexander Chalmer Prosecutor
George Cruickshank Complainer
Patrick Cruickshank Complainer
Thomas Leslie MrSheriff-depute
Patrick Leysk Defence
Alexander Leysk Defence

SourceReferenceNotes
Spalding Club MiscellanyVol I, pp. 135-137, 138-140.Second entry records that she was 'clenged' (cleansed) of the charges.
Trials (2)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/JO/2209 No
T/JO/1306 21/11/15971597 Not Guilty No