Tailyeor,Margaret

Case Reference: C/EGD/294

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/294
AccusedMargaret Tailyeor
Case Start Date11/5/1658
Case Date3/9/1658
Age at Case28
Common NameTailyeor,Margaret
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Demonic
Fairies
Maleficium
Implicated by Another

Notes: Denounced by Margaret Duchall and confessed to demonic pact.

Devil PresentYes
Communal SexYes
Devil WorshipNo
Food and DrinkYes
DancingYes
SingingNo

Notes: She described many meetings with various combinations of other people. Also said that they spoke in another language. Had a meeting in a brewhouse

Meeting Places
PlaceLocationInversion
MeadowNo
BurnBagraburnNo
Houseother people's housesNo

Confessed the devil's name was Johne. At one meeting there was a gentlewoman whose name she did not know. The woman had a black pot and wore a green waistcoat with grey tails. In second confession described touching her head and foot

TypeText
Anti-baptismrenounced baptism on her knees
Want nothing
Devil's Markgenitals
Sexnature was cold
New nameJonet
Head and foot
Devil Appearances
TypeText
Male
Femalewearing green waistcoat with grey tails
Animal Devilfeltered beast
Maleyoung man in gray clothes, blue bonnet

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

Notes: Claimed that Jonet Great, who was dead, came out with herself and others to a man's house, where they stole bread

Elf/Fairy Elements
  • Midnight
  • Green
Shape Changing
TypeDetails
AnimalMargaret Duchill appeared as a cat
Animalshe took shape of cat

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: Claimed that the other woman had told her about malefice (death of animals and children) but did not confess to any herself the first time. Later she claimed that they had destroyed a child and animals.

  • Harvest

TypeText
Whistleplayed by James Kirk

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
Henry Bruce Sir Laird of ClackmannanInvestigator
Bruce Laird of KennetInvestigator
Robert Burnie of KennetInvestigator
Harry Burnie of ClackmannanInvestigator
John Craigengelt MrInvestigator
James Cuningham MrElder
Henry Guthrie MrInvestigator
John Kerrie Elder
James Lindsay InvestigatorTalzeor claimed he had encouraged her to name others in return for her own life
Menstrie Laird of
Thomas Mitchell Elder
Mathias Simpson MrInvestigatorto write to the civil authorities
John Thomson InvestigatorTalzeor claimed he tortured her
Robert Wright MrInvestigator

SourceReferenceNotes
Process NotesJC26/26JPs investigate extrajudicial torture
Stirling Presbytery recordsCH2/722/6, pp 89-99.
Process NotesJC26/24JPs order assize to appear at trial in edinbrugh 3/9/1658. Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 3/8/1658. This index did not distinguish between circuit and high court cases. This list of names was added in the margins with a modern hand, no indication of where the person got the list.
Process NotesJC26/26 bundle 3 'Stirling witches', item 21mentioned
High Court Record Index No. 13/9/1658
Trials (2)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/JO/1474 No
T/LA/1296 No
Case Notes
K. Remy, B. Paton, and M. Tailior were extrajudicially tortured and burnt with hot stones by four local men. The JPs questioned them, and confronted them with the three witchcraft suspects. No further action was taken.