Heriot,Helen

Case Reference: C/EGD/309

Case Summary
Case RefC/EGD/309
AccusedHelen Heriot
Case Start Date8/2/1659
Case Date1/3/1659
Common NameHeriot,Helen
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Demonic
Maleficium
Implicated by Another
Neighbourhood Dispute
Not Enough Info

Devil PresentYes
Communal SexNo
Devil WorshipNo
Food and DrinkYes
DancingYes
SingingYes

Notes: They danced in a ring around the broadstone in Gallowhop. She asked the Devil to get amends of a soldier that quartered in her house, he agreed to get rid of the English man. She drank wine with Simon the Devil. Wanted amends of a wobster who kept her cloth over a year, and amends of a minister for a debt.

Meeting Places
PlaceLocationInversion
HouseLacost's houseNo
GallowhopNo
HilltopSandie's HillNo

TypeText
Anti-baptism
New nameBessie
Servant
Devil Appearances
TypeText
Malegrey clothes with a grey cap, called himself Simon

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: Wanted amends of people who crossed her from the Devil. Those people suffered.

  • Revenge
  • Debt

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
Hugh Hay InvestigatorCarried her to Edinburgh
Robert Home of WhitehallInvestigator
William Manderson InvestigatorCarried her to Edinburgh
Patrick Nisbet InvestigatorCarried her to Edinburgh
Rayatons Pringle InvestigatorCarried her to Edinburgh
Thomas Simmell CaptainInvestigator
Robert Wait InvestigatorCarried her to Edinburgh

SourceReferenceNotes
Process NotesJC26/26Bundle near the end marked 'Witchcraft' Notes from local JP trial, no evidence of a commission. Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 1/3/1659, 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.
Trials (2)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/LA/1627 No
T/LA/1626 21/2/16591659 Guilty No