Miller,Jonet
Case Reference: C/EGD/400
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/EGD/400 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Jonet Miller |
| Case Start Date | 16/8/1659 |
| Case Date | 20/9/1661 |
| Age at Case | 51 |
| Common Name | Miller,Jonet |
|---|
Characterization
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Demonic | — | ✓ |
| Fairies | — | ✓ |
| Maleficium | — | ✓ |
| Implicated by Another | — | ✓ |
| Neighbourhood Dispute | — | ✓ |
| Not Enough Info | ✓ | ✓ |
Notes: Seems to have had a reputation and people wanted to stay away from her, unclear why. With so many witnesses and disputes over land it is possible that this was a neighbourhood dispute.
| Devil Present | Yes |
|---|---|
| Communal Sex | No |
| Devil Worship | No |
| Food and Drink | No |
| Dancing | No |
| Singing | No |
Notes: A group of witches blew up a locked door and wanted to take a woman's new born baby during her lying in period, but they had no power and left in confusion.
Meeting Places
| Place | Location | Inversion |
|---|---|---|
| Mill | 'Breastmilne' | No |
| Brownesmith? | No | |
| Howe | howe by standing stone near Newbridge/Kirkliston | No |
| Shore | Cliftonhall side of the water | No |
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Devil's Mark | shoulder |
| Anti-baptism | |
| Head and foot | |
| New name | Margaret |
| Servant | |
| Sex |
Devil Appearances
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Male | young man |
| Male | with cloven feet like an ox |
| Elphane/Fairyland | — |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | ✓ |
| Ritual Acts | — |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — |
| Sympathetic Magic | — |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: Accused of using orations to make Mungo Steill ill, but no description. Met the devil at dusk. Went down on her knees and cursed a man.
Shape Changing
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Animal | 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: Dispute over entitlement (tailzie) of a piece of land. Threatened man who later took ill. Two animals died after man refused to sell her a sheep or a horse.
Property Damage Types
- Dairy
- Failed business interaction
- Sorcery
Notes: Accused of using charms, sorcery and witchcraft
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Barrowman | Prosecutor | ||
| George Drummond | Laird of Carlowrie | Investigator | heard her confess to pact |
| Dundas | Young Laird of | Complainer | |
| David Dunmure | Mr | Prosecutor | |
| Claud Greenlees | Investigator | heard her confession | |
| Gilbert Hall | Mr | Minister | witnessed her confession |
| Alexander Johnston | attended trial | ||
| David Lindsay | of Kirkliston | Investigator | heard confession |
| Johne Milne | Clerk | wrote and signed documents relating to her trial | |
| Alexander Reid | attended trial | ||
| David Samuel | Investigator | witnessed her confession | |
| Isobel Thomson | Complainer | ||
| James Wilkie | of Newliston | Investigator | heard her confession |
| James Wilkie | of Auld Liston | Complainer | refused her use of his horse, later animal died |
| Robert Wilson | of Auld Liston | Investigator | |
| Robert Wilson | of Auld Liston | Investigator | said she was not tortured |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Books of Adjournal | JC2/11; JC2/10 fo. 2 | JC2/10 and 2/11 have the same information. Also found in the High Court Record Index, no. 1 for 20/8/1661, 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. |
| High Court Process Notes | JC 26/27, bundle 1, item 1. Also 'Gilmerton witches' item 3. Also 'Janet Miller' bundle | Verdict included with others who were tried at same time. JC 26/27 is likely to be re-catalogued at some future date. Check with NAS. Note about trial misfiled in 'Gilmerton witches' bundle. Dittay, confession details, assize list, order for trial in 'Janet Millar' bundle. |
| Books of Adjournal | JC2/11 | |
| Books of Adjournal | JC2/11; JC2/10 fos. 21v-27r | JC2/11 and JC2/10 have the same text. |
| High Court Process Notes | JC26/27/5 item 5 | a process note about being held. |
Trials (1)
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/LA/261 | 20/8/1661 | 1661 | Not Guilty | No |