Gourlie,Bessie
Case Reference: C/EGD/696
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/EGD/696 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Bessie Gourlie |
| Case Start Date | 7/9/1678 |
| Case Date | 6/11/1678 |
| Common Name | Gourlie,Bessie |
|---|
Characterization
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Demonic | — | ✓ |
| Implicated by Another | — | ✓ |
| Not Enough Info | ✓ | ✓ |
Notes: It is all from her confession, no indication of why she was accused.
| Devil Present | Yes |
|---|---|
| Communal Sex | No |
| Devil Worship | No |
| Food and Drink | No |
| Dancing | No |
| Singing | No |
Meeting Places
| Place | Location | Inversion |
|---|---|---|
| burn | cowe burn | No |
| Bridge | Keith Bridge | No |
| House | white house in Cranstoun's back yard | No |
She was promised by Sara Crantoun that the Devil would make her well liked by women for her career as a midwife. Sara also promised her a 'cheise', but she never got it. She said that it was 'greed of her imployment that engaded her to the devillis service'.
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Anti-baptism | |
| Head and foot | |
| Body and soul | |
| Want nothing |
Devil Appearances
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Male | gentleman |
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Borthwick | elder of Fala | Investigator | |
| John Crichton | Investigator | ||
| John Finlayson | Investigator | ||
| Thomas Finlayson | elder at Fala | Investigator | |
| George Moodie | Mr | Investigator | |
| Thomas Rae | elder | Investigator | |
| Andrew Wallace | Investigator |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Books of Adjournal | JC2/15 f. 20v-22v | |
| Books of Adjournal | JC2/15 f. 24v | |
| Witchcraft Papers | JC40/10 | trial verdict |
Trials (1)
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/LA/840 | 4/11/1678 | 1678 | Guilty | Execution | Yes |