Dicksone,Margaret

Case Reference: C/JO/2632

Case Summary
Case RefC/JO/2632
AccusedMargaret Dicksone
Case Start Date19/4/1643
Case Date25/4/1643
Common NameDicksone,Margaret
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Fairies
Folk Healing
Maleficium
Neighbourhood Dispute

Notes: Folk healing as primary as details all indicate that accused was a healer or charmer. The church minutes record her accusation as witchcraft but there are no mentions of demonic pact or other features.

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

Notes: Used eggs and meal to cure a changeling child. In another incident used fire also to identify changeling who was 'ane hundred years old'.

Elf/Fairy Elements
  • Changeling
Ritual Objects
  • Yarn
  • Egg
  • Meal
  • Shirt
  • Water

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: accused of having said verbal curse against victim after he was angry about her daughter taking some of his wood. She also confessed to having received sixpence from Issobell Johnstone, one of the witnesses, in payment for her advice.

Property Damage Types
  • Animals

  • Charming

NameTitleInvolvementNotes
David Calderwood MrInvestigatorrepresentative from Pencaitlan session at presbytery meeting.

SourceReferenceNotes
Haddington Presbytery recordsCH2/185/5There is a later note about a Margaret Dickson from Feb 1648. It is not clear if this is the same one but the minutes record that this Dickson, from Surro?, has made repentence for her misdemeanour but still has more to do.
Trials (1)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/JO/2 No