Howie,Bessie
Case Reference: C/JO/2881
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/JO/2881 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Bessie Howie |
| Case Start Date | 13/6/1649 |
| Case Date | 3/10/1649 |
| Common Name | Howie,Bessie |
|---|
Characterisation
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Folk Healing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Not Enough Info | — | ✓ |
Notes: Seems to have got into trouble because she advised people to use healing rituals.
| Elphane/Fairyland | — |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | — |
| Ritual Acts | ✓ |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | ✓ |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — |
| Sympathetic Magic | ✓ |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: Entries record that she advised the use of the blood and feathers of a black hen as a healing charm. Note: black cocks were used to cure the falling sickness but there is no mention of the illness or symptoms she was treating.
Ritual Objects
- Hen
- Feathers
- Blood (animal)
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: No details about the symptoms of illness which she could cure.
- Charming
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Wilkie | Mr | Minister |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jedburgh Presbytery records | CH2/198/3. | Several entries record the presbytery investigations into the accused. Last entry recorded that she was referred to the magistrates in Jedburgh. |
Trials (1)
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/JO/795 | No |