Rodgers,Margaret
Case Reference: C/LA/2969
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/LA/2969 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Margaret Rodgers |
| Case Start Date | 19/3/1697 |
| Case Date | 18/5/1697 |
| Age at Case | 60 |
| Common Name | Rodgers,Margaret |
|---|
Characterization
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Demonic | — | ✓ |
| Demonic Possession | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maleficium | — | ✓ |
| Implicated by Another | — | ✓ |
Notes: Complicated case involving numerous accusations of murdering children through magical strangulation and possession of several children. Much of the evidence was derived from the testimony of children who claimed to be possessed and tormented by witches. But there was great concern over the murdered children and a murdered minister. The record describes the physical torment of the possessed children in great detail. An extraordinary document!
| Devil Present | Yes |
|---|---|
| Communal Sex | No |
| Devil Worship | No |
| Food and Drink | No |
| Dancing | Yes |
| Singing | No |
Meeting Places
| Place | Location | Inversion |
|---|---|---|
| Yard | Christian Shaw's | No |
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Want nothing | |
| Devil's Mark | |
| Head and foot |
Devil Appearances
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Female | Antiochia, gentle wife of the Devil |
| Male |
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 | — |
| Type | Text |
|---|---|
| Pipe | Devil played it. |
- Murder
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Alexander | of Blackhouse | Commissioner | |
| John Houston | Sir of that Ilk | Commissioner | |
| John Kincaid | Mr of Carsbusket | Commissioner | |
| John Maxwell | Sir of Nether Pollok | Commissioner | |
| Francis Montgomery | Mr of Giffuie | Commissioner | |
| William Muir | of Glanderston | Commissioner | |
| Robert Sempill | Commissioner | ||
| John Shaw | Sir of Greenock | Commissioner | |
| Alexander Stewart | Lord Blantyre | Commissioner | |
| John Stewart | Mr of Blackhall | Commissioner |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court Books | JC10/4 fos. 1r-81r second pagination | |
| Privy Council | PC1/51 p. 136-9 |
Trials (1)
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/LA/1210 | 13/4/1697 | 1697 | Released | No |
Case Notes
She was initially indicted with the Refrewshire witches, but her diet was deserted along with her sister, even though they both confessed.