Reid,Annabel
Case Reference: C/LA/2971
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/LA/2971 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Annabel Reid |
| Case Start Date | 19/3/1697 |
| Case Date | 12/3/1700 |
| Common Name | Reid,Annabel |
|---|
Characterisation
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Demonic Possession | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maleficium | — | ✓ |
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! She was accused of causing a tormenting (or possession) again in 1699. See Agnes Supp for description of the tormenting/possesion. She was eventually released.
| Elphane/Fairyland | — |
|---|---|
| Food/Drink | — |
| Verbal Formulae | — |
| Ritual Acts | — |
| Familiars | — |
| Shape Changing | — |
|---|---|
| Dreams/Visions | — |
| Unorthodox Religious Practice | — |
| Sympathetic Magic | ✓ |
| Riding Dead | — |
Notes: Use of charmes to make a tormented girl's hands swell.
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 | — |
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Alexander | of Blackhouse | Commissioner | |
| James Brisbane | Mr | Investigator | |
| 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 | |
| John Stewart | Mr of Blackhall | Commissioner | |
| Alexander Stewart | Lord Blantyre | Commissioner |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court Books | JC10/4 fos. 1r-81r second pagination | |
| Books of Adjournal | JC3/1 f. 89 | |
| Circuit Court Books | JC10/4 third part | |
| Process Notes | JC26/81 f. 9 | dittay from 21/4/1699 |
| Privy Council | PC1/51 p. 136-9 |
Trials (2)
Case Notes
Part of the Renfrewshire cases of 1697. Her diet was deserted in 1700. Denounced by Margaret Laird in Paisley, a girl who claimed to be tormented by witches. Laird denounced many people while in fits. Most of the witness testimony was given in Paisley (19-21 April 1699) and it came from people who witnessed Laird's fits and denunciations among other things. She had two trial processes.