McNaught,Janet

Case Reference: C/LA/3135

Case Summary
Case RefC/LA/3135
AccusedJanet McNaught
Case Start Date19/5/1658
Case Date5/4/1659
Common NameMcNaught,Janet
Characterization
TypePrimarySecondary
Demonic
Maleficium
Implicated by Another
Neighbourhood Dispute
White Magic

Notes: We have a dittay and comments from witnesses.

Devil PresentYes
Communal SexNo
Devil WorshipNo
Food and DrinkNo
DancingNo
SingingNo

Notes: Supposedly seen at a witches' meeting by a man who then killed himself by going over the craigs and into the sea.

Meeting Places
PlaceLocationInversion
KirkChaple StairNo

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

Notes: McNauth was the object of counter-magic. Her victim was to seek her health and get three stopings of straw from Janet's lintel and burn them. She was seen at the ale house with cats and carlings. Use of a magic charm for protection.

Ritual Objects
  • Straw

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: After cursing a woman hired someone to do magic on McNaught. Janet was in charge of taking cows to pasture, she was angry over a late one and it stopped giving milk. A witch testified that a woman died refusing drink (either Janet or the woman?)

White Magic
  • Protective

  • Revenge for being called a witch

  • Counter-magic
  • Appeasement

SourceReferenceNotes
Process NotesJC26/26 Dumfries dittays 1659 (Biggest dittay roll)
Process NotesJC26/26 Dumfries Bundle
Circuit Court BooksJC10/1 fos. 262v.-263v., 264v., 269r.
Trials (2)
Trial RefDateYearVerdictSentenceExecution
T/LA/1635 No
T/LA/1617 4/4/16591659 GuiltyExecution Yes