Trial T/LA/15
| Trial Ref | T/LA/15 |
|---|---|
| Case | Hammiltoun,Alexander |
| Accused | Alexander Hammiltoun |
| Trial Date | 22/1/1630 |
| Settlement | Edinburgh |
|---|---|
| Presbytery | Edinburgh |
| County | Edinburgh |
| Burgh | Edinburgh |
| Verdict | Guilty |
|---|---|
| Sentence | Execution |
| Defence | No |
| High Status | Yes |
| Female Accusers | 1 |
|---|---|
| Male Accusers | 2 |
Method: Strangle & Burn
Place: Castle Hill
| Arrest | Yes |
|---|---|
| Confronting Suspects | Yes |
Notes: His depositions against the 9 in Haddington were used to secure a commission of justiciary for the brethren of the presbytery of Haddington (RPC 3nd S, v3 p. 362). He confessed in front of the two Mowats and Abernathy. The depositions were then ratified in front of ministers and in the presbytery RPC p. 397-400). He retracted his confession against Lady Manderstone. Narration of the procedure of his case from JC26/9 item 1 bundle 3 Hammiltoun materials that was dated 13 Jan 1630. Under the supervision of George Home of Manderstone and servants. Brought from Newcastle to Berwick to Dunce (eventually to Edinburgh). He was put in a hole and watched because they thought he would strangle himself. He was pressured to confess and the court is trying to determine if there was undo force used. He was imprisoned in many people's houses, including George Home of Manderstone's, he claims he was kept in irons. He was pressured to identify more people who were suspected of witchcraft, he was reluctant to do it.
| Date | Place | Location | Central | Recorded | Text | Retracted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tolbooth | Duns | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | |
| Duns | — | ✓ | — | — | ||
| Haddington | — | ✓ | — | — | ||
| 8/8/1629 | Holyrood House | Edinburgh | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| 30/10/1629 | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ||
| 18/7/1629 | Duns | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | |
| 25/11/1629 | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ||
| 16/1/1630 | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | ||
| 22/7/1629 | Haddington Presbytery | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | |
| Tolbooth | Edinburgh | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Date | Prison | Location | Fate in Prison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haddington | |||
| 8/1629 | Edinburgh | ||
| Berwick | Moved | ||
| 13/7/1629 | Tolbooth | Duns | Moved |
| Date | Body | Type | Seal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/12/1628 | Privy Council | Arrest | |
| 16/7/1629 | Privy Council | Arrest | |
| 5/9/1629 | Privy Council | Investigation | |
| 3/11/1629 | Privy Council | Investigation | |
| 3/12/1629 | Privy Council | Investigation | |
| 2/2/1630 | Privy Council | Investigation | |
| 7/1/1630 | Privy Council | Investigation |
Order to find and arrest him.
He had been apprehended in England and sent to Scotland
order for 10 witches accused by Hammilton to be confronted by him in Edinburgh. A great witch round-up.
Infoemation gathering re his accusations against Lady Manderston
Charges dropped against Lady Manderston.
Description of how his depositions were taken, his primary statement taker was ilater mprisoned for perjury.
| Name | Mention Type | Trial Of | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agnes Allane | T/LA/1288 | ||
| Agnes Duddingston | T/LA/1287 | ||
| James Unknown | T/LA/1286 | ||
| Katherine King | T/LA/1285 | ||
| Katherine Wemes | T/LA/1284 | ||
| Jonet Wallace | T/LA/1282 | ||
| Jonet Wilson | T/LA/1281 | ||
| Bessie Sleigh | T/LA/677 | ||
| John Smith | T/LA/99 | ||
| Janet Bowmaker | T/LA/678 | ||
| Alesone Coline | T/LA/100 | ||
| Helen Manderstoun (Arnot) | Known Witch | ||
| Jon Neill | Known Witch | T/LA/24 | 26/3/1631 |
| unknown Wilsone | Known Witch | T/LA/18 | |
| Agnes Thomesoun | Accomplice | T/LA/19 | |
| Katharine Oswald | Accomplice | T/LA/10 | 11/11/1629 |
| Katherine Gilmore | Accomplice | T/LA/21 | |
| Jon Hog | Known Witch | ||
| Margaret Nicolsone | Known Witch | ||
| Elspeth Crystie | T/LA/1271 | ||
| Katherine Knox | Known Witch |
| Name | Title | Involvement | Witch Pricker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Armstrong | Chancellor | — | |
| Robert Burnet | Mr | Prosecutor | — |
| Andrew Fraser | Expert Witness | — | |
| George Home | Sir of Manderston | Expert Witness | — |
| John Oliphant | Mr | Prosecutor | — |