Scandals and Witches 1600's

Scandals and Witches parish of Mauchline 1669-1734

The Records of the Session from which we give a few extracts at random, are rather curious as illustrative of the rude state of society at the time, even among higher grade than the common peasantry:- James Paterson History of the County of Ayr 1852.

1669 Dec 26th: The qlk day, Mr James Veitch,¹ minister of this paroch (the legal restraint under which he had beine from Apryle 1662, being taken off by the King's Counsell), preached publicly againe.

1673. May 13th The elders ordered to try anent the scolding, cursing and fighting of Isobell Boswell² and her daughter Marion Reid and their adversaries John Reid and Jonet Reid, and to cause summon them and witness as they shall find sufficient ground. "There is intimation to be made the next saboth that people ly not in yairds, nor in the fields, or wander on the saboths".

Note: The Witchcraft Act was in force between 1563 and 1736.

1673. June 15th: Marion Reid compeiring being charged with fighting, scolding and obscene language abusing Jonet Reid, sister to Adam Reid; she grants she said that Jonet Reid drank fyve mutchkins of wine, bot her own mother. Marion McCaw was her informer. "Jonet Reid being charged, and not compeiring, to be sited the secound tyme." This day Isobell Boswell compeiring being charged with scolding and beating John Reid, grants she called him witch-get, bot cannot prove him such. John Reid compeiring being charged with drunkenness, and calling the Gudewife of Drumfork whoore and witch, he grants he called her a liar like a witch, and a whoore after she had called him witches get. Mathew Baird compeiring, declared, he not being expected against by the parties; as also Jean Campbell, George Bowie, James Wood, they deponed on oath as follows:-

Matthew Baird deponed on oath he heard Marion Reid call Jonet Reid thief, be the sun that shynes it was true; and that she brack up the doore upon Jonet Reid and that Jonet Reid spak about an apron bot he knows not what. George Bowie compeiring, deponed that John Reid danced in his own house and said he might make use of it; and that he called Marion Reid a drunken limmer. James Wood deponed on oath he heard the Gudewife of Drumfork call John Reid witch-get, and heard him call her a liar like a witch. Jean Campbell deponed she thought bothe the Gudewife of Drumfork and John Reid drunk, and she heard her cry up witches, get and him cry down that she lied like a witch.

1673. June 29th: Jonet Reid being cited the third tyme, compeired, and being charged with calling Marion Reid thief, and scolding, grants she said till Marion that she never did draw any man's ale and that she never took a sey apron off the dyke after Marion had abused her, and called her commone thief. The session orders Isobell Boswell, Marion Reid, John Reid and Jonet Reid, all to be publicklie rebuked on a saboth day. A reference is given below from Muirkirk in Bygone Days by JGA Baird 1761. as what a public rebuke would have been like.

"While reading these minutes [mid 1600's] the mind is impressed by the extrodinary power exercised by the Session over the parishioners, it issued edits, supervised morals, investigated minute offences, cited transgressors, and witnesses before it like a court of law, and punished the guilty, some defied it, some fled, but most endured the discipline. And punishment was extremely unpleasant. To make public confession from the seat in the church was bad enough, but to be put in the jougs³ (on the side wall, click on photo) and stand in sack-cloth at the door between the ringing of the bells and then to a public place before the whole congregation be rebuked by the minister."

1680 Augst 15th: Scandalous carriage on the sabbath-day, such as flocks of children playing in the street and the churchyard, bearing of water, and the like, ordained to be reproved and forbidden after this by the minister.

1687 Oct 30th: Effie Wyllie from Dalgain, delated for scandalous conduct with my Lord Cathcart in being in ane room with him for ane considerable space alone. The qlk day Mr James Vetch, minister of this parish of Mauchlein (being returned from Holland, the place of his banishment, legal restraints being taken off) preached publictlie heir againe.

1734 Dec 21st: John Hamilton of Kype, clerk to the regality of Mauchline, confessed ane irregular marriage with Jacobina Young, daughter of James Young, merchant in Lanark, and had his son Gavin,⁴ baptized.

1. Mr Veitch was minister of Mauchline at the Restoration and had been ejected in 1662 for non-conformity. Back to text
2. Daughter of James Boswell of Auchinleck, and wife of Mungo Reid of Drumfork. Back to text
3. 'jougs' an iron ring, fastened by a chain to a wall, post, or tree, in which an offender was held by the neck: common in Scotland from the 16th to 18th century. Back to text
4. This Gavin was Burns friend.

There were many accused of witchcraft in Ayshire these are just a few:
Bessie Dunlop was known as the witch of Dalry, she was burned. Maggie Osborne was the witch of Ayr town par excellence. Elspeth Cunninghame of Ayr accused of witches meetings at the Hilltop Irvine Kirk in 1659 She was ordered to be executed by Strangle & Burn. Marion Grief 1595 Execution by burning. Issobell Hendersone of Irvine 1658 and Janet Steil of Kilmauers.

Baird's accused of Witchcraft

Archibald Baird of Blauster Haddington. Was mentioned in the trial of James Welch on 17th April 1662. He was accused by James Welch of Sammuelston Haddington age 15 of attending a large meeting with the Devil as part of the large number of people denounced by James Welch, described as a poor begging boy. Welch was deemed too young to stand trial so he was imprisoned. But his confession and some of his denunciations were taken seriously by the authorities. Also Archibald's wife was accused by James Welch of being at the meeting.

Elspeth Baird of Leith Edinburgh, widowed wyfe of Totmuir, was begging at Margaret Burges house for meat, milk and bread but Margaret refused due to her 'evil brint'. But Elspeth designated Margaret Burges as her bewitcher, on 3rd October 1628. Elspeth Baird was found guilty and sentenced to execution and burnt for witchcraft.

On the 25th of November 1628, Margaret Burges age 50 of Nether Cramond, Edinburgh was described as a 'relict' to John Dalyell indweller of Cramond. Her second husband was a boatman, Gillespie, she rented land; people begged at her house; they seem to be in the thick of community business dealings. Her nickname was Lady Dalyell (from her first husband), this was not a proper title. She was also described as a 'marnet'. The main accusations against her involved fall out from work, cloth, rent payment, debt, etc. The investigation and trial resulted from a backfire of Margaret's attempt to clear her name of witchcraft with slander litigation. The kirk session hearing the case decided there was enough evidence to petition the privy council for a commission of justiciary.

Jonet Baird of Keith Marischall, Haddington. Went to trial on the 28th November 1649 accused of witchcraft at Haddington along with Agnes Broun and Jennet Wilsone, her confession attested by presbytery.

Walter Baird of Aberdeen was accused on the 30th November 1626 of attending witches meetings with the devil present. Along with Margaret Ronaldson, Margaret Udney, Issobell Smyth and Agnes Watt all from Futtie, Aberdeen. They were charged with chanting, and enchantment sorcery.

William Baird of Holl, Kilsyth, Dumbarton. Was sent to trial on the 19th February 1633, The Commissioner, William Livingston, charged him with charming saucery, his trial was reviewed by the archbishop of Glasgow (just before his death).

Baird's involved in Witch Trials

John Baird bailie of Cullen Banff. Investigator for the case against Margaret Clerk of Seatown Banff in 1674, her case was dismissed.

Mr John Baird minister at Paisley and Confession Witness for Annabell Stewart age 14, of Pollokshaws, Renfrew daughter of Jonet Mathie. Trial began on the 9th of January 1677, and was accused of demonic pact and malefice and also the most important accusation was involvement in the attempted murder of Maxwell of Pollock. [The whole group seems to have had a problem with Maxwell, their landlord.] She confessed that she joined the Devil at the last harvest. Devil described as a black man, with a bluish band, white hand cuffs, and hogers (leg coverings) with no shoes, and with cloven feet. His name was Ejuall. His voice was described as 'hough and goushe'.

There were two meetings described in confessions of this group to destroy Maxwell of Pollock. The first in October 1676, the second in January 1677. Both involved image magic. Annabell also mentioned two nameless Highland woman, who also attended the meeting, in one of her confessions. Meetings were usually at her brother's house. She was accused of attempted murder by roasting wax/clay figures in a fire and inserting pins. She claimed that Bessie Weir turned the image on the spit and chanted 'Sir George Maxwell, Sir George Maxwell' which they all repeated. She also gave the names that the black man had called the others. The images were supposedly found in her mother's house and her brother's house. She was sentenced for execution.

The most common form of torture was sleep deprivation for obtaining confessions, because it leads to hallucination. The picture on left is Witch's Bracks. A hinged iron band with inward projecting prong and length of chain attached to the band, also used to torture people to produce a confession

Sir William Baird of Newbyth Commissioner for the trial of Catharin Mactargett 1679. Main accusation was that her language and begging behaviour convinced people that she was a witch and that despite this reputation she had not complained about any slander. When she was given charity she would demand more, and threaten those who refused by predicting damage or harm for them. she did recommend a cure that supposedly worked.

She was previously tried in the circuit court at Haddington in 1679, when she was declared fugitive. Then again under a commission of justiciary in 1688. She confessed that dumb man put a long pin in her shoulder which caused her no pain in 1683, and to a demonic pact that a Highland woman had taught her to do. On handsel Monday she came upon people playing pennystone and offered one man bread and cheese. He refused to take it initially, but then ate some and let the rest fall on the ground. His wife took ill later. Threw a hair tether into a neighbour's house before he became ill. Accused of using water and a sign (movement) to cause the death of animals. Put bonnet on child's head the wrong way- later he died. Verbal charm spoken three times. Also that she had bewitched a woman, the accused went to her and gave her onions which she told her to boil with a sheep's draught and then drink it. The woman recovered her health. Another cure involved an egg mixture. she was imprisoned on the 14th May 1688, Tolbooth Dunbar. [Note: The top county for witch-hunting was Haddingtonshire (East Lothian).]

The above information is from 'The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft' University of Edinburgh