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Janet MacMurdoche (d. 18/05/1671) was an accused witch from Dumfries Scotland, who in 1671 was executed for witchcraft.[1] Her case has been stated as a classic example of an early modern Scottish trial.[2][3]
Background[edit]
Little is known about the life of Janet MacMurdoche outside of her witchcraft trial. Records from the trial show that she was an older woman, who was likely the widow of James Hendrie when she was accused of practising witchcraft.
Janet's position in her community was marginal and dependent, she was relatively poor, often failed to pay rent and struggled to manage her holding of land. She was a subtenant of the Laird of Broughton, most of her accusers were of higher social status. Janet was known to be a defiant and aggressive character who often "quarrelled and cursed" at her neighbours, and had a habit of borrowing and not returning. Loss of sympathy from her community was a key factor in eventually bringing MacMurdoche to court.[2]
Witchcraft Reputation[edit]
Over time, Janet grew a solid reputation for witchcraft within her community. Her defiance and 'ill-temper' alongside her low social status made her a prime scapegoat for a number of unfortunate incidents in her community. Past accusations of Maleficarum against McMurdoche would eventually culminate in her trial and execution in May of 1671 and were used as evidence against her in court.
John Moor[edit]
in 1665 Janet had a quarrel with her Landlord's baron-baillie John Moor of Barley. John had impounded her livestock after Janet failed to pay her rent. In response, Janet 'promised him an evil turn' after which he lost a cow and calf. When John went to confront her about this incident she threatened him again, telling him 'he should get ane worse turn', soon after his child died of sweating fever.[3]
Robert Brown[edit]
in 1668 Robert Brown turned Janet's cattle off his grass and alleged that Janet had angrily told him he should not have so many cattle himself, a month later his wife died suddenly and after a year he lost fifteen cattle and three horses.[3]
1667[edit]
Jean Sprout
Other Incidents[edit]
William Gordon and incidents with Janet's daughter
Trial and Execution[edit]
In April 1671 accusations of witchcraft were collected under oath, listed and signed to prepare the case for Circuit Court judges and on the 16th of April she was summoned to appear for trial in Dumfries.[3][1] Witnesses for Janet's trial were called on 3 May 1671 for her trial to be held on 12 May 1671. Evidence that was given against her included incidents in which Janet had allegedly been found walking three times around her neighbours' yards, barefoot, causing the deaths of their animals.[4]
The
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Survey Database, Survey of Scottish Witchcraft, Scottish History, School of History and Classics, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland". witches.shca.ed.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ^ a b Hufton, Olwen (1995). The Prospect Before Her: A History of Women in Western Europe, 1500 - 1800 (1st ed.). London: Harper Collins.
- ^ a b c d Larner, Christina (1981). Enemies of God (1st ed.). London: Chatto and Windus Ltd. pp. 120–133, 141, 143, 173.
- ^ Maxwell-Stuart, Peter G. (2005). An Abundance of Witches: The Great Scottish Witch-Hunt (1st ed.). Stroud: Tempus Publishing Limited. p. 89.