witchcraft investigation of Jonet Miller (Q112969499)
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historical event recorded in the 16th-18th century Scotland
- Case of Jonet Miller
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | witchcraft investigation of Jonet Miller |
historical event recorded in the 16th-18th century Scotland |
|
Statements
Foxtree leaves (foxglove) used to cure sickness. The consulter was told to take her mother to a certain place, wash her and use foxtree leaves, and leave the sickness at the place where she got it. She diagnosed an illness as possibly related to the fairries having taken his tongue, if this was true she could be no help to him. But he should try foxtree leaves and S. running water. She gripped a child and told them to keep it close and away from the minister. Diagnosed a child with 'Ferrie blast'. She did a cure where the victim had to sit between three fires. A ritual with smoke and fire to get a man out of a witch's grip. Again told to keep it close especially from the minister. Advised to keep the bible near for a cure for distempter. She said a man became ill after digging up a thorn tree. She diagnosed bewitchings as caused by Kirkcudbright and Dumfries witches (told the victims to get 3 stopings of straw from the witches' roof and burn them). (English)
No specific details about Miller but according to Dumfries presbytery records it appears she was noted as a 'witch woman' but seems to have given advice about folk healing. Her draft dittay shows that she was a recognised healer who travelled far and wide. Her witchcraft reputation seems to have come from failed healing attempts and because she told people to keep her cures from the ministers. Lots of fairry stuff. The church and others might have been threatened by her advice to her patients to keep her cures a secret. This may have lead people to believe that what she was doing was wrong?Says she convenit [convened] with the Devil in her dream. She confessed to having a familiar, but it was not described as an an animal and it could have been a familiar spirit? She claimed that the Devil gave her power to heal. After her husband, [died?] she worried about her livelihood that is when the Devil came to her. The Devil allowed her to hear the threatenings of other witches and see the diseases at great distance.She denied doing any malefice, but said she could 'take off' diseases (i.e. cure). Healing ritual recorded in Dumfries presbytery records. She advised taking sick person to the place they got illness and carry out ritual in order to cure them. (English)
Devil type: Male, Described as "as her husband" (English)
Devil type: Male, Described as "a man of midle stature 40 years old, flaxen hair" (English)