The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft

1563-1736

By Julian Goodare, Lauren Martin, Joyce Miller and Louise Yeoman, January 2003


The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft logo

Trial Details

T/LA/1149 Helen Moorheid

Name of the accused
Helen Moorheid
Associated case
C/EGD/797 (5/4/1659)
Trial process type
Mixed Central/Local Court

Pre-trial actions

commissions
commission body type date seal notes
no recorded commission
previous commissions
commission body date
no recorded prior commission
appeals
central authority reason appeal date
no recorded appeals
complaints
type date of complaint lodged at appeal date complainent involvement
no recorded complaints
move to higher legal authority
moved to date of move
no recorded move to higher legal authority
denunciations
denuncation date dated
no recorded denunciations
imprisonments
incarceration date central trial imprison prison location moving
no recorded imprisonments
tortures
date of torture torture type
no recorded tortures
ordeals
date of ordeal ordeal type
None Bierricht (corpse bleeds)
confessions
central trial confession date location notes
no recorded confessions

other information

Pre-trial notes
Also mention of a commission granted by the committee of estates for the trial of witches? The date is for 20/3/1659.
watched?
no
watch date
no information
arrested?
no
arrest date
no information
fled?
no
date absconded
no information
action dropped?
no
action dropped date
no information
action dropped by
no information
trial action body
no information
confronting suspects?
no

Trial phase

trial date
4/4/1659
trial place
Tolbooth

place of trial

settlement
no information
parish
no information
presbytery
no information
county
Dumfries
burgh
Dumfries

verdict

verdict
Guilty
defence
no
female accusers
12
male accusers
9
recorded as high status?
no
order for central judiciary trial
no
judiciary trial date
no information
circuit court (mixed central and local)
yes
circuit name
local court with central representatives
no
trial notes
She plead not guilty. She may have been tried earlier under a commission from the committee of estates. We know she was definitely tried at the Circuit Court.
persons associated with the trial
name title office occupation involvement witchpricker? notes
James Logan of Fillis None None Chancellor no Involved in trials in 1659.

Post-trial phase

sentence
Execution
executed?
yes
execution date
no information
execution place
no information
execution method
Strangle & Burn
post trial notes
between 2-4 in the ordinary place, sentenced on 5/4/1649 to be executed the next Wednesday.
other named witches
name trial link accused link
Marion Hannay T/LA/1638 A/EGD/1166

Mentioned as a witch

mentioned as a witch
type name mention date fate linked trialdate trial link notes
no mentions