Folklore and Myths

Culbokie folklore - report.

Witchcraft Page 22 of booklet - (see explanation of "booklet" and "Gleanings" here.
Donald Fraser was the son of farmer, born in Petty in 1706. Educated at Edinburgh University, he worked as a schoolmaster in Inverness, Killearnan and Alness. In October 1734 he was appointed Missionary to Strathglass. In 1739 he acted as tutor to the son of that devious Jacobite, Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat. Three years later he was summoned to London to attend Lovat’s trial, but was not called upon to give evidence. At Killearnan he was plagued by witchcraft – two women are said to have stuck pins in a clay effigy of Fraser, and as a result, “when in the pulpit, he often fell asleep between the singing of the first psalm and the prayer which followed”! Gleanings issue 15 has the additional comment – “After his move to Urquhart, Fraser soon recovered from this “somnolency””.

Page 29 of the booklet - There were other matters which led to discipline including “horrid Sabbath breach”, and dabbling with witchcraft.

Gleanings issue 25 - covering Rev. George Munro (1642 – 1656) has the comment; “There are some further references to witchcraft. In April 1650 we read of ‘Finlay McConochie vic finlay, and Shiak nein finlay vic george his wife both in the Parish of Urquhart, confessing the consulting with a witch for getting profits of the drink, formerly taken away from them as they allege, and making a charm to that effect, and professing that it took effect to their mind.’ Another man, who was alleged to have a hand in ‘contriving the charm’ was summoned, but we hear no more about what was done. In July 1652 George Munro was instructed by Presbytery ‘to censure all that had interest in hearing or approving the charm used for recovering Donald Glass in Kinkell of his sickness.’