Maud Galt
| Maud Galt | |
|---|---|
| Born | c.1620 |
| c.1670c.1670 | |
| 🏡 Residence | Kilbarchan, Scotland |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 📆 Years active | mid 17th century |
| Known for | Accused of witchcraft |
Maud Galt (c. 1620 to c.1670) was accused of witchcraft in 17th century Kilbarchan, Scotland.
Biography
Maud Galt was a woman living in Kilbarchan, Scotland in the mid 17th century. She hid her sexual identity by marrying John Dickie[1], a wright.[2]
The couple lived with their two servants[2]. Galt had a relationship with one of her servants, Agnes Mitchell. She was accused of witchcraft when Mitchell lodged a complaint against her employer at a Kirk Session in September 1649[2]. Mitchell claimed that Galt had been:
‘abusing ane of hir servants with ane peis of clay formed lyk the secreit member of ane man’ [3]
At the Kirk Session, Mitchell presented several of their neighbours with the clay phallus Galt supposedly used on her. She stated that the shame of the act done to her had hindered her from reporting any of this to the local laird.[2]
Charged with witchcraft
The charges against Galt ran to several pages, with Mitchell describing multiple instances in which Galt allegedly attempted to rape several servants, and the servants of her neighbours also.[3]
In light of these allegations, the Privy Council decided to investigate the case under the charge of witchcraft. For historian Julian Goodare, Galt's unusual case demonstrated "the shocked authorities found the idea of witchcraft easier to cope with than lesbianism."[1]
The presbytery of Glasgow sent the witness testimonies and a supplication to 'the rycht honorable Comite of Estaites or Lords of His majesties Priwie Counsil' requesting a commission to try Maud Galt.
However, there is no evidence of the commission taking place, so the case may have been dropped. Handling requests to try accused witches could be a lengthy process, not least as a result of local uncertainty about which central government body was responsible for granting commissions.[2][4]
No further legal action in regards to Maud Galt is recorded.[3] She died c. 1670.[5]
References:
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Goodare, Julian (2016-05-12). The European Witch-Hunt. Routledge. ISBN 9781317198307. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Harrower-Gray, Annie (2014-03-11). Scotland's Hidden Harlots and Heroines: Women's Role in Scottish Society from 1690-1969. Pen and Sword. ISBN 9781473834705. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hedrick, Laura E. "'Male and Female He created them': Counterfeit Masculinity and Gender Presentation as Social Structure in Scotland and England, c.1560 – 1707" (PDF). Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies. 6: 128–129.
- ↑ Goodare, J. (2013-10-31). Scottish Witches and Witch-Hunters. Springer. ISBN 9781137355942. Search this book on
- ↑ "A procession of notable Scottish women through time - PDF". docplayer.net. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
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