Looking for the KEY family & brewing in FIFE

[Kev Reilly]

Katharine Key

In the minutes of the proceedings of the kirk session of New burgh, there is a record of the examination of a woman, named Katharine Key, on a charge of witchcraft, and ' for cursing the minister.' An imprecation from a reputed witch at that period was heard with dread, and was believed to be followed by certain fulfilment ; Katharine Key was therefore brought to trial, and but for a concurrence of circumstances favourable to her, she would have suffered the same or a worse fate than Grissell Gairdner, for many were burnt alive under the same accusation. No apology is offered for the length to which the account of these trials extends, as authentic records are really the history of the period.

1653 Sep. 4. Katharine Key appointed to be summond against Sunday next for cursing of ye minister because of debarring her from the communion.


Sep. 11, Appeared, Katharine Key denyed that she cursed the minister, but that she cursed these who were the cause of the minister debarring her, nevertheless it was declared by several sitting in the Session “ it was the minister she cursed and openly throughout the street, and upon her bare knees.' ' The minister to which gave in against her that several points had come to his hearing which he desired to be put to trail'

1. That after Katherine had been refused of milk from Christian Orme, or some other in David Orme's house, a cow gave nothing but blood, and being sent for to see the cow, Katherine clapped (clap=stroke) the cow and said “the cow will be well', and thereafter the cow became well.

2. That John Philp having a cow new calved, Katharine Key came in and took furthe a peat fire after which the cow became so sick that none expected it to live, Katharine being sent for to see the cow, she clapped the cow, and said “the cow will be well enough” and the cow became well.'


3. That the minister and his wife (not named!!) took a 3 month old child of theirs from Katharine, who  had been nursing it, after which, the child would “suck none womans breast”, but after the child was brought back again to the said Katharine, it resumed feeding.'                                                                                                                               


4. After once again, removing the child from Katherine the bairn moaned and cried through the night and most the day, until she died, Before Katherine had come to see and embraced the child, the child  was “as well as any bairn could be”.


 5. That she is an evil brut of fame and so was her mother before her.
her mother befoir her was of evil bruit and fame,' was of momentous import ; judge, jury, and people firmly believing that occult powers descended by blood from mother to child.

[Kev Reilly]

The Session summonsed Katharine Key, personally present, to appear Sunday next to answer to the aforesaid points, and ordained the beadle to summons the witnesses'

Sept. 18, Appeared, Katharine Key to answer to the points given in against her,
Appeared, as witness's against her, Christian Orme, Katharine Gaddes for the proving of the firstpoint.'  Katharine declared she had nothing against either witness
The witness were sworn to declare the verity.
Christian Orme depones, that she had a sick cow and  Katharine Key bade her get a hand full of rough bear and cut it to her and she did no more.''
Katharine Gaddes depones that Christian Orme had a sick cow but denied the rest.
The rest of the called witness's did not appear
The Session ordained to be summond again next Sunday and Katharine Key ordained to be present again on the said day.'
 
Sept 25, Appeared Katharine Key and Marg Philp for the proving of the second point,
Marg Philp was sworn to declare the verity.
Marg Philp declared that her father had a sick cow but denied the rest,
The rest of the called witness's did not appear
The Session ordained to be summond again on Tuesday next.'

Sept 27 Katharine Key is challenged,  when meeting Patrick Beitt, younger and George Millar upon the way and said, ' there goes the kirkmen, the divell take the pack of you ; '
Katharine Key  denied this
Patrick Beatt and George Millar ordained to be summond for the proof of them against Sunday next.'

Oct 1- 2, Appeared, Katharine Key,
Katharine declared she had nothing against the witness's who were then sworn in
David Smyth depones that Christian Orme had a sick cow but denied the rest.'


Agnes Stirk being examined about the third point, depones that, “the bairn did suck her but would not suck one a Sunday afternoon.”'

Katharine M'Larane , (now we have a name of the ministers wife), being examined about the third point depones, that “the bairn would suck none but Kathrine Key.''
Christian Freebairne being examined depones, “she heard the bairn crying often, but could not say why,''
Kathrine and Margaret Laing being examined declared, as Christian Freebairne,
heard the bairn crying both day and night, but could not say why,''
Marg Peacock declared sick
Kathrine M'Larane examined upon the 4 points declared that the bairn rested well enough before Kathrine Key came to see her but cried ever after until her dying day

Kathrine Key was called upon, and Patrick Beatt younger,and George Millar to witness the truth of the words spoken by Kathrine Key, to wit, ' Their goes the kirkmen the divell take the pack of you.'
Katharine declared she had nothing against either witness, after being sworn in,
Patrick Beatt being examined, depones he heard Kathrine Key speak the libelous words.
George Millar being examined depones he heard Kathrine Key speak the  libelous words

(the 2 ministers she insulted)' The session, taking into consideration the aforesaid process,
in respect Janet Anderson one of the witness was sick; Annas Philp another of the witness was residing in Falkland ; Margarett Williamon was in Edinburgh, found that the aforesaid process was not fully tried, and therefore delayed to determine until it was more fully tried by the witness to be examined. Kathrine Key called upon and the minister explained to her that her process was not as yet fully closed. But advertisement should be given unto her then she should appear again to hear sentence.'

[Kev Reilly]

' 1654. 19 March. The session taking to consideration the aforesaid process of Kathrine Key, which had lain so long, for further trial and finding there was no further light to be had in the aforesaid particulars, the process being read over by the minister as it is now extracted the whole Elders in one voice declared it was the very process as it was led on against Kathrine Key, and therefore they thought good it should should be referred to the presbyter: Lykas in one voice they did refer the same to be judged and censured according as they found her fault deserve, and summond Kathrine Key to appear before the presbyter to be held at Cupar the 23 March

May 3, 1655, Mr David Orme reports, that he, with Mr Alexander Balfour, had dealt with Katharine Key and found her sensible of her guiltiness of cursing her minister.
The minister is appointed to intimate to the parish if any had anything concerning witchcraft to object, that they come to the session, and give it in ; and if nothing be found of that kind, she shall declare her repentance in the public place of repentance for cursing.'

3rd June 1655, Kathrine Key appeared before the session having been before the presbytery. The minister declared he was appointed be the presbytery to intimat out of the pulpit about Kathrine Key if any person had any thing to lay to her charge about witchcraft, or relating to they should appear before the session, and thereafter she to be admitted to her repentance for cursing the minister and session if nothing about the former came in against her.'

10 June 1655, the session sitting, the beadle was desired to call at the church door if there were any who had any thing to say against Kathrine Key they should appear, he having called several tymes, and none compelling the session appoints her to appear on the public place of repentance next Sabbath, for cursing the minister and Session.'


24 June 1655. This day Kathrine Key appeared in the place of public repentance for cursing ye minister and session, she declared her grief for the same. No dittay being about her for witchcraft as so is.

It is more than probable that the accused was thus leniently dealt with, from the salutary influence of the judges appointed by Cromwell at this very period to administer the law in Scotland ; they having expressed their determination to inquire into the tortures that were used to extort confession from the unhappy victims of popular superstition. All ' the witches ' in Newburgh did not, however, escape so easily. In ' Lamont's Diary,' under date November 1661, it is recorded, ' This month, the two
woman in the Newburgh that were apprehended above a year ago for burning Mr Lawrence Oliphant, minister of Newburgh's, house, were hanged at Cuper in Fife, being found guilty by the cise ; also they were accused for witchcraft, because delated by some of ther own neighbours in the town, who were brunt a little before this execution ; but the women did confess nether, but still pleaded innocent of both  burning the house and of witchcraft,' A little further on he says, ' 1661, This year there were divers persons both men and women apprehended for witch craft in Lowthian and Edinboroughe, and sundrys of them brunt , also some were taken in Newburgh in Fife and brunt likewise.'

Happily all that remains in this neighbourhood to remind us of the terrible infatuation is the name (fast becoming obsolete) of ' The Witch Wells,' where it is probable the unhappy victims belonging to the parish of Newburgh suffered. The ' Witch "Wells ' were near the farthest off house on the Wodrife Road. There was also ' The Witch Tree,' on the side of the old road beyond Clatchard, now covered over by the line of railway, under whose branches it was firmly believed witches held their nocturnal meetings., (a clootie tree)
The Witches loch above Den of Lindores



i believe Katherine was eventually "wirrit" at the stake a few years later during a witch hunt

[Jeffrey]

Hi,
Just a thought - have you seen the Maltmans Book of 1762 to 1849. Your Keys should be  mentioned in that.

The Maltmen all banded together and put so much into a 'Box' so if they were hit by hard times they could be helped. There are lists of Maltmen throughout those years in there.
It is at the Archives at St Andrews University

Judy

[IMBER]

Heriot-Watt University has an internationally renowned department of brewing and I believe they have historical archives of brewing and brewers in Scotland -


Harry

The archive was transferred to Glasgow University in 1991.

http://www.archives.gla.ac.uk/sba/aboutsba.html

Imber

[Jeffrey]

Hi Harry,
Think we must be talking at cross purposes as I took some photos of it at St Andrews in 2011. Maybe not the same book as you were thinking as it was the original.

My Adamsons are mentioned. They were Maltmen in St. Andrews

Judy

[hdw]

I think you are referring to Imber's post, not mine.

Harry

[Jeffrey]

Whoops! Harry. Apologies.

Judy

[Lynette Scott]

I live in New Zealand and have an ancestor Thomas Robertson that was apparently born in Fife in about 1813. His parents we are given to understand were John Robertson and Agnes Key married 1808 or John and Elizabeth Key married 1807. In your family trees do you have either of these Key women or do you have a Robertson surname appearing?
your help would be greatly appreciated.
Lyn