Special thanks to David Robertson of Longniddry for his painstaking research, & to Richard Armstrong for supplying this article.

 

 
   

         

 

 

The modern centre of this parish is the village of Gifford, which did not exist in the 17th Century.
The old church and village of Yester, often known as "Bothans", were situated near the present mansion house of Yester.

Yester Kirk Session minutes are designated CH2/377 in the National Archives of Scotland.
CH2/377/1 runs from 1613 to 1643. CH2/377/2 runs from 1643 to 1707.
The minutes therefore cover almost all of the 17th Century.

 

 

1628

 

June 29th : It was ordered that John Halliday should satisfy church discipline for consulting Patrick Chrystisoun about stolen goods.
 

July 13th: John Halliday is ordered to satisfy for consulting Patrick Chrystisoun.
 

July 23rd: John Halliday satisfied in linen clothes for consulting Patrick Chrystisoun.

 

1629
 

March 18th : Today Andro Mathieson in Yeaster satisfied church discipline for charming.
It is ordered that if ever again Andro Mathieson should be found charming or meddling in any way with charmers and witches, that he shall be
delivered into the hands of the civil judge to be punished according to the laws of the land as an obstinate person persevering in the Devils art.

 

March 22nd: Today David Diksone made his satisfaction for charming.
It is ordered that if David Diksone is ever found charming or meddling in any way with charmers and witches,
then he shall be delivered into the hands of the civil judge to be punished according to the laws of the land.
It is ordered that John Wheatlie jr. should be summoned again for slandering Jonet Begbie as a witch.

 

March 29th: John Wheatlie jr. satisfied in linen clothes for slandering Jonet Begbie as a witch.

 
   

 

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