The Bewitchment of The Bewitchment of Christian ShawChristian Shaw

The Shaw FamilyThe Shaw Family

The Shaw family The Shaw family lived on a small lived on a small estate in Bargarran, estate in Bargarran, Renfrewshire. Today Renfrewshire. Today it is believed this it is believed this house stood on the house stood on the land running along land running along Ferry Road, between Ferry Road, between Erskine and Erskine and Bishopton, opposite Bishopton, opposite Hewlett PackardHewlett Packard

Christian ShawChristian Shaw

Christian Shaw was Christian Shaw was the daughter of the the daughter of the Laird of Bargarran.Laird of Bargarran.

We do not know We do not know how she looked as how she looked as a child but she may a child but she may have looked a little have looked a little like this….like this….

Christian was born Christian was born in 1685 and has in 1685 and has been described as been described as a ‘smart and lively’ a ‘smart and lively’ girl. She was a girl. She was a religious girl and religious girl and enjoyed reading enjoyed reading the bible. She paid the bible. She paid close attention to close attention to the 2 hour long the 2 hour long sermons in Church sermons in Church each Sunday. each Sunday.

In 1696, Christian In 1696, Christian Shaw alleged that Shaw alleged that she had been she had been bewitched! bewitched!

This led to a total of This led to a total of 21 accusations of 21 accusations of witchcraft from witchcraft from Christian and 7 Christian and 7 deaths. deaths.

Christian began to Christian began to have fits and have fits and strange visions.strange visions.

She claimed others She claimed others were torturing her were torturing her body.body.

She had pinch She had pinch marks on her skin marks on her skin

She began to spit She began to spit out such things as out such things as ‘unclean hay, wild ‘unclean hay, wild bird feathers, bird feathers, gravel stones, gravel stones, candle-grease and candle-grease and egg shells’ which egg shells’ which she declared had she declared had been placed in her been placed in her body by her body by her tormentors. tormentors.

She floated round She floated round rooms without rooms without touching floors and touching floors and transported transported objects. She also objects. She also engaged in engaged in complex theological complex theological arguments with the arguments with the invisible devil, invisible devil, accurately citing accurately citing biblical texts.biblical texts.

Her father took her Her father took her to Dr Matthew to Dr Matthew Brisbane and she Brisbane and she spat out hot coal spat out hot coal the size of a the size of a chestnut. He was chestnut. He was baffled. He baffled. He diagnosed her diagnosed her condition as condition as ‘diabolic ‘diabolic possession’. possession’.

‘‘An 11 year old girl can’t cough up An 11 year old girl can’t cough up hot coal’, or can she?hot coal’, or can she?

TASKTASK

Work in groups to create an Work in groups to create an explanation of Christian Shaws explanation of Christian Shaws BewitchmentBewitchment

TASKTASK

Debate. Join with another group to Debate. Join with another group to ‘swap’ theories about the reason for ‘swap’ theories about the reason for Christian Shaw’s ‘bewitchment’. Christian Shaw’s ‘bewitchment’. Suggest why you think your theory is Suggest why you think your theory is more likely.more likely.

TASKTASK

Work in pairs. One person will be Christian Work in pairs. One person will be Christian Shaw and one person will be a Shaw and one person will be a journalist. The Journalist is to QUESTION journalist. The Journalist is to QUESTION Christian Shaw on her Bewitchment and Christian Shaw on her Bewitchment and Christian must provide ANSWERS! Christian must provide ANSWERS!

Write down and role play your interview.Write down and role play your interview.