The Bewitchment of Christian Shaw

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The Bewitchment of Christian Shaw
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The Shaw Family

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

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Christian Shaw

• Christian Shaw was the daughter of the Laird of
  Bargarran.
• We do not know how she looked as a child but she
  may have looked a little like this.

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

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• In 1696, Christian Shaw alleged that she had
  been bewitched!
• This led to a total of 21 accusations of
  witchcraft from Christian and 7 deaths.

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• Christian began to have fits and strange visions.
• She claimed others were torturing her body.
• She had pinch marks on her skin

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

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

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

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• An 11 year old girl cant cough up hot coal, or
  can she?
• TASK
• Work in groups to create an explanation of
  Christian Shaws Bewitchment

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• TASK
• Debate. Join with another group to swap
  theories about the reason for Christian Shaws
  bewitchment. Suggest why you think your theory
  is more likely.

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• TASK
• Work in pairs. One person will be Christian Shaw
  and one person will be a journalist. The
  Journalist is to QUESTION Christian Shaw on her
  Bewitchment and Christian must provide ANSWERS!
• Write down and role play your interview.