In the late autumn of 1628, the town of Tain in the shire of Ross became the focus of intense scrutiny as Helen Gow found herself at the centre of a witchcraft trial. Helen, married and of middling socioeconomic status, was the wife of a cordiner—a shoemaker—a position that offered her family a modest living. Details about her alleged transgressions remain scant, but the case against her, designated under case name Gow, Helen (C/EGD/1053), provides an illustrative glimpse into the complexities of early modern Scottish society and its preoccupation with the supernatural.
On November 18, 1628, the proceedings of Helen's trial were documented under the trial reference T/LA/596. The records do not disclose the specific nature of the accusations leveled against her or the outcome of her trial. However, like many others of her era, Helen's situation likely reflected the tensions and fears of a community grappling with unexplained misfortunes and seeking explanations through the lens of witchcraft. It is a poignant reminder of a time when societal and personal anxieties could swiftly translate into judicial action, profoundly affecting the lives of those accused.