Janet Hill was a woman residing in Preston, near Edinburgh, during a tumultuous period in Scottish history, marked by widespread fear and suspicion of witchcraft. On July 12, 1629, she found herself embroiled in one of the many witchcraft trials that gripped the region. The historical records, though sparse, list Janet alongside two others in a case designated as Hill, Janet, suggesting she was not alone in her fate. Although the documents do not provide specific allegations or trial proceedings, her inclusion in the records indicates that she was under scrutiny by the authorities, a reflection of the pervasive fear that characterized the era.
The trial was slated to take place in Edinburgh, a venue common for such proceedings during the early 17th century as the presbyteries sought to root out those accused of witchcraft. The lack of trial details in the surviving records leaves Janet's story largely untold beyond the bare acknowledgment of the process. Such records, or the absence thereof, point to a system that sometimes left the accused with little recourse or opportunity to defend themselves against charges that could be both vague and devastating. Janet Hill's experience is emblematic of many during the Scottish witch trials, where accusation and fear often oversaw justice and due process. Her story, though largely unwritten, remains a poignant reminder of the historical complexities surrounding the witch trials in Scotland.