Mary Cunningham, a widowed resident of Cheapelland in Culross, Fife, found herself embroiled in the witch trials of the mid-17th century—a dark chapter in Scottish history. At the age of 50, she faced allegations of witchcraft alongside her daughter. These accusations came at a time when societal fear of witchcraft and the supernatural was at its peak, leading to trials that were often more about personal vendettas and local politics than legitimate evidence.
Mary’s initial trial took place in Culross, and the verdict rendered was 'not proven', a decision reflecting insufficient evidence for either conviction or acquittal. Dissatisfied with this outcome, the local commissioners petitioned for Mary's case to be retried under the scrutiny of the Lord Advocate, citing the local procurator fiscal’s lack of legal expertise. Mary and her daughter courageously petitioned the Privy Council, challenging not only their incarceration but also the conduct of the bailies who allegedly had vested interests in their property. It appears their plea was heard, as the Privy Council ordered an investigation into the bailies' actions and approved their release.
The trials, conducted first in Culross and then possibly moved to Edinburgh, were shrouded in procedural complexities. The exact proceedings are somewhat unclear; however, the influence exerted by local authorities and the harassment faced by Mary's defense counsel highlight the adversarial nature of the environment. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, Mary's ordeal involved torture via irons—a common, though grim, aspect of witch trials—revealing the oppressive tactics used to elicit confessions or sway verdicts. Throughout this ordeal, Mary Cunningham stood firm, her case reflecting the turbulent intersection of justice, social dynamics, and belief systems of early modern Scotland.