Kathren Shaw, a widowed resident of Lanark, found herself entangled in the tumultuous witch trials of 1644. She came under scrutiny at a time when fear of witchcraft permeated Scotland, driven by societal and religious turmoil. The records from this period show an intriguing detail that set Kathren apart from many others accused of similar crimes: when allegedly confronted by the devil, she reportedly questioned what he could offer her, remarking that she already had "meat and meal." This statement speaks to her assertiveness and perhaps practical disposition, although it did little to shield her from the accusations.
Over the course of 1644, Kathren's interactions with the legal system become evident through a series of recorded confessions. One such confession is noted to have taken place in August at the Tolbooth, a common site for imprisoning those accused of witchcraft. The exact nature of her confessions remains unspecified in the records, but their existence suggests the intense pressure she faced during her imprisonment.
Denunciations against Kathren were formally recorded with the Presbytery of Lanark, an authoritative body that played a key role in adjudicating cases of supposed witchcraft. Her case was significant enough to be noted in two separate trials, designated by the codes T/LA/1081 and T/LA/1089. These trials underscore the seriousness with which her case was treated within the community and highlight the pervasive atmosphere of suspicion and fear that characterized the period. Kathren's story, while fragmented through the surviving records, offers a glimpse into the challenging landscape navigated by those accused of witchcraft in early modern Scotland.