In the autumn of 1649, Mauld Gauld, a resident of Briggait in Paisley, found herself at the heart of a series of dramatic and severe accusations. The records suggest that Mauld, the wife of a wright, was embroiled in accusations of witchcraft that were significantly influenced by religious institutions of the time. The initial depositions against Mauld were taken at Kilbarchane, emphasizing the involvement of church authorities in the proceedings against her. This period in Scottish history, marked by intense religious fervor, often saw churches and ministers as central figures in witch trials.
The sequence of events in Mauld's case reflects the heightened atmosphere of suspicion and fear. On several occasions, denunciations were formally recorded against her, facilitated by the deeply entwined relationship between civic and ecclesiastical authorities. The first denunciation came on the 27th of August, followed by another just weeks later on the 14th of September, when a visiting minister joined the kirk session in accusing her. A final denunciation was recorded in front of the presbytery of Glasgow on the 15th of October. These repeated condemnations illustrate the serious nature of the charges that were brought against her.
Among the allegations documented was an incident involving property damage—in particular, damage to ale, a pivotal resource for households and communities during that era. While the historical records do not provide explicit detail on how Mauld came to be specifically targeted, it is clear that such accusations were often intertwined with economic and social tensions, sometimes pitting neighbors against one another. The case against Mauld Gauld, constructed through these religious and social mechanisms, underscores the pervasive influence of the church in the Scottish witch trials and the swift movement from suspicion to formal accusation during these turbulent times.