In the quiet hamlet of Dunning in Perthshire, Elspeth Reid lived her life during a tumultuous period in Scottish history, a time when fear of witchcraft was woven into the social fabric. The records state that on the 28th of July, 1662, Elspeth was brought to trial under the case name "Reid, Elspeth" (C/EGD/1512). This marks a moment when her existence intersected with the broader anxieties of the day, as the witch trials gripped the region.
Although the trial records do not detail the accusations or evidence presented against her (T/JO/940), the verdict was unequivocal. Found guilty of the charges laid against her, Elspeth faced the ultimate punishment—execution. Her trial and subsequent death underscore the climate of fear and suspicion that characterized this period in Scotland. Elspeth's fate, like that of many others accused of witchcraft, serves as a poignant reminder of a time when societal and cultural tensions manifested in severe judicial outcomes.