In the mid-17th century, Jean King found herself entangled in the turbulent period of the Scottish witch trials. Residing in Inverkip, Renfrew, Jean was brought forth as an accused in the year 1662. The historical records indicate that her trial commenced on May 7th of that year, though, unfortunately, the details of her trial proceedings are lost to time, leaving a gap in the full scope of her story.
However, we do know that by May of 1662, Jean had confessed to the charges against her. The specifics of this confession are absent from the surviving documents, which raises questions about the nature and conditions under which it was obtained – a common concern during the era of witch trials, when confessions could be coerced by various means. Regardless, this confession was a pivotal moment in her ordeal, marking a significant point in her prosecution.
Jean King's experience is emblematic of many women accused of witchcraft during this period, where societal anxieties and legal structures intersected in pervasive ways. Her home in Inverkip places her trial within a region active in witch-hunting fervor, reflecting broader contemporary patterns of persecution. Though the records do not illustrate her personal thoughts or feelings, Jean's journey through the Scottish legal system exemplifies the fate of numerous individuals accused of witchcraft in early modern Scotland.