In the mid-17th century, amidst the rising tensions and suspicions surrounding witchcraft in Scotland, Issobell More McKaw of Kingarth, Bute, found herself embroiled in multiple accusations of witchcraft. A married woman residing in the small community on the Isle of Bute, Issobell's life took a dramatic turn when her name appeared in several witchcraft trials spanning over several decades. The records indicate that her first trial occurred in 1637, followed by subsequent trials listed in 1913 and 1914. Notably, Issobell's case persisted throughout the years, captured in two confessions documented in 1649 and then again in 1662. This temporal distance between her confessions and trials suggests a prolonged community suspicion or scrutiny.
Issobell’s case is further complicated by the numerous denunciations against her from others within the community. These denunciations came from individuals like Amy Hindman, Alester McNiven, Mary Frissell, and Jonet NcIntyre, all of whom mentioned her in their own trials. The recurrence of these accusations against Issobell highlights a pattern of suspicion and perhaps suggests that she was a central figure in local folklore or communal fear. Such denunciations were not uncommon and often were the result of personal grievances or misunderstandings amplified by the overarching fear of witchcraft. Through these intricate layers of accusation and confession, Issobell More McKaw's story encapsulates the era’s pervasive dread and the tragic entanglements that many individuals faced under the intense scrutiny of witch trials.