Mary McFinley Vic Comes, a resident of Inverness, is recorded in the annals of history as having faced accusations of witchcraft during a period of intense fear and suspicion in Scotland. Her case, dated April 9, 1662, marks the onset of a grueling ordeal underscored by the lack of detailed trial notes. This absence leaves the specifics of the charges against Mary enveloped in mystery, a common plight for many accused during these turbulent times.
The historical records available highlight the severe treatment she endured following her accusation. Between June of the same year, Mary was subjected to a harsh regimen of torture, including sleep deprivation and brutal physical punishments like having her feet burned, being hung by her thumbs, whipped, and bound with ropes. These methods were alarmingly typical of the attempts of the time to extract confessions or identify alleged accomplices. Despite the agony she must have endured, the documentation does not capture what, if anything, was confessed, nor does it illuminate the outcome of her trial.
Mary’s experience is emblematic of the broader witch trials period in Scotland, where fear of witchcraft fueled a pervasive climate of suspicion and where many, like Mary, were subjected to intense scrutiny and suffering without the benefit of a formal legal defense. Her story, preserved in fragments, serves as a somber reminder of this dark chapter in history.