In the shadowy annals of Scotland's 17th-century witch trials emerges the figure of Mary Dollour, a resident of Inverness ensnared in the widespread hysteria of the time. Historical records from the year 1662 throw a stark spotlight on Mary's harrowing experience as it reflects the severe measures employed by authorities in their quest to root out perceived witches. Mary's ordeal began with an accusation that would see her swept into the grim machinery of early modern justice.
Although the trial records of Mary's case, designated C/EGD/1670, hold no extant details, the surviving accounts of her interrogation provide a somber testament to the methods used. June 1662 bore witness to the application of various forms of torture, a common practice of the era meant to elicit confessions or name accomplices. Mary was subjected to sleep deprivation, one of the psychological torments intended to break the spirit and will of the accused. Physical tortures followed: her feet were burned, she was hung by her thumbs, and she suffered whipping. The records also indicate she was bound with ropes, further illustrating the intense physical and psychological pressures placed upon her.
The records do not reveal the outcome of Mary's trial or her life beyond these torments, yet her story stands as a poignant reminder of the turmoil that swept through Scotland, claiming lives amid charges of witchcraft. Mary's suffering alongside countless others reflects the complex interplay of fear, societal upheaval, and legal practices during this turbulent period of Scottish history.