In the remote and windswept archipelago of Shetland, nestled within the small community of Howll, the life of Suna Voe took a dramatic turn in the year 1673. At the age of 75, Suna found herself at the heart of an accusation of witchcraft—an extraordinary circumstance, given her advanced years and the typically insular nature of such rural communities. The records identify Suna Voe, also known by the name Vaus, as part of a family thread intricately woven into the fabric of local life. She was the mother of Margaret Bigland and grandmother to Molphrie Porteous, who were possibly entangled in the broader tapestry of suspicion that was cast over several women in Shetland during this tumultuous period.
Suna's trial, recorded under trial documentation T/JO/633, was emblematic of the fear and superstition that gripped many parts of Scotland in the late seventeenth century. The nature of the documentation available does not reveal the specifics of the evidence or accusations levelled against her, nor the outcome of the trial. However, it provides a window into a society deeply concerned with the supernatural, where familial relations might have played a significant role in the unfolding events. Despite the sparse details, Suna Voe's ordeal reflects the precarious position of many women who found themselves vulnerable to such charges, often driven by complex social dynamics and local animosities.
Suna's story, as documented in the historical record, leaves much to be explored regarding the intricate human connections and societal structures within Howll. Her case points to the considerable impact of witch trials in shaping the lives of those accused, their families, and the community at large. While the specific fates of Suna, her daughter, and granddaughter remain shrouded in historical ambiguity, their presence in the records serves as a poignant reminder of the era's fraught climate, where age and kinship were insufficient shields against the fearful environments of early modern Scotland.