Jon Stewart, a young man from Pollokshaws, Paisley in Renfrew, found himself ensnared in the turbulent witch trials that swept through Scotland in the late seventeenth century. Born into a family of middling status, where his father had served as an under miller, Jon's life took a drastic turn when he became enmeshed in accusations of witchcraft at the tender age of sixteen. Despite the initial estimate of his age, court records described Jon as owning his house, marking him as an adult in the eyes of the law.
The charges against Jon were grave, including allegations of maleficium, the practice of harmful magic, and attending witches' meetings. His trial, held on the 14th of February 1677, was significant enough to involve both local and central authorities, reflecting the gravity with which witchcraft accusations were treated. Edinburgh officials were sent to oversee the proceedings, and the trial documentation found its way into the circuit court's minute books, highlighting the case's broader significance. Jon was found guilty and sentenced to execution.
In the final days before his execution on February 20th, 1677, Jon's confessions were meticulously recorded on three separate occasions. These confessions, noted in places including the Tolbooth—a potent symbol of judicial authority—served to consolidate the damning evidence against him. Ultimately, Jon met his fate at Gallow Green, where he was strangled and his body burned, a common method of execution for those condemned as witches. His case reflects the harsh realities and fear-driven justice of the time, marking a somber chapter in Scotland's complex history with witchcraft persecutions.