Katherine Campbell, a married woman of middling status living in Bargarran, Renfrew, found herself enmeshed in the notorious witch trials of 1697. As a servant in the household of the principal accuser, Christian Shaw, her involvement in the case seems to have been influenced by this proximity. Christian Shaw was a young girl who claimed to be possessed, and her accusations sparked what became known as the Renfrew witch trials. Katherine, likely accustomed to the everyday transitions from servant to wife, found herself one of seven individuals eventually tried from over twenty-eight people initially accused.
The trial commenced with Katherine, framed within the broader frenzy incited by Shaw's claims, being accused of attending a witches' meeting. Despite the chaotic legal process of the time, which frequently involved considerable delays—as evidenced by the month-long continuation of her trial from April to May—Katherine was ultimately found guilty. The verdict led to her sentence of execution, and she faced her grim fate at Gallow Green on June 10, 1697. The method, a grim combination of strangulation and burning, underscored the severity with which such charges were met during that period. Katherine Campbell's story is a sobering reminder of the complexities and human costs of the witch trials that marked Scotland's history during the late 17th century.