In the waning years of the 17th century, the village of Bargarran in Erskine, Renfrew, became the focal point of a series of dramatic accusations that would engulf the life of one Katherine Campbell. Known primarily as a servant within the household of the Shaws, Katherine’s life took a drastic turn when she was accused of witchcraft during the infamous Renfrew witch trials of 1697. In a period when fear and superstition reigned supreme, Katherine, described in trial records as "the taylor's wife," found herself at the center of a community panic led by her former charge, young Christian Shaw, who claimed to be possessed.
Katherine Campbell was among the first to be denounced, largely owing to her former association with the Shaw household, a connection that made her a convenient target for suspicion. The charges against her included participation in a witches' meeting, a serious accusation that fueled the hysteria gripping Renfrew at the time. She was one of seven individuals ultimately brought to trial, out of more than twenty-eight initially accused. Despite the complexity and length of the proceedings, which began on the 13th of April 1697 and concluded on the 19th of May, the trial led to a guilty verdict. As part of a grim consequence that befell alleged witches during this turbulent period, Katherine was sentenced to death.
On the 10th of June, 1697, Katherine Campbell met her fate at Gallow Green, where she was executed by strangulation and burning, a common method reserved for those convicted of witchcraft. Her case reflects the chilling climate of fear and superstition of the time, casting a long shadow over the community of Bargarran and contributing to the harrowing legacy of the Scottish witch trials. Katherine Campbell's story, preserved within the judicial and presbytery records, stands as a poignant reminder of the personal tragedies enmeshed within the broader canvas of history’s witch hunts.