James Lindsay, a resident of Formakure in Erskine, Renfrewshire, found himself enmeshed in the turbulent events of the 1697 witch trials, a period fraught with fear and suspicion. The precise origins of James before relocating to Formakure are somewhat obscure, though records suggest a possible connection to Bargarran, a locale steeped in witchcraft allegations during this era. The Renfrewshire witch trials of 1697 were among the most notorious in Scotland, rooted in social tensions and communal anxieties about witchcraft. As tensions peaked, James was one of seven individuals brought to trial from a broader group of over 28 accused individuals. The charges leveled against him primarily revolved around attending a witches' meeting, a serious accusation that often carried the weight of both reality and hysteria in equal measure.
The proceedings against James began amid the backdrop of intense scrutiny and pressure from both religious and judicial authorities. On March 18, 1697, shortly before his trial commenced, presbytery records noted that the ministers, alongside the accused, would travel to Renfrew, where the legal ordeal would unfold. The trial officially commenced on April 13, 1697, but due to the complexities and perhaps the gravity of the case, it extended over a month, concluding on May 19. On May 12, a verdict of guilty was rendered against James, sealing his fate to an eventual execution. On June 10, 1697, at Gallow Green, James Lindsay faced execution by strangling, followed by burning. This method reflected the era's brutal penal practices for those condemned of witchcraft. His case, preserved through trial and confession records, stands as a testament to the grim realities faced by those ensnared in the witch hunts of early modern Scotland.