Mary Glass, a woman residing in Newton, was ensnared in the web of suspicion characteristic of the Scottish witch trials at the dawn of the 18th century. Her case, noted under the records dated January 2, 1700, indicates she was among those accused of witchcraft during this tumultuous period when societal fears often manifested in prosecutions of alleged witchcraft. Newton, likely corresponding to a locality within Wick parish or perhaps in Caithness parish, served as the backdrop for Mary’s ordeal.
The trial record, cataloged under the archival reference T/LA/1809, provides a terse account of proceedings without delving into the nature of the accusations or the evidence presented against Mary. The outcome of the trial, while recorded on the same day, January 2, 1700, remains unelaborated within the materials at hand. This case serves as a somber reflection of the era's deeply rooted anxieties and the precarious position of those, like Mary, caught in its grip. The specifics of Mary Glass's experience, including the trial's verdict and the charges leveled, lie shrouded in the past, encapsulating the elusive nature of historical memory during the witch hunts.