In the early days of 1700, Mary Keill from the small settlement of Fernintosh in Ross, found herself at the center of one of the many witch trials that dotted the Scottish landscape during this tumultuous era. Fernintosh, also known as Fermtoish, was a rural hamlet nestled in what is now part of the wider Ferintosh district, historically part of Nairnshire. These were times when local communities were often shrouded in superstition, with fear at the fore and suspicion swirling readily around those who were perceived as different or troublesome.
The records pertaining to Mary's case are sparse, detailing primarily the procedural aspects of her experience. On January 2nd, 1700, she was brought to trial under suspicion of witchcraft, an accusation that frequently stemmed from neighborhood feuds, misunderstood maladies, or the inexplicable misfortunes of daily life. Her trial, designated as Case C/EGD/1789, proceeded as countless others had throughout the Highlands and Lowlands during Scotland’s infamous witch hunts.
Remarkably, the trial concluded with a verdict of "Not Guilty," as noted in the trial record T/LA/1808. This outcome, dated the same day as the trial, perhaps suggests a swift deliberation by those adjudicating her case. While the specific allegations and defense are lost to history, the not guilty verdict allowed Mary to return to her home in Fernintosh, a rare reprieve from the era's harsh judgments that many others accused of witchcraft sadly did not receive. Even with limited details, Mary Keill’s story reminds us of the gripping tension and fleeting moments of mercy found within Scotland’s witch trials at the dawn of the 18th century.