In the late spring of 1597, Aberdeen became the backdrop for the somber trial of Christian Reid, a woman described in the records as a destitute vagabond navigating the harsh realities of 16th-century Scotland. Known to have been associated with the town of Spalding, Christian's itinerant lifestyle potentially intersected with a brief tenure as a servant to Katherine Gerard. However, her social standing and occupation as a transient worker placed her on precarious ground, and she became ensnared in the tumultuous period of witch hunts that characterized this era in Scottish history.
Christian's ordeal began with stark accusations leveled against her, the most severe being that of forming a demonic pact. The records indicate that her trial commenced and concluded swiftly on the same day, April 15, 1597, at the court in Aberdeen. The verdict was pronounced as guilty, and she was sentenced to be executed by the grim means of strangulation followed by burning, a common fate for those convicted of witchcraft during this period. Before her death, a confession was extracted and documented, although the details of this confession remain unspecified in the records.
Her story weaves into the broader tapestry of witch trials through her mention in the trial of another accused, Hellie Pennie, where Christian was identified as a "Known Witch." This echoes the dangerous interplay of personal vendettas and societal paranoia. Compounding the accusations, Christian faced charges of property damage, specifically involving a mill, though the records do not elucidate the nature of this alleged act. By month's end, Christian Reid's life was claimed by the brutal justice meted out in her time, marking a tragic chapter within the annals of Aberdeen's history.