In the turbulent climate of late 16th-century Scotland, amidst a widespread fear of witchcraft and demonic influence, Margrat Og, a resident of Mariewell in Lumphanan, Aberdeen, found herself at the epicenter of accusations that led to a grim demise. The historical records indicate that Margrat, at the age of 37, was married and the mother of at least two daughters, who were also implicated in the nefarious meetings she was accused of attending. These meetings, described in the charges as gatherings with other witches, suggest an accusation of participating in what was believed to be a witches' coven, where it was alleged that she made a pact with demonic forces.
Her trial took place in Aberdeen on April 24, 1597, a date marking the somber culmination of her ordeal. During the proceedings, Margrat was found guilty of the charges laid against her, which prominently included making a demonic pact and attending witches' meetings. Such accusations were not uncommon during this period, as fear of witchcraft often led to the conflation of misfortune or community disputes with supernatural explanations. Unfortunately for Margrat, her association with magic and malevolent forces led to the ultimate punitive measure: execution.
Notably, Margrat Og's name also appears in connection with the trials of Beatrix Robbie and Margerat Bane, where she was denounced—a term frequently used in witch trials indicating a formal accusation of witchcraft or allegiance with the devil. Furthermore, there were allegations of property damage, specifically affecting animals, an accusation commonly linked to supposed witches whose perceived malevolent influence was believed to extend to harming livestock and crops. The severity of her sentencing—strangulation followed by burning—reflects the intense fear and punitive zeal of the time, a harsh fate shared by many others accused in this era of Scottish history.