In the year 1586, Tibbie Smart found herself at the heart of a witchcraft trial, an ordeal that was all too familiar during the fraught times of early modern Scotland. Residing in Carralstoun under the jurisdiction of the Lord of Clovay, Tibbie's story unfolded amidst the tensions simmering within tight-knit communities and the pervasive fear of witchcraft. The records document that she was tried for witchcraft and received a conviction that carried severe consequences. The case notes offer a glimpse into the aftermath of her trial, revealing that despite her punishment of banishment, a subsequent indictment would later incorporate her original guilty verdict as a reference to her alleged misdeeds.
Tibbie's trial concluded with a grim sentence common in such cases: she was marked by fire, burned in the cheek—a physical and enduring testament to her conviction—and subsequently banished from her community. Historical records indicate that following her expulsion, Tibbie Smart never returned to her former home. Her story, embedded in the wider narrative of the Scottish witch hunts, highlights the social and legal mechanisms of the time, where accusations could rapidly lead to public punishment and ostracisation. Tibbie's life, as recorded, serves as a stark reminder of the perilous circumstances and the harsh judgments that defined the era, reflecting the vulnerability of individuals amidst prevailing suspicions and communal tensions.