In the year 1644, Margaret Dauling found herself embroiled in the turbulence of the Scottish witch trials that swept through her home town of Queensferry, Linlithgow. The records denote her as a woman from this bustling port town, residing near the intersection of cultural exchange and, perhaps, suspicion. As witch trials became a common part of society’s fears and frustrations during this period, Margaret was thrust into the center of a legal process that endangered not just her freedom, but also her life.
Margaret’s case is marked under the records as C/EGD/2344, and her trial details are captured under the reference T/JO/522. The outcome of the trial is particularly significant — she was acquitted of all charges. This outcome is remarkable given the era’s often harsh and unforgiving approach to those accused of witchcraft. While the specifics of the accusations against her remain obscure in the historical record, the fact that Margaret was acquitted stands out as a beacon of respite amidst the often grim fates met by others similarly accused. Her acquittal suggests either a lack of evidence sufficient to convict, the persuasiveness of her defense, or possibly the intervention of community members willing to stand by her in this perilous situation. Margaret Dauling’s story thus concludes not with the flames of the stake, but with a return to her life in Queensferry, carrying with her the shadow of an accusation that had been deftly dispelled by the due process of her time.