In 1644, the shadow of suspicion fell over Queensferry, Linlithgow, and at its heart was Marion Stein, a resident whose life would be dramatically altered by the fervor of the witch trials sweeping through Scotland. The records tell us little of her personal life before her trial, capturing instead the stark and somber details of her final days. Within the context of these trials, her case appears as one among many, yet each sentence in the records echoes the gravity of the charges she faced.
Although the specifics of the accusations against her are not detailed in the available record, the outcome is starkly unambiguous: Marion Stein was executed. This denotes the severity with which her alleged transgressions were regarded by both the local community and the judicial bodies of the time. The mere fact of her execution underscores the broader historical moment—a period in which fear of witchcraft was pervasive and could decisively determine the fate of individuals deemed suspect. Marion’s story, preserved in the annals of history as case C/EGD/2348, remains a solemn testament to the lives affected by this tumultuous period in Scottish history.