In the annals of Scottish history concerning the witch trials that cast a long shadow over the 16th and 17th centuries, the case of John Guillieland stands out for its peculiarities. Residing in Dalry, Ayr, John was one of the individuals identified among the so-called Dunlop witches. A man in a witch trial was less common, as the vast majority of the accused were women, making John's case particularly noteworthy. The records suggest a geographical tie to Kilburnie, though his primary residence was in Dalry, a region tangled in the web of fear and accusations characteristic of this turbulent period.
On the 6th of April, 1658, John Guillieland was listed in the Ayr Court list, as documented in two porteous rolls—a term used for rolls of names of those to be brought to trial. One roll, dated 31st March 1658, summoned the entire group accused that year, suggesting that John's trial was part of a larger sweep against individuals suspected of witchcraft during that time. The historical notes provide scarce details about the specific allegations or the outcome of John's trial, but they place him firmly within the circle of accused witches in the mid-17th century Ayrshire, a testament to the pervasive fear and suspicion that triggered such prosecutions.