Margaret Cumyngham, a widow from the village of Dunlop in Ayrshire, was among those ensnared in the witch trials that swept through Scotland during the 17th century. Details of her life prior to her accusation remain sparse, overshadowed by the grim events of 1658 that catalogued her among those suspected of witchcraft. The records identify Margaret as a member of the so-called "Dunlop witches," a group purportedly linked to matters mysterious and forbidden. However, unlike many of her contemporaries who faced the grim proceedings of a witch trial, Margaret's case took a different turn.
Margaret is noted in the records with the term "fugitive," indicating that when summoned to appear before the Ayr Court for her trial on April 6, 1658, she was conspicuously absent. This absence is reiterated in two porteous rolls from the same year, including one dated March 31, which formally summoned the accused group to court. The designation of "not to be found" suggests that Margaret either chose to evade the authorities or was otherwise unaccounted for in the turmoil of the witch hunts, a time characterized by a fervent pursuit of those accused of malevolent sorcery, often with severe consequences.
Her status as a widow perhaps influenced her circumstances. In a period where women, particularly those living without male protection, were vulnerable to suspicion and accusation, Margaret's solitude may have both heightened her risk of being targeted and motivated her alleged flight. The historical record remains silent on her fate post-trial date, leaving an incomplete narrative of her life and the societal forces that pressed against women like her during this tumultuous era in Scottish history.