In the mid-17th century, Elizabeth Black, also listed in the records as Elspeth Black or Elspet Blak, found herself entangled in the grim witch trials of Scotland. A resident of Alloa in Clackmannanshire, Elizabeth was no ordinary accused witch; the historical records indicate that she possessed the ability to sign her name. This skill was not widespread at the time and suggests that she may have belonged to at least a middling social status. Her ordeal began on the 23rd of March 1659 when she, along with two others, faced trial in the circuit court. The verdict was guilty, and Elizabeth was sentenced to banishment—an extreme punishment that underscored the severity with which witchcraft was regarded. However, the execution of this sentence was delayed, and Elizabeth was held in Stirling prison, awaiting transportation.
The case of Elizabeth Black took a turn following her imprisonment. After languishing for two years, Elizabeth and her co-accused Katherine appealed to the justice commissioners through a supplication, noting irregularities in their trial and requesting a postponement of sentencing. This plea reached the Privy Council, which acknowledged the procedural errors. Consequently, a second trial was ordered. This subsequent trial was held locally, though the historical records fall silent regarding its resolution. Throughout her trials, Elizabeth maintained her plea of not guilty, steadfastly protesting her innocence. Her fate remains obscured in the surviving documentation, leaving us to wonder about the eventual outcome of her appeal and the final chapter of her life amid one of Scotland's dark periods of witch hunts.