Janet Tucidie, a resident of Corstorphine near Edinburgh, found herself ensnared in the turbulent and perilous dynamics of 17th-century Scottish witch trials, a period marked by fear and suspicion driven by religious and social upheavals. While no direct trial records of Janet herself have been discovered, her name surfaces in the context of another trial, as noted by historian Larner and others. This indirect mention suggests she was implicated through the confessions or accusations stemming from the trial of another individual, identified as James Welch. The absence of a dedicated trial dossier for Janet highlights a recurring phenomenon of the time: the reliance on association and hearsay to implicate individuals in witchcraft.
In 1659, the year when Janet's name is recorded in these grim proceedings, Scotland was rife with witch hunts that swept through communities, leaving suspicion and ruin in their wake. Janet's mention might have sprung from feverish inquisitions typical of this era, where accusations often manifested from ordinary quarrels and fears, escalating into deadly allegations. Although the specifics of her involvement or the exact nature of accused transgressions are buried in the shadows of history, the brief note in James Welch's trial narrative underscores the interconnectedness of these cases and the sporadic yet potent peril faced by individuals like Janet, who were linked – whether by choice or chance – to the accused.