Janet Daill lived in the town of Musselburgh, Inveresk, near Edinburgh, during a time of great turbulence and fear. Her life was characterized by the simple and often harsh realities of the lower economic class, as the wife of a collier. At the age of 39, after having endured years of whispered suspicions, Janet found herself accused of witchcraft, a charge that had been festering for nearly 14 years according to the whispers and reputations that circulated among her neighbours.
The records indicate that Janet was charged with attending a witches' meeting, a serious accusation that consumed much of the public's fear during this period. On July 8, 1661, her confession was recorded, although the details of her words remain unnoted. It is clear, however, that her alleged connection with esteemed others—Agnes Johnston, William King, Margaret Bell, Agnes Andersoun, Margaret Barbor, and Elspeth Halliburtonn—played a part in her unfortunate plight. Each of these individuals mentioned Janet in their own trials, highlighting a web of alleged complicity that worked against her.
Janet's trial took place on July 29, 1661, in Edinburgh, a city swept by the fervor of witch hunts. The court pronounced her guilty, and her execution was grimly scheduled for the following day. On July 30, 1661, Janet was executed by strangulation and subsequently her body was burned, in keeping with the practices deemed appropriate for such convictions at that time. Her story serves as a sombre reflection on the paranoia and unforgiving justice system of early modern Scotland, where accusations of witchcraft could rapidly lead to a tragic end.