In the mid-17th century Scotland, amidst the ongoing witch trials, Jonet Miller of Auld Liston in the parish of Kirkliston found herself at the center of an accusation that reached back decades. At 51 years of age, Jonet was charged with having participated in a conspiracy dating as far back as 26 years prior, implicating her in sinister activities that allegedly involved causing harm and engaging in meetings with the devil. These grave accusations came amid the broader context of the Scottish witch hunts, a turbulent era riddled with suspicion and fear.
Jonet's trial was recorded on August 20, 1661, in Edinburgh, though the trial process might have been influenced by an unfamiliar jury, composed primarily of Edinburg residents, rather than those from her own community of Kirkliston. Although the records indicate plans for another trial session in September, there is no evidence to suggest it proceeded. Interestingly, despite numerous accusations suggested by her inclusion in multiple individuals' testimonies as a "known witch," the verdict delivered was one of not guilty.
Noteworthy are Jonet Miller's confessions to witchcraft, documented at her local church in 1659, which she later retracted. This revelation of her recantation, along with the peculiar context of her trial, underscores the complexities and pressures involved in such cases during this fraught period in Scottish history. The charges against her, including property damage specifically related to a dairy, and her having been named by other alleged witches like Marion Craufurd, Helen Samuel, and William Knox, provide a glimpse into the network of accusers and the tenuous nature of the evidence presented in these trials.