In December of 1649, Janet Bowis, a woman residing in the town of Lanark, found herself embroiled in a case of witchcraft—a common accusation that swept through Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries. The records pertaining to Janet's case are sparse, yet they provide a glimpse into the climate of suspicion and fear that characterized this tumultuous period. Janet’s ordeal is documented under the case designation C/EGD/13, though specific details about the charges leveled against her or the proceedings of her trial remain elusive due to the absence of a thorough examination of secondary sources cited by well-known scholars, such as Christina Larner, whose work is considered critical in the study of Scottish witch trials.
Despite the lack of detailed personal history or allegations spelled out in the available documentation, Janet Bowis's experience is a testament to the widespread belief in witchcraft that gripped early modern Scotland. During this time, accusations often arose in communities facing social and economic hardships, where individuals—predominantly women—were scapegoated. The record of Janet Bowis’s case stands as an enduring reminder of a past where fear overshadowed reason, affecting countless lives and leaving its mark on Scotland's cultural history.