Janet Clark, a woman residing in Blalach, an area in the Cromarty region near Aberdeen, lived during an era marked by fear and superstition, emboldened by the witch trials that swept through Scotland between 1563 and 1736. In August 1590, her life took a tragic turn when she was accused, tried, and convicted of witchcraft. The trial proceedings against Janet were held in Edinburgh, a significant center for such trials, suggesting that her case had considerable notability, possibly linked to the noted individuals Leslie and Achinleck, who were involved in prosecutions around the same time.
On August 17, 1590, the court found Janet guilty of the charges brought against her. Though details of her alleged activities or the nature of her confession are not preserved in the records we have, her conviction led to a severe sentence, reflecting the gravity with which witchcraft accusations were handled during that period. Janet was sentenced to be executed on Castle Hill, a prominent site for public executions. The method prescribed—strangulation followed by burning—was common in Scottish witch trials, intended both as a punishment and as a deterrent to others. Janet's trial and execution, recorded in historical accounts, underscore the peril women faced during this era, often becoming victims of unfounded fears and societal turbulence, leaving behind a history for us to reflect upon and learn from.