In the spring of 1662, Janet Man, a resident of Milton of Moynes near Auldearn in the county of Nairn, found herself at the heart of a witchcraft trial — a grave and serious matter that would grip not only her life but echo throughout her community. Married at the time, Janet's position within the village was undoubtedly disturbed as rumors and accusations took hold. The trial records denote the date of April 14th, 1662, as a critical point in this sequence of events. Such trials were part of a broader wave of witch hunts that swept across Scotland during the 16th and 17th centuries, a period marked by fear and suspicion.
The formal documentation of Janet's trial under case name C/EGD/465 reveals the systemic process through which accusations of witchcraft were treated. Scottish witchcraft trials of this era were known for their reliance on confessions often extracted under duress, detailed testimonies from community members, and an intricate ecclesiastical and civil judicial system. While the specifics of Janet's alleged actions and the testimonies brought against her are not detailed in the surviving record, the very existence of such a case highlights the precarious position in which those accused found themselves. As a married woman, Janet’s trial would not only have affected her personally but also impacted her family and social standing in the village.
The record of Janet Man’s trial, identified as T/LA/1854, adds to a broader historical understanding of how communities in 17th century Scotland were embroiled in these profoundly distressing episodes. The year 1662 was a particularly intense period of witch trials in the region, with heightened fears of the supernatural coinciding with societal tensions. Janet's case, preserved through these documents, contributes to the mosaic of stories that illustrate the harsh reality faced by those accused of witchcraft in early modern Scotland, offering us a glimpse into a past defined by belief, power, and the perilous intersections of both.