In November 1670, Janet Anderson, a widow residing in Aberdeen, found herself at the center of a witchcraft accusation during a tumultuous period of Scottish history. The witch trials of the late seventeenth century, driven by superstition and fear, often claimed the lives of individuals based on scant evidence and hearsay. Janet, like many other accused, was enveloped in this climate of suspicion and anxiety.
The historical record for Janet’s case, categorized under case number C/EGD/580, provides little detail about the nature of the accusations or the events leading up to her charge. Her case was noted in Rossell Hope Robbins' compilation, "The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology," also known as the 'Source-book', but the specific documents insisting on her purported crimes appear to be elusive. The Survey team's exploration of the designated archival box, JC26/40, suggested an error in citation or misplacement, as the documents pertained to 1671, thus rendering the outcome of Janet's trial unknown.
Despite these archival challenges, Janet’s experience highlights the precarious situation faced by many widowed women during this period. Without a husband to defend her or a defined social position, a widow like Janet was particularly vulnerable to accusations during the witch trials. Such cases underscore the broader societal anxieties of the time and reflect the thin line between daily life and the potential for sudden and dire legal entanglements. While the historical record does not reveal Janet’s fate, her story remains a poignant echo of the era’s tumult.