Margaret Dods, a resident of Paiston in Crichton, Edinburgh, found herself ensnared in the turbulent and deadly epoch of the Scottish witch trials. While official records indicate she was accused of conspiring with others at a supposed witches' meeting, there appears to be a discrepancy regarding her age. Although formally recorded as 27 years old when accused, observers refer to her as too elderly to perform the ritualistic actions expected during such allegations, suggesting she may have been closer to 60 years old at the time of her trial in 1678.
Margaret's case progressed swiftly and tragically. On September 13, 1678, the trial took place in Edinburgh where the Lord Advocate prosecuted. Over the preceding months, Margaret had confessed to charges of witchcraft on several occasions, with records noting interrogations dated as early as July 1, 1678. The confession notes, while extensive, offer no insight into whether these admissions came under duress or persuasion, commonplace in trials of this nature. Unfortunately for Margaret, the trial culminated in a guilty verdict, sealing her fate.
Connections to other alleged witches further compounded Margaret's plight. Named as an accomplice or denounced by several, including Sarah Cranston and Marion Veitch, Margaret Dods stood isolated against the mounting accusations. The verdict led directly to her execution merely days later, on September 20th, 1678, via the grim method of strangulation followed by burning. This punishment, standard for those found guilty of witchcraft during the period, marked the grim conclusion of Margaret’s life amidst one of the darkest chapters of Scottish judicial history.