Janet Fisher, a resident of Garsmillies near Ayr, found herself swept into the turmoil of the Scottish witch trials in the spring of 1683. These trials, notably unforgiving and fueled by societal upheaval and superstition, cast a wide net over those accused of witchcraft during this period. Janet, despite being married, which often conferred a measure of societal protection, was embroiled in allegations that would lead her to stand trial.
The trial records from May of the same year reveal that the charges against Janet were, intriguingly, not enough to secure a conviction. Listed on what is referred to as a "porteous roll"—a document traditionally used to record individuals accused of various crimes awaiting trial—Janet's name suggests she was initially marked out for judicial inquiry. However, the courts, for reasons not detailed in the surviving documents, delivered a verdict of "Not Guilty". This outcome, though possibly surprising given the dynamics of the time, may have spared Janet from the dire consequences faced by many of the accused during these trials.
Janet's acquittal stands as a reminder of the varied fates that awaited those entangled in the witch trials—fates not solely determined by the power of superstition or the fervor of accusation. While the details of her life post-trial remain obscured in the records, Janet Fisher's story highlights the complexities and, at times, the merciful turn within the grim tapestry of Scotland’s history of witchcraft prosecution. Her experience is a reflective testament to an era marked by fear yet interspersed with individual narratives of resilience and perhaps, in her case, vindication.