In May of 1683, Janet Fisher, a married woman residing in the small settlement of Garsmillies in Ayr, found herself at the center of a witchcraft trial. Her case is recorded among the numerous witchcraft accusations that swept across Scotland during the late 16th and 17th centuries, a period marked by fear and suspicion. The records from that time, housed in case file C/EGD/709, offer a poignant look into the circumstances surrounding Janet's accusation and subsequent trial. Her story, like many others of this era, unfolded in the confines of a courtroom where lives could change drastically based on the beliefs and prejudices governing that particular day.
Janet Fisher was brought before a tribunal in May of 1683, a scene documented under the trial reference T/LA/1792. Despite the gravity of the accusations against her—charges that could lead to execution—the trial concluded with a verdict of "Not Guilty." Such outcomes were relatively rare, considering the period's atmosphere that often led to severe punishments. Janet's trial notes also mention her name being listed on a "porteous roll," a document essentially detailing those she might have been accused of harming or interacting with in a manner considered suspicious or malefic by her accusers. While Janet Fisher escaped the fate that befell many others during these tumultuous times, the presence of her name on these records indicates the profound impact these proceedings likely had on her life, even after the trial's end.