In the year 1683, Jennet Broun, a resident of Holm in Penpont, Dumfries, found herself enmeshed in the turbulent currents of the Scottish witch trials. According to historical records, Jennet’s case, identified in the archives as C/EGD/720, was set against the backdrop of a society gripped by fear and suspicion. At this time in Scotland, accusations of witchcraft were often fueled by local quarrels, personal vendettas, or unexplained misfortunes, and those accused faced rigorous interrogations and severe consequences.
Jennet’s case progressed to a trial, noted in the records as T/LA/1906, where she appeared on a Dumfries roll—a list that presumably included others accused of witchcraft in the region. This detail places her among many who were caught in a wave of convictions sweeping through Dumfries and the wider Scottish Lowlands. The specifics of the charges leveled against Jennet, the evidence presented, or the individuals involved in her accusation and trial are not detailed in the remaining historical documents, reflecting a silence that often envelops the stories of those accused of witchcraft during this era. Her experience mirrors that of countless others whose lives were upended by accusations that left indelible marks on their communities and history.