In March of 1700, Margaret Duncan, a widow residing in Glasgow, found herself entangled in the fervent witch trials that were a recurring feature of Scottish life in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Margaret's late husband had been a merchant, placing her in a middling socioeconomic status, which perhaps made her life somewhat secure and comfortable. However, her social position did not spare her from accusations of witchcraft, a peril that many in Scotland faced during this tumultuous period.
The case against Margaret began with accusations from Margaret Laird in Paisley and Margaret Murdoch in Govan. Both young women claimed to suffer torment at the hands of witches, and in their fits, they named multiple individuals, including Margaret Duncan. Laird's testimony swept through Paisley between the 19th and 21st of April, 1699, while Murdoch’s account came from Glasgow on the 22nd of April. These claims stemmed from fits and episodes of torment that were catastrophically common hearsay during the witch trials, their nature often amplified by fear and misunderstanding. However, recorded documentation shows that the trial initially planned for May 19th, 1699, in Glasgow, curiously did not take place.
Eventually, in the high court at Edinburgh on March 12th, 1700, legal proceedings against Margaret Duncan reached their conclusion as they were ultimately deserted. The exact reasons for Margaret’s release remain unrecorded, yet the outcome was significant. In an era when accusations could easily lead to execution, Margaret’s release marked a fortunate end to her ordeal. This decision came at a time when judicial attitudes towards witchcraft were beginning to shift, yet it underscored the precariousness of life in early modern Scotland, where accusations could emerge from the shadows without warning and haunt individuals, irrespective of personal history or social standing.