In the complex and fear-filled climate of the late 17th century, Jean Woodrow, a widowed woman of lower socioeconomic status, found herself at the center of a tumultuous witchcraft accusation in Renfrew. Jean lived at Bridge End in the small parish of Kilmacolm, a modest enclave where her late husband had worked as a baker, known locally as a "baxter." Despite his trade, Jean struggled after his death and was frequently noted for her attempts to procure alms, often denied. Her precarious financial state likely rendered her a more visible target in a society rife with suspicion and fear of witchcraft.
The allegations against Jean arose in the wake of frenzied accusations made by Margaret Laird, a young girl from Paisley who experienced what were reported as tormenting fits. During these episodes, Laird identified several individuals, including Jean, as perpetrators of witchcraft. Witness testimonies were recorded in Paisley from April 19 to 21, 1699, recounting Laird’s fits and her denunciations during those times of distress. They alleged that Jean's supposed malevolence caused damage to properties, including a dairy and a mill, sacred bastions of community life and livelihood.
Despite the grave nature of the accusations, Jean’s trial, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh's High Court in 1700, culminated in her release. A legal document known as a "dittay" was formalized from the gathered testimonies, yet procedural complications resulted in a trial originally slated for May 1699 being postponed. Ultimately, the High Court ordered the desertion of her case in 1700, leading to Jean's discharge. This resolution, while absolving her legally, left the whispers and suspicions of her community perhaps untouched by the court's decision, emblematic of the enduring stains such accusations often left on the lives of the accused.