Mary Morisone, residing in Greenock, Renfrew, found herself ensnared in the tumultuous era of Scottish witch trials at the turn of the 18th century. Married and of middling socioeconomic status, Mary was summoned to Edinburgh by the Privy Council in September 1698, tasked with defending herself against allegations of witchcraft. The accusations lay heavily upon her, primarily due to claims made by two young girls, Margaret Laird of Paisley and Margaret Murdoch of Govan. Both girls alleged that they were victimized by witches during their fits, during which they accused Mary among others. The statements from Laird were given in Paisley over several days in April 1699, while Murdoch's testimony followed in Glasgow.
Amidst the turmoil, Mary’s legal journey was notably influenced by her personal circumstances. In 1697, an earlier indictment saw her released due to pregnancy, a factor that delayed judicial proceedings. This development reflected a common legal consideration of the time: pregnant women, deemed unfit for trial or punishment, had their cases postponed. Her case weaved through the courts, echoing that of Annabel Reid, another woman similarly enmeshed in trials related to witchcraft during this period. The persistence of the accusations saw her rearrest in 1699, heavily reliant on the testimonies surrounding the fits of the young girls.
By March 1700, the proceedings against Mary had reached a notable respite. The records note that her "diet was deserted," implying that the case was dropped, and she was subsequently released from the grips of judicial scrutiny. Her husband's bond of caution, dated May 1699, suggests a supportive network that possibly facilitated her eventual release. While the detailed accusations remain murky, her story stands as a testament to the profound impact that such charges had on individuals' lives and the complex interplay of societal fears, legal processes, and personal narratives in early modern Scotland.