In the early 18th century, Janet Hairstains found herself subject to the turmoil and stigma surrounding accusations of witchcraft in Scotland. Residing in Collin, within the parish of Torthorwald, Dumfries, Janet was a widow whose life became entangled with the forbidding machinery of ecclesiastical and civil measures against witchcraft. Her presence is recorded in various documents, reflecting a life marked by dislocation and allegations. The records reveal that Janet was banished from the presbytery of Dumfries in 1700 after investigations by the local presbytery, highlighting the severity with which these accusations were treated. Her banishment led her to relocate, first to areas within Dumfries-shire such as Troqueer but eventually she was found in the vicinity of Kirkcudbright. This kind of enforced mobility was not uncommon among those accused, offering a glimpse into the social penalties that accompanied such charges.
Janet's case resurfaced several times, notably appearing again in legal records in 1708, where she was placed under caution—a legal measure requiring the posting of a financial surety to ensure good behavior. Her presence in the judicial system culminated in a trial in May 1709, where despite the looming indictment, she was found not guilty and subsequently released. Her trial had remnants of prior investigations, with mentions in the porteous rolls, underscoring her persistent struggle against the accusations—then considered grave crimes—linked to allegations of property damage to animals. Janet's narrative, emerging through these fragmented yet telling records, illustrates the fraught tapestry of fear, superstition, and the intersection of local authority with personal ordeal so characteristic of the witch trials of the period. Her survival through this judicial ordeal, ultimately resulting in acquittal, presents a poignant testament to the resilience amid the turbulent shadows of early modern Scottish witchcraft persecutions.