In the mid-17th century, amidst the turbulent landscape of Scottish witch trials, a case emerged in Kirkcudbright, a small town that bore witness to the harrowing events surrounding Agnes Cairnes. Known also as Bigis, Agnes worked as a servant under the employ of Thomas Milligan. Her life, like that of many women of the time, was marked by the rigors and constraints of servitude. On April 5, 1659, the accusation of witchcraft encased her in an ordeal that was tragically common during this era, when fear and superstition often guided justice.
According to the records, Agnes confessed to being a witch since childhood, a claim that was likely coerced under the intense pressure and duress common in these interrogations. Her trial took place in Dumfries on April 2, 1659, where she stood accused of attending witches' meetings. Despite pleading not guilty, the court found her guilty, a verdict that led to a predetermined sentence of execution by strangulation followed by burning, a grim fate met by many who stood before the Scottish courts under similar accusations.
Agnes's narrative did not end there, as her name appeared in connection with other trials. Both Jonet Miller and Helen Harris mentioned her as an accomplice, perpetuating a cycle of accusation and affiliation typical of this dark chapter in history. Notably, Agnes's recorded confession was retracted, highlighting the complexity and often the profound injustice faced by individuals accused of witchcraft. Her story, preserved in the records of the time, reflects the severe realities of life for those swept up in the fervor and fear of witch hunts in early modern Scotland.