In the early years of the 17th century, Jonet Johnstoun of Dalmeny, located in the county of Linlithgow, found herself entangled in the perilous web of witchcraft accusations that characterized much of Scotland during this period. Dalmeny, a parish that included the area now known as Queensferry until 1635, provided the backdrop for Jonet's ordeal. The records place the pivotal events of her case in November 1615, a time when the fear and suspicion of witchcraft frequently led to dire consequences for those accused.
On the 8th of November, 1615, Jonet Johnstoun's case was formally recorded under the designation C/EGD/879. The documents indicate that Jonet's trial took place in Linlithgow, the administrative and judicial centre of the region, later that same month. Unfortunately, specific details of the charges against her or the outcome of her trial remain undisclosed in the surviving records. Such trials typically involved accusations ranging from maleficium—harmful magic supposedly causing damage to persons or property—to more nebulous charges of consorting with the devil.
Despite the scarcity of particulars, Jonet's case forms a part of the broader tapestry of the Scottish witch trials, a period marked by intense scrutiny and fear of the supernatural. Her experience, like that of many others, would have been deeply influenced by the prevailing social, religious, and political tensions of the time, illustrating the vulnerability of individuals caught in the tide of witchcraft hysteria.