Janet Scott was a resident of Ayr, a coastal town in southwest Scotland, during the early 17th century. Her life took a dramatic turn when, on September 18, 1622, she found herself at the center of a witchcraft trial—an event not uncommon in Scotland during this period, given the widespread fear of witchcraft following the Witchcraft Act of 1563. The case, documented under the reference C/EGD/918, records her name and the date that sealed her fate, offering a glimpse into a society rife with suspicion and influenced by religious and cultural upheaval.
The trial of Janet, noted in record T/LA/360, is part of the extensive legal proceedings against purported witches in Early Modern Scotland. While details of the accusations against her are scarce in the preserved documentation, Janet's experience would have paralleled that of many women of her time. Accused individuals often endured intense scrutiny and suspicion, amid fervent efforts by those in power to root out perceived threats to the moral and religious order. The specific allegations, methods of prosecution, or the verdict of Janet's trial are not manifested in the surviving records. Yet, her presence in these historical notes underscores the pervasive and often tragic witch hunts of the era, reflective of the fear and superstition that penetrated Scottish society at this time.