In the early months of 1624, the small community of Culross in Fife found itself gripped by the fear of witchcraft when Marjorie Rowand, one of its residents, was brought to trial under the suspicions of practicing witchcraft. The case against Marjorie, recorded under case number C/EGD/943, unfolded during a period in Scotland’s history when fear of the supernatural and the otherworldly permeated society, often culminating in accusations against those perceived as threats to the societal order and religious orthodoxy.
Marjorie's case came to trial on the 19th of February, as documented in trial record T/LA/421. During this period, trials for witchcraft were shrouded in intense scrutiny as both civil and ecclesiastical authorities sought to root out alleged practitioners of the dark arts. While the detailed accusations against Marjorie are not elaborated in the surviving records, her trial likely followed the pattern typical of the time, involving community testimony and the presentation of supposed evidence that would have aligned with common fears and beliefs about witchcraft.
As with many accused in this era, Marjorie's fate would have rested heavily on the judgment of her peers and the local magistrates, influenced by the prevailing winds of fear and superstition that characterized Scottish society in the early 17th century. Her residence in the closely-knit community of Culross may have intensified the proceedings, as personal grievances and local dynamics often impacted the outcomes of such trials. Though the ultimate outcome of her trial remains unrecorded in the surviving documents, Marjorie Rowand's experience reflects the turbulent climate of suspicion and the peril faced by those accused of witchcraft during this volatile period in Scotland's history.