In the mid-17th century, the small town of Linlithgow became one of the many Scottish communities touched by the pervasive fear of witchcraft. Agnes Dunlop found herself at the heart of this turmoil when she was accused of witchcraft in March 1648. The surviving records from this period tell us little about Agnes's background or personal life, but her name appears in the Linlithgow presbytery records, indicating she was known locally.
The case against Agnes was formally noted on March 15th, 1648, under the case name Dunlop, Agnes (C/JO/2851). This entry marks the beginning of a process that would involve public scrutiny and ecclesiastical proceedings typical of the Scottish witch trials. During this time, the Church and civil authorities often collaborated to address accusations of witchcraft, with the presbytery records playing a crucial role in documenting these events.
In March 1648, a confession by Agnes Dunlop was recorded, suggesting she was interrogated, possibly subjected to the intense questioning and pressure characteristic of witch trials of the period. The nature of the confession remains undisclosed in the records, and the historical accounts provide no further detail about the allegations she faced or her ultimate fate. What remains is a fragmentary glimpse into the life of Agnes Dunlop, whose name has been preserved in history primarily through the lens of the legal and clerical systems of 17th-century Scotland.