In the mid-17th century, amidst the turbulent period of Scottish witch trials, the figure of Margret Taitt emerges from the historical records under grim circumstances. Margret's case is noted primarily in the Register of the Privy Council (RPC), not for her alleged deeds, but rather the tragic outcome of the ordeal she endured. It is recorded that Margret passed away following the method of "pricking," a practice used during witch trials to find the so-called "witch's mark" believed to confirm an individual’s collusion with the supernatural.
This sparse but telling record of Margret comes from an entry dated the 2nd of August, 1661, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by those accused of witchcraft during this era. Margret's trial, documented under the case number T/JO/1074, is not embellished with details of accusations or specific allegations against her, leaving the context of her case shrouded in the broader patterns of suspicion and fear pervasive in 17th-century Scotland.
The pricking to which Margret was subjected was a common investigative procedure at the time, involving the search for insensitive spots on the body that were perceived as evidence of dark pacts. Her death during or following this brutal examination speaks volumes about the harsh practices and the perilous fate of many who found themselves ensnared in the witch trials of that century. Margret Taitt's story, while fleetingly recorded, echoes the experiences of countless others whose lives were profoundly affected by the era's fervent persecution of alleged witchcraft.