In the late summer of 1680, Anne McArthour, a resident of Milnetown in Dunoon, Argyll, found herself at the centre of a witchcraft accusation—a situation all too familiar in the turbulent climate of early modern Scotland. Recorded under case number C/JO/2952, Anne, alongside another woman, faced charges that could drastically alter the course of her life. The specifics of the accusations or the identity of her co-accused remain obscured in the annals of history, but it is clear that both women denied the charges against them.
The ordeal culminated in a formal trial, registered as T/JO/1170, held on the 31st of August of that year. Anne's case, like many others during the witch trials of 1563–1736, unfolded against a backdrop of societal fear and suspicion, where claims of witchcraft could arise from personal vendettas or simple misfortunes attributed to malevolent forces. Despite the denial from Anne and her companion, the weight of such allegations within their community could not be easily dismissed. The historical record does not detail the outcome of Anne's trial, thus leaving her ultimate fate to the shadows of history. Yet, her story stands as a testament to the perilous plight faced by those swept into the currents of the witch hunts, a poignant reminder of a time when fear and superstition profoundly shaped human lives.