In early 1662, Jonet Morisone of Rothesay, on the Isle of Bute, found herself ensnared in the web of witchcraft accusations that swept through Scotland during this tumultuous period. Her case, marked by the fear and suspicion that characterized the era, centered on charges of attending a witches' meeting—a serious allegation that could carry grave consequences for those accused. Rothesay, a small community, would have been deeply affected by these events, as neighbors and kin were forced to confront the accusations leveled at Jonet and others.
Jonet's ordeal began with a series of confessions, recorded between the 15th and 29th of January in 1662, beginning at her own house and subsequently within the confines of the Tolbooth. These confessions were likely extracted under duress, as was common practice during the witch trials. Each recorded confession heightened the case against her, adding to the narrative of her alleged participation in supernatural gatherings. Furthermore, Jonet's name surfaced in multiple other trials, with no fewer than fourteen individuals denouncing her—a testament to the widespread network of accusations that fueled the witch panic.
The formal charges against Jonet culminated in trials noted in the records (T/JO/1884 and T/JO/1886). The pressure of her repeated confessions, along with the numerous denunciations by others possibly seeking to protect themselves, painted a formidable picture for those adjudicating her case. While the records do not reveal the final outcome of Jonet's trial, her story remains a poignant example of the era's tragic entanglements with fear, communal tensions, and the devastating power of unfounded accusations.