In the winter of 1662, amidst a climate of fear and suspicion that had gripped Scotland, Marie More NcCuill of Bute found herself at the center of a witch trial. The historical records indicate her case was documented under the designation C/JO/3251, with the proceedings commencing on the 28th of January. During this era, Bute, like many parts of Scotland, was not immune to the pervasive anxieties over witchcraft that led to the prosecution of many individuals, overwhelmingly women, accused of engaging in malevolent sorcery.
Marie More's trial, noted in the archival record T/JO/1902, reflects the intense scrutiny that women like her faced. While specifics of her alleged offenses or the outcome of her trial have not survived in the extant records, her situation encapsulates the broader social dynamics of early modern Scotland. These trials were often marked by reliance on circumstantial evidence and local testimonies, heavily influenced by societal tensions and the overarching dread of witchery thought to imperil the community’s well-being.
Marie More NcCuill's ordeal highlights the precariousness of living as a woman during this period of heightened witch paranoia, where the mere whisper of witchcraft could upend a life. Her case serves as a somber reminder of the historical witch trials that punctuated Scottish history between 1563 and 1736, reflecting the dire consequences of living under suspicion during these turbulent times.