The historical records reveal the case of Mary NcNivan, a woman residing on the island of Bute, who faced accusations of witchcraft during a period of intense witchcraft trials in Scotland. The name McNiven, possibly referring to her father's lineage, is noted to be an alternative spelling in the records, illustrating the often-fluid orthography of the time. This detail points toward her familial ties and perhaps hints at the social and familial impacts of her trial.
Mary's case, recorded under the reference number C/JO/3273, unfolded on the 26th of March, 1662, a time when such accusations could lead to severe consequences, including execution. Her trial is documented in the legal records with the notation T/JO/1931, reflecting the formal judicial processes of the era. This period in Scotland was marked by intense fear and suspicion, with communities vulnerably swept up in the fervor of witch hunts. As Mary stood accused, her case became part of the broader tapestry of early modern Scottish witch trials, which saw numerous individuals, predominantly women, brought to trial under often-tenuous claims of sorcery or maleficium.