In the late 17th century, amid the tensions and suspicions that characterized Scotland's witch hunts, Janet Waugh found herself entangled in one of the country’s final waves of witch trials. Janet, a resident of Renfrew, is documented within a broader context of the infamous Renfrewshire incidents of 1697. This period saw a surge of accusations rooted in a mix of local disputes, personal vendettas, and widespread fear of the supernatural, particularly at a time when belief in witchcraft remained fervently alive among communities.
The historical records, specifically case number C/LA/2965, place Janet in the midst of these tumultuous events, where she is explicitly mentioned in connection to others accused in the Renfrewshire trials. It was a time marked by a climate of fear and the relentless pursuit of those believed to consort with the devil. While the specifics of Janet’s accusations are not detailed in surviving documentation, her trial—recorded under T/LA/1206—underscores her case's gravity and the peril faced by those ensnared in the witchcraft allegations of the era. The documentation provides a glimpse into the broader context of the social hysteria and judicial processes aligned against perceived witchcraft during this period, marking Janet’s narrative as part of the tragic tapestry of Scottish witch trials nearing the end of the 17th century.