In the spring of 1697, Margaret Ewing, a married woman residing in the small village of Stonybull in Renfrew, found herself at the heart of one of Scotland's notorious witch trials during a period commonly referred to as the "Renfrewshire cases." The specifics of the case against Margaret suggest that she was accused of participating in a witches' meeting, a charge serious enough to warrant her initial indictment on April 13 of that year. This accusation was not uncommon in a period rife with suspicions and fervor surrounding witchcraft, where collective gatherings could be interpreted as grounds for diabolical happenings.
Margaret's trial took place in Renfrew, and despite the severity often associated with such charges, the outcome proved to be unexpectedly lenient. On May 19, 1697, Margaret was released from custody, a decision that suggests either a lack of sufficient evidence or a greater inclination towards caution in her case. The records indicate she was released after providing a form of assurance or surety, known as "caution," rather than being subjected to the harsh sentences often meted out in similar trials. The fact that she was released and the charges not pursued further might highlight a certain degree of skepticism or restraint exercised by the authorities during this tumultuous period. Margaret's story forms a quiet footnote in the larger tapestry of fear and superstition that characterized the witch trials in Scotland during the late seventeenth century.