In the spring of 1699, the quiet community of Govan in Lanark was stirred by the unsettling claims of Margaret Murdoch, a young girl purportedly tormented by witches. Among those she accused was Jonet Kennock, a widow living in the parish. Jonet's name surfaced amidst a broader panic that gripped the region, instigated by Margaret's declarations, which drew considerable attention both from local religious figures and medical practitioners. While the records reflect that she was suspected of witchcraft, Jonet's case remains somewhat enigmatic, as it appears she was neither formally charged nor brought to trial.
The accusation against Jonet did not occur in isolation; testimonies from a man and three women in Glasgow on April 22nd of that year supported the claims against her. Despite this corroboration, historical documents suggest that Jonet did not face the formal judicial processes common to others accused of witchcraft during this tumultuous period. Her story stands as a testament to the complexity and uncertainty of witch trials in early modern Scotland, where community testimonies could embroil individuals in protracted suspicion without definitive legal resolution. While the outcome for Jonet Kennock remains obscure, her encounter with the accusation highlights the tenuous position of many women in this fraught historical context.