In the year 1699, amid the fervor of witch trials that swept through Scotland, Mary McKinnie found herself ensnared in accusations of witchcraft in the town of Lanark. As a married woman of middling status, Mary's husband was a merchant, a respectable position that likely positioned the couple with some standing within the community. Despite her social status, Mary could not escape the whirlwinds of suspicion stirred by the claims of a young girl named Margaret Murdoch. Margaret, the daughter of John Murdoch from Craigtown in the parish of Govan, alleged that she was tormented by witches, naming Mary among others as the culprits behind her afflictions.
The case notes from April 22, 1699, reveal a scene typical of the era: numerous people from the community were pointed out by the young Margaret, whose examination by both a doctor and various ministers lent a veneer of credibility to her claims. Within this milieu, Mary's name surfaced amidst the testimonies of one man and three women, who testified against her during court proceedings in Glasgow. These testimonies, while significant enough to cast suspicion upon Mary, seemingly did not culminate in formal legal action against her, as there are no records indicating further proceedings.
The historical records on Mary McKinnie's experience suggest a common pattern of accusation without resolution, a fate many faced during the tumultuous witch trials of early modern Scotland. While she appears to have avoided the full weight of legal prosecution, the stain of suspicion likely clung to her, a testament to the precarious position women found themselves in when their names were embroiled in allegations of witchcraft. The lack of clarity on the outcome of her case leaves Mary's story as an unfinished chapter in the annals of Scottish history, overshadowed by the dread and mistrust that stalked the land during this period.