In the early 17th century, in the small village of Clochnoure within the parish of Inverkip, Aleson Woddro found herself at the center of a witchcraft trial that would mark her place in history. The date of her trial was January 25, 1632, a time when fear and suspicion of witchcraft permeated Scottish society. Married and residing in the quaint Renfrewshire village, Aleson was brought to trial under the accusation of practicing witchcraft, her case recorded under the designation C/LA/3254.
Aleson's trial, documented as T/LA/1880, illustrates the perilous nature of living in 17th century Scotland when the witch hunts were at their peak. Her status as a married woman might have offered her some societal protection, but in the fervor of witch hunts, such statuses often held little sway against public suspicion. The records provide no specifics of the allegations against her, nor do they detail the outcomes of the trial, but they situate Aleson within the broader tapestry of fear and judicial persecution prevalent during this era. Her story is a stark reminder of the turbulence individuals faced and the fragile line between everyday life and sudden accusation in early modern Scotland.