In April 1568, in the parishes of Arbroath and St Vigeans in Forfar, Scotland, Geilis Feirour faced accusations of witchcraft. Married and rooted in her community, Geilis's life was abruptly disrupted when charges were brought against her, encapsulating her in the climate of fear and suspicion that characterized Scottish witch trials of the time. Her surname, Feirour, has resisted modern translation, leaving a small yet poignant reminder of the past and her story that is enshrined in these historical legal documents.
The details surrounding Geilis's trial, designated as T/LA/2240, are scarce, but the procedural emphasis of the period typically involved a series of examinations aimed at procuring confessions or evidence of witchery, sometimes under duress. As with many accused during this era, the implications of these accusations would extend beyond legal proceedings, affecting her personal and familial standing, and mirroring the broader societal tensions of 16th-century Scotland. The documented charges in case C/LA/3372 against Geilis mark her as one among many caught in the turbulence of this fraught period in history, shedding light on the precariousness of existence for those accused of witchcraft.