In the spring of 1568, within the bounds of Kerymuir in Forfar, an individual known only by the surname Dowglass stood accused of witchcraft. The historical records provide scant details regarding this person, and it remains unclear whether they were male or female. However, it is evident that they were under the jurisdiction of the Earl of Angus, aligning Kerymuir with the greater region of Angus, part of the county of Forfar.
The case, referenced in historical documents as C/LA/3397, marks an intriguing entry in the annals of Scotland's infamously turbulent witch trials, occurring a mere five years after the Witchcraft Act of 1563 made the practice a capital offense. Despite the paucity of personal information about Dowglass, the record of the trial, catalogued as T/LA/2265, hints at the gravity of the accusations faced. These trials were fraught with societal fear and often entangled with local and regional power dynamics, particularly under the watchful eye of influential figures such as the Earl of Angus.
Though the fate of Dowglass, whether acquittal or condemnation, remains undocumented, their case nonetheless offers a poignant glimpse into a broader narrative of suspicion, power, and the fragile threads of community life in 16th-century Scotland. Through the shrouded details, we understand the heavy burdens placed on individuals during this era, caught within a web of legal, social, and supernatural anxieties.