In February 1630, Margaret Maxwell, a married woman residing in the Brigend area of Dumfries, found herself at the centre of a grave legal struggle. Despite her position within the upper strata of local society—highlighted by her daughter’s marriage to an important burgess—Margaret was formally accused of witchcraft alongside that same daughter. The circumstances of the accusation were deeply rooted in familial discord, having been brought forward by the brother of her daughter’s deceased husband. The crux of the allegation was that both women had used maleficium to cause the death of the burgess.
The progress of Margaret’s case reflects the unusual complexities often associated with individuals of her standing. Historical records indicate that her daughter had been widowed at the time of the proceedings, suggesting that Margaret may have been older than the fifty years recorded in the judicial documents. Furthermore, the level of intervention by the Privy Council throughout the legal process points to a matter of significant concern, distinguishing it from more routine accusations. While the documentation confirms that Margaret faced trial, her narrative remains anchored to the specific tensions that linked her household to the broader legal and social structures of seventeenth-century Dumfries.