James Lindsay, a resident of Formakure in the parish of Erskine, Renfrew, became swept into the intense climate of the 1697 Renfrewshire witch trials. While archival evidence suggests he may have originally hailed from Bargarran, he was ultimately identified as one of seven individuals singled out for prosecution from a larger group of more than twenty-eight suspects. His legal proceedings began following a recorded confession in February 1697, leading to his appearance before the court. By mid-March, presbytery records noted that ministers and the accused were to be brought to Renfrew to face the judicial process.
The trial itself was a protracted affair, beginning on April 13, 1697, and continuing through several sessions until it concluded on May 19, 1697. James faced charges that included his alleged participation in a witches' meeting. Following the final arguments, he was found guilty, and on June 10, 1697, he was taken to the Gallow Green. There, in accordance with the court’s sentence, James was executed by being strangled and burned.