In the autumn of 1671, the judicial records of Renfrewshire turned their focus toward Janet Lyon, a resident of the parish of Inverkip. Her case, documented under reference C/EGD/1900, emerged during a period characterized by intense scrutiny of local populations by ecclesiastical and civil authorities. On November 2, 1671, the formal record of her encounter with the legal system was established, marking a moment of significant disruption in the life of this Inverkip inhabitant.
The available historical documentation for Janet, as noted in W. M. Metcalfe’s *History of the County of Renfrew* (1905), provides a brief but distinct trace of her experience within the Scottish legal framework of the late seventeenth century. While the broader context of the witch trials from 1563 to 1736 suggests the complex pressures exerted upon women during this era, the entry regarding Janet serves as a concise testament to her inclusion in the register of those formally accused. The archival note remains the primary link to her history, reflecting the bureaucratic mechanisms through which the allegations against her were processed and preserved for posterity.