In the autumn of 1597, Gilbert Fidlar, a married man residing in Auchmacoy, found himself ensnared in the intense judicial scrutiny that characterized the Aberdeen witch trials of the late sixteenth century. His legal entanglements were deeply intertwined with the broader web of accusations cast by Andro Man, a central figure in the local witch-hunts who explicitly denounced him. As the judicial machinery of the era sought to identify those allegedly complicit in diabolical activities, Gilbert was summoned to answer for his involvement within this high-stakes climate of suspicion.
On 21 November 1597, Gilbert appeared before the court in Aberdeen to face these grave allegations. Despite the weight of the denunciation brought against him by Man, the proceedings concluded with a verdict of not guilty. Following this official exoneration, the records for Gilbert cease, leaving him as one of the individuals who navigated the volatile legal landscape of the period and ultimately secured an acquittal before the presiding authorities.