The legal proceedings involving Margaret Harvie originated in the parish of Kippen, Stirling, during the spring of 1659. Her case, documented under reference C/EGD/315, highlights the procedural complexities of the Scottish witch trials, as evidenced by the curiosity surrounding the jurisdictional placement of her records within the North circuit, despite their archival binding alongside documents from the south and west. On March 23, 1659, Margaret appeared before the court in Stirling to face charges of witchcraft, where she entered a formal plea of not guilty.
The subsequent investigation into her conduct continued well after her initial court appearance, with depositions gathered against her as late as May 16, 1659. Despite the accumulation of these witness accounts, the record concludes with the definitive verdict of not guilty. Margaret’s experience offers a window into the mid-seventeenth-century judicial process in Scotland, illustrating both the persistence of local accusations and the eventual acquittal that occurred within the formal courtroom setting.