In November 1676, Issabell Reid first appeared in the historical record of Mauchline, Ayrshire, in the role of a witness during a kirk session inquiry. The session had convened to identify the father of a child born out of wedlock, a common exercise of ecclesiastical discipline in seventeenth-century Scotland. At this stage, Issabell’s involvement was peripheral, positioning her as a member of the community subject to the scrutiny and oversight of the local church authorities.
However, her relationship with the judicial system shifted significantly by May 1683. During this period, Issabell was formally accused of witchcraft and named on a *porteous roll*—a document detailing individuals to be summoned for trial before the circuit court. Despite the gravity of such an accusation, which often carried the threat of capital punishment, the legal proceedings concluded with a verdict of not guilty. With this acquittal, Issabell’s formal involvement with the Scottish witch trials came to an end, leaving her to return to her life in Mauchline.