In the spring of 1699, Jean Woodrow, a widow from Bridge End in Kilmacolm, found herself drawn into a web of legal accusations centered in Paisley. Her predicament began with the public declarations of Margaret Laird, a young girl who, while suffering from profound, convulsive fits, denounced numerous local individuals as being responsible for her torment. Though Jean was the widow of a baxter, her socioeconomic standing appears to have been precarious, as contemporary records indicate she had frequently been refused alms within her community. Following the girl’s outbursts, witness testimony was gathered in Paisley between the 19th and 21st of April 1699, detailing allegations that linked Jean to instances of property damage specifically affecting a local dairy and a mill.
These testimonies were formalized into a *dittay*—the document outlining the criminal charges—on April 21, 1699. While a trial was initially scheduled to proceed in Edinburgh on May 12, 1699, the legal proceedings did not unfold as anticipated. Jean remained entangled in the judicial process for nearly a year, awaiting a resolution to the charges brought against her. Ultimately, on March 12, 1700, the High Court of Justiciary issued an order deserting the diet against her. With the case abandoned by the Crown, Jean was released, bringing her involvement with the court system to a close.