Mary Morisone, a married woman of middling status from Greenock, found herself caught in the protracted legal machinations of late 17th-century witchcraft accusations. Her entanglement with the judicial system began as early as April 1697, when she was first indicted. Though this initial trial resulted in her release due to pregnancy, the respite was only temporary. By September 1698, the Privy Council had confined Mary to Edinburgh, mandating that she remain available to answer further charges until mid-November of that year.
The legal pressure intensified significantly in 1699, spurred by the testimonies of Margaret Laird of Paisley and Margaret Murdoch of Govan. During their highly publicized fits, both girls denounced Mary alongside a multitude of others. The resulting witness testimonies, gathered in Paisley and Glasgow throughout April 1699, relied heavily on observations of these outbursts. By May 1699, Mary’s husband had provided a bond of caution to secure her position. The legal uncertainty finally concluded on 12 March 1700, when the court in Edinburgh formally deserted the diet, effectively ending the prosecution and allowing Mary to be released.