In the spring of 1644, Barbara Bowndie was brought before the authorities in Orkney to face charges of witchcraft. While historical records note the possibility that she originated from Zetland, her status during her time in Orkney was that of a wanderer, lacking a fixed residence. The legal proceedings against her were extensive, appearing in the record under multiple citations, including case reference C/JO/3046 and trials T/JO/1411 and T/JO/2191. During the course of these proceedings, Barbara provided a confession, though she later formally retracted the statements she had made.
Her involvement in the judicial system of the period was deeply interconnected with the testimonies of others within the community. Barbara was specifically denounced by Marjorie Paplay, and her name appeared frequently in the records of other trials involving women such as Elspeth Paplay, Marion Paplay, Elspeth Baikie, and an individual identified only as Elsinquoy. These cross-references suggest that Barbara’s legal standing was intricately linked to a wider network of accusations common in the seventeenth-century legal climate, framing her experiences within the broader context of the Orkney witch trials.