In the spring of 1697, Margaret Ewing, a married woman residing in the settlement of Stonybull in Renfrew, found herself swept into the heightened atmosphere of the Renfrewshire witch trials. On April 13, 1697, she was formally indicted on charges that included attending a witches' meeting. At a time when the legal and social climate of the region was acutely focused on identifying and prosecuting alleged supernatural activity, Margaret was singled out as part of this broader series of investigations that defined the period in local judicial history.
Following her indictment, Margaret remained in custody for over a month as the legal process unfolded. On May 19, 1697, she appeared in court in Renfrew to answer to these accusations. Rather than proceeding to a full trial or receiving a punitive sentence, the court ordered that Margaret be released on caution. The decision to accept a bond for her future good behavior signaled that the initial charges were ultimately not pursued further by the authorities, allowing her to return to her life in Stonybull.