In the spring of 1699, the parish of Govan in Lanarkshire became the site of a series of accusations initiated by Margaret Murdoch, the young daughter of John Murdoch of Craigtown. As part of a larger disturbance in which the girl claimed to be tormented by witches, she identified a number of local inhabitants as her persecutors, including Margaret Temple, a widowed woman residing in the parish. The gravity of these claims drew significant attention, leading to a period of intense scrutiny where Margaret was examined by a panel of ministers and a physician.
On 22 April 1699, the focus of these suspicions intensified in Glasgow when two men and two women provided formal testimony against Margaret. Despite the presence of these witnesses and the accusations leveled by the young Murdoch, the archival record remains incomplete regarding the eventual outcome of the case. While Margaret was clearly identified and targeted by her neighbors, there is no evidence of formal legal proceedings or a trial being brought against her, leaving her ultimate fate during this turbulent period a matter of historical uncertainty.