On May 19, 1658, Grissell McCairtnay was brought before the authorities to answer to charges of witchcraft, a legal proceeding formally documented under reference C/LA/3136. The legal process concerning Grissell was extensive, spanning multiple sessions as evidenced by trial records T/LA/1631 and T/LA/1633. During the course of these proceedings, a formal confession was extracted and recorded, providing the official basis for the charges brought against her.
Grissell’s case was deeply intertwined with the broader judicial climate of the time, as she was frequently named as an accomplice by other women caught within the same web of accusations. Jannet Corsan, Janet McNaught, Jennat Callen, and Helen Harris all identified Grissell during their own trials, effectively linking her case to a wider network of individuals facing similar scrutiny. The documentation reflects a period of heightened judicial activity, where the testimony of one accused individual served to implicate others, cementing Grissell’s position within the historical record of these trials.