Katherine Miller, a married woman of middling socioeconomic status residing in the estate of Ardgowan within the parish of Inverkip, Renfrew, found herself subject to the mechanisms of the Scottish judicial system in the autumn of 1631. As the wife of a local miller, Katherine occupied a position within her community that was neither destitute nor elite, situating her firmly within the social fabric of the parish. Her life took a definitive turn when she was formally brought before the authorities, her name appearing in the judicial archives under case reference C/LA/3253.
On November 3, 1631, the legal proceedings against Katherine commenced. The records indicate that she was moved from an initial case status to a formal trial, designated as T/LA/1879. While the specific nature of the allegations brought against her remains unelaborated in these surviving administrative fragments, her trial reflects the broader climate of early modern Renfrewshire, where local ecclesiastical and civil authorities frequently intervened in matters concerning perceived maleficium or diabolical engagement. The progression of the case from November 1631 captures a singular moment in the historical record of Inverkip, documenting the transition of Katherine from an ordinary member of the parish to a defendant under the scrutiny of the law.