Kate McNiven

[1] Louisa G. Graeme, a descendant of the Inchbrakie family, noted in 1903 that no authentic record of McNiven's death existed, and the story has "caused endless discussion and argument".

[2] According to local legend, Kate McNiven was a reputed witch who lived in a cave and had served as nursemaid to the Laird of Inchbrakie when he was young.

As she died, Kate cursed the local town of Monzie and its officials, who were involved in her murder, so that they would never grow or prosper.

[3] Graeme describes the stone as a "moonstone sapphire" and claims that generations later it was removed from the house by mistake, and as a result the property was gradually sold away.

[1][11] This case was referenced in the letters of Sir John Mure, who mentioned the trial of "Niknevin" (ongoing at the time) and said that some thought she would be executed while others did not, and she was considered dangerous.

Oddly, in some copies of the manuscript she sends an infant foundling to "Kait of Creif," which some readers have connected to Kate and the location of Crieff.

Scholars such as Alison Hanham and Jennifer Simpson have debated whether Montgomerie's Nicneven was inspired by a real woman burnt for witchcraft around the 1560s.