Background
Christian Shaw was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1685 (exact date unknown), the daughter of Christian McGilchrist and John Shaw, the Laird of Bargarran.
Christian Shaw was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1685 (exact date unknown), the daughter of Christian McGilchrist and John Shaw, the Laird of Bargarran.
As a child, Christian Shaw was also instrumental in the of 1697. Little is known about Shaw"s early life until the age of 11, when she becomes widely documented as a witness in the
Christian Shaw is most documented for her role in the, which took place in 1697. Accounts of the Witch trials, in which Christian Shaw was the Complainer, reported that she had been "betwitched" by the suspects and was exhibiting behaviours including flying, and "vomiting coal and bent pins".
During the investigations, which were led by Paisley Minister Mr Blackwood, the presbytery ordered prayer and fasting with the victim (Christian Shaw).
Seven of those accused were hanged as a result of the trials, three men and four women. The eighth accused person was found dead in their cell.
Christian Shaw founded the Renfrewshire thread industry, introducing the spinning of fine linen thread to Scotland and the development of her own "Bagarran Thread". Christian Shaw had married Rev John Miller, the minister of Kilmaurs on 8 September 1718, though this marriage ended at his death in 1721.
Following Rev Miller"s death, Christian Shaw returned to the family thread business, travelling with her mother to Holland where both women observed Dutch spinning techniques.
Shaw sketched the thread production process that she saw, and is said to have smuggled some associated machinery back to Scotland in her luggage. The new production methods resulted in a more durable whiter thread, and Shaw established a small thread manufacturing company, "The Company", in Johnstone on her return. Christian Shaw spent increasing amounts of time in Edinburgh from the 1720s onwards, and was based in Leith.
She also established a spinning school in the city, taking donations that were distributed to trainee girls.
Shaw married William Gillespie (a glove manufacturer) in Edinburgh in 1737. though she died in September of the same year. She is buried in Grey Friars Kirk, Edinburgh.