Margaret Alexander lived in the early 17th century in the small settlement of Pickiltillane, just outside Haddington in Scotland. Historical records indicate that in 1630, she became embroiled in the witch trials that pervaded Scotland during this period. Her accusation was initiated by Alexander Hamilton, himself described in the records as a warlock, suggesting a complex web of allegiances and accusations within the local community. The records do not elucidate the nature of Hamilton's grievance against Margaret, yet it was sufficient to place her name among the accused.
Announced formally in a denunciation recorded on April 14, 1629, Margaret's case was documented under the legal proceedings intended for those accused of witchcraft. Her name surfaces as part of a broader web of accusations; she is mentioned alongside Agnes Lawder in other trials, indicating her entanglement in the network of accusations that characterized this era's witch hunts. Yet, despite these records, details concerning Margaret's trial are absent. The trial notes suggest that no formal proceedings were ever conducted, likely due to her death before legal processes could commence.
Margaret Alexander's story, like many others of her time, remains partly obscured by time and the fragmentary nature of historical records. The records preserve her name and the grim context of her accusation, yet they stop short of illuminating her life or the precise circumstances leading to her denunciation. Her fate serves as a solemn reminder of the turbulent period she lived through, marked by fear and the tragic consequences of widespread witchcraft accusations in early modern Scotland.