In the historical annals of the Scottish witch trials, the case of Alesoun Carrick unfolds in the town of Haddington in the early 17th century. Alesoun's name emerges prominently from the accusation leveled by Alexander Hamilton, who himself was branded a warlock. On December 4, 1629, Alexander denounced Alesoun, marking the beginning of her ordeal that would culminate months later in a trial.
The judicial procedures against Alesoun Carrick progressed in earnest by July 2, 1630, when the local brethren were summoned to Haddington. It was within the confines of the town's tolbooth that Alesoun, along with other accused women, was imprisoned and awaited her fate. An assize — a panel of jurors — was convened under the direction of appointed commissioners to examine the cases of these individuals. The details recorded for Alesoun's trial are scant, yet they reflect a pattern of communal scrutiny and the application of legal scrutiny typical of that era.
Alesoun remains enshrouded in the records primarily through the denunciations by Alexander Hamilton, who labeled her as a "Known Witch" in a fervor typical of the witch hunts of that time. While no detailed testimony or evidence survives in the historical ledger to elaborate on her actions or defense, Alesoun Carrick's story provides a poignant glimpse into the workings of Scotland’s witch trials, moments in which communal fear and legal processes intersected in the lives of ordinary individuals during a turbulent period in history.