In late 1629, Jon Hog, a married man of middling socioeconomic status residing in the village of Markle in Prestonpans, Haddington, found himself the subject of a witchcraft accusation, a charge both severe and perilous during the turbulent period of the Scottish witch trials. The accuser, identified simply as Hammilton, was known to have begged at Jon’s house and had even occasionally slept in the Hog family’s outhouse. This seemingly transient and dependent relationship took a dark turn when Hammilton publicly denounced Jon, prompting an official investigation.
The records outline an intense period of scrutiny, initiated on 7 November and lasting until 23 November 1629, during which Jon’s life and character were dissected through rigorous questioning by not only local authority Colville but also the Bishop of Dunblane. Among the various witness testimonies collected, several pointed to ongoing domestic and social tensions surrounding Jon's household. It emerged that Jon's wife was embroiled in numerous local quarrels, adding to the family's notoriety. Furthermore, Jon was confronted with allegations of attempting to seduce a neighbour's wife, a suggestion that may have exacerbated suspicions of untoward behaviour and possibly sealed his fate as a target of witchcraft allegations.
Despite the fervor of the investigation, which even led proceedings to the notable judicial halls of Edinburgh as indicated in records T/LA/22 and T/LA/86, the case was eventually dropped. Crucially, the vigorous scrutiny did not culminate in Jon’s prosecution, a relief possibly attributable to either insufficient evidence or the concerted denials of those in his community who might still have supported him. Jon Hog's brush with accusations of witchcraft, like many during this period, underscores the precariousness of reputation and the volatile interplay of personal and social dynamics amidst the broader witch hunt fears of early modern Scotland.