In the heat of July 1631, the grim spectre of the witch trials darkened the town of Duns in Berwick, drawing into its net a man named John Smith. John was no ordinary resident; at 64 years of age, he was a servant to a lady and had made his living as a messenger. His role in the community might have positioned him as a familiar face, trusted with news and missives. Yet his seemingly benign existence was disrupted when accusations of witchcraft were leveled against him. Indeed, the records from that tumultuous time recount that John's troubles were initiated by an earlier denunciation, two years prior in 1629, by Alexander Hamilton, also of Duns. It was this denunciation that cast the first shadow of doubt over John's life, linking him to the alleged witches' meeting.
The proceedings against John culminated in a trial held in Edinburgh, a common locale for such serious accusations. The records, cataloged under two separate trials with references T/LA/2219 and T/LA/99, indicate the gravity with which his case was pursued. In a world rife with fear of the malevolent and the unknown, the charge of attending a witches' meeting was grave and could easily arouse public fear and suspicion. John’s appearance in other trials, as well as his mention in the activities of Alexander Hamilton and John McReadie, suggests a complex web of accusations and denunciations—a typical feature of the Scottish witch trials, where one accusation often unearthed many.
From the scant records, we gather that the social and legal tides were set against John, reflecting broader societal anxieties about witchcraft. In a time when reputation could be marred and lives irreparably changed by accusations of consorting with witches, John's journey through the witch trials serves as a poignant example of the perils of early modern Scottish society. His case, like many others, offers a window into the past, urging us to understand his story within the context of the fears and beliefs that prevailed in 17th century Scotland.