In the latter part of 1661, amidst the turbulent period of the Scottish witch trials, Helen Belshes found herself at the center of a significant judicial proceeding. Residing in Berwick, her trial unfolded in an era when fear and suspicion frequently marred the lives of many, especially women who were often scapegoated as agents of malice. Although the historical documents provide minimal details concerning the actual trial proceedings or the precise accusations leveled against her, they do offer a critical insight – a confession recorded in November of that year.
The presence of this confession suggests that Helen, amidst considerable socio-religious pressure, might have acknowledged involvement in activities deemed as witchcraft. This acknowledgment, however, does not elucidate whether it was given freely or under duress, a common practice of the time. With several commissioners being from Eyemouth, it is possible that her case had origins or influence extending to that area, although Berwick remained her primary place of residence. The lack of detailed trial notes or extensive records leaves the nature and outcome of Helen Belshes's trial largely to the shadows of history, with the brief record marking only a fragment of her story amidst the broader and often tragic tapestry of the witch trials in Scotland.