In the midst of the turbulent 17th century, Helen Brikinrig, an indweller in the modest village of Crichton in Edinburgh, found herself embroiled in the harsh world of the Scottish witch trials. The socio-economic record suggests she belonged to the middling class, a stratum of society neither impoverished nor especially affluent, which often found itself navigating the precarious balance of local reputation and influence. On December 8, 1661, Helen was thrust into the uncomfortable scrutiny of formal judicial proceedings, as noted in case file C/EGD/1407.
The trial, recorded under the notation T/JO/435, represents one among many in the post-Reformation period where societal and communal tensions manifested in accusations of witchcraft. Although the scant remaining records do not elaborate on the specific charges or the outcome of the trial, Helen’s experience is emblematic of a time when fear and superstition could disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens. These proceedings were typically marked by rigorous interrogations and expectations of communal testimony, as authorities sought to root out alleged malevolence. Her inclusion in the Records of the Privy Council (RPC) as an 'indweller' indicates a person of some standing, a resident known to others but unfortunately vulnerable to the zealous witch hunt fervor of the era.