In the late autumn of 1661, records reveal the account of Kathrin Key, a woman of middling socioeconomic status residing in the bustling town of Newburgh, Fife. Her life took a dramatic turn following an accusation of witchcraft that led to her involvement in one of Scotland's infamous witch trials. Dubbed an "indweller" in Newburgh, Kathrin's position in the community was likely one of relative stability and familiarity, which made the charge against her all the more startling.
By November of that year, a case bearing her name, referenced as C/EGD/1409, was meticulously documented, marking her embroilment in the witchcraft hysteria plaguing early modern Scotland. Despite the lack of detailed trial notes, it is known that Kathrin provided a confession, an action not uncommon during such tense proceedings. The confession, recorded in November of 1661, suggests that the pressures of the legal process—whether through coercive measures or societal expectations—resulted in her admission of some form of witchcraft involvement. Yet, the absence of further clarification in trial records leaves much of her story untold, including the broader circumstances around her confession and the eventual outcome of her trial.