Masie Robison, residing in the town of Lauder in Berwick, found herself at the center of a witchcraft case recorded on September 16, 1662. In some records, her last name appears as Robertson, which was not uncommon due to the variations in spelling practices of the time. These proceedings emerged during a period in Scottish history when fear of witchcraft was pervasive, and accusations could arise from personal grievances or unexplained misfortunes within a community.
The record notes that Masie gave a confession, documented in the same month as her case. During this era, confessions were often obtained under duress or as a means of alleviating the harsh conditions of imprisonment, but the specifics of Masie’s testimony remain unspecified in the existing documents. Unfortunately, the trial notes related to her case provide no further details, as they have either been lost to time or were never recorded comprehensively.
Masie Robison's involvement in the witch trials of 1662 highlights the broader social and legal dynamics at play. The paucity of detailed records reflects a historical narrative common to many accused during this period—their stories are often fragmentary, casting them as shadowy figures within the legal and cultural upheavals of early modern Scotland's witch hunts.