Alexander Hammiltoun, a man of meager means and itinerant lifestyle, emerged as a significant figure in the witch trials of early 17th-century Scotland. Identified in records as a vagabond, Hammiltoun's life was marked by constant movement across the Scottish lowlands, from places like Niddry and Berwick, and extending beyond the borders into England and possibly Holland. This roaming lifestyle, coupled with his dire poverty, may have contributed to the suspicions that ultimately engulfed him. Records indicate that Alexander deserted his wife at one point, traveling back to the Scottish borders at Tweedmouth—a move that might have further fueled rumors and distrust among communities wary of his transient nature.
On January 22, 1630, Alexander faced charges of maleficium, or harmful magic, and participating in witches' meetings. His trial took place in Edinburgh, and the proceedings held significant attention, even reaching the ears of the king, who was petitioned regarding Hammiltoun's case. Amidst a sweeping wave of witchcraft accusations in East Lothian, Alexander found himself at the center of a complex network of alleged witchcraft suspects. His confessions, obtained at various times and places, including at the Tolbooth and Holyrood House, were integral to the case. Despite these confessions, which he later sought to retract, the weight of accusations—supported by the testimonies of numerous supposed accomplices, such as Helen Manderstoun and Bessie Sleigh—led to a guilty verdict.
Ultimately, Alexander Hammiltoun was executed by strangulation and burning at Castle Hill in Edinburgh. The severity of his sentence reflected the intense fear and reprisal characteristic of this period of Scottish witch hunts. Hammiltoun's story, recorded in a series of confessions and trial notes, serves as a stark reminder of the perilous intersection of social instability, community suspicion, and the often-fatal outcomes for those accused of witchcraft in early modern Scotland.