In the early 17th century, Alisone Nisbet, a midwife from the small village of Hilton in Berwick, found herself at the center of tumultuous accusations of witchcraft. Known alternatively as Elie Nesbitt, Alisone had lived under the shadow of such suspicions for over thirteen years. Her reputation as a 'reputed witch' was heightened by her personal relationships, notably an extramarital affair with Andrew Park, which would have been scandalous in the closely knit, morally stringent communities of the time. As part of her duties, Alisone had served the minister of Hilton and provided care for his eldest son, potentially as a wet nurse. However, her position was compromised when a grievous tale surfaced from one of her patients, disclosing an ominous ritual involving an afterbirth, which allegedly resulted in a fatality. This account precipitated her dismissal from the minister's service and further fueled public mistrust.
Alisone's trial on the 25th of July, 1632, held in Edinburgh, was presided over by individuals familiar with cases of a similar nature, such as those involving the Strang family and addressed in the trial of J. Neill. During the proceedings, two confessions were extracted, records of which remain among the sparse documentation of the event. The trial concluded with a guilty verdict, an outcome that was not uncommon during this period, when fear of witchcraft permeated much of Scotland. Alisone was sentenced to undergo the grim fate of execution by strangulation and burning at the stake, a method reserved for those convicted of witchcraft, as a public demonstration of justice and deterrence. On the 4th of August, 1632, the solemn act was carried out at Castle Hill, marking the end of Alisone's tumultuous journey through a life marked by enduring rumors and the ultimate condemnation by her community.