Margaret Liddell, a resident of Lasswade, a small settlement near Edinburgh, found herself entangled in the witch trials that swept through Scotland in the late 16th and early 18th centuries. On October 9, 1678, her case, recorded under the number C/EGD/1766, appeared before the local judiciary. This was a period steeped in fear and suspicion, where accusations of witchcraft could swiftly dismantle the fabric of one's life and community standing.
The records of Margaret's trial, unfortunately, remain sparse. No detailed accounts have been preserved to illuminate the specific charges or the circumstances that led to her being accused. Her case is noted within the trial document T/JO/601, yet it offers no further insights into the proceedings—an all too common occurrence that leaves much of the historical narrative obscured by time. However, another reference, T/LA/1436, suggests additional documentation which has yet not come to light, thereby contributing to the incomplete picture of her story.
Historians must navigate these gaps with caution, acknowledging the often fragmentary nature of such records. Despite the lack of specific details about Margaret Liddell’s trial, her mention within the judicial archives is testament to the turbulent era in which she lived. It was a time when accusations of witchcraft were not only a legal matter but also deeply entangled with societal fears and superstitions. Margaret's case stands as a solemn reminder of the many individuals whose lives were indelibly marked by the witch trials of early modern Scotland.