Catharin Mactargett, a married woman of middling status from Dunbar, found herself entangled in the web of witchcraft accusations that swept across Scotland in the early modern period. Initially tried in 1679, her case offers a glimpse into the harsh realities faced by many during this tumultuous era. Catharin was first noted in the records when she was declared fugitive at the circuit court in Haddington, a term that suggested she had either evaded capture or gone into hiding. Her trial listed traditional charges of witchcraft, sorcery, and necromancy, with further allegations that she had renounced her baptism—a common accusation meant to imply a pact with the Devil.
Almost a decade later, Catharin was again brought before the court, this time under a commission of justiciary in 1688. The records state that she was found guilty, following a confession made in the Tolbooth on the 19th of May that year. The factors leading to her confession remain undocumented, a gap that reflects the limited rights of the accused at the time. Her connection to other alleged witches, such as Margret McClean and Annabell Stewart, who identified her as a "Known Witch," likely contributed to her conviction. Furthermore, accusations extended beyond her person, alleging that her purported witchcraft had caused damage to dairy, animals, ale, and threatened entire estates, illustrating the fear and economic concerns woven into such trials.
Despite socio-economic stability suggested by her husband's occupation as a weaver, Catharin was also accused of being a beggar, an incongruity that underscores the complex social dynamics and suspicions that those accused of witchcraft faced. Her story reflects the period's atmosphere of paranoia and the precarious position of women who were easily scapegoated for misfortunes in their communities. The trials of Catharin Mactargett encapsulate the broader narratives of fear, belief, and societal tensions that characterized the witch hunts of 17th-century Scotland.