In August 1661, Jonet Hewat, a 32-year-old woman residing in Liberton, a small parish near Edinburgh, found herself at the center of a witch trial, as recorded under case number C/EGD/360. The accusations against Jonet were grave; it was alleged that she had been involved in a witches' meeting. According to historical records, Jonet confessed to these charges on the 29th of July, 1661, as captured in her confession records. The details of her confession are sparse, giving us only a brief glimpse into the charges she faced and the context of her alleged activities.
The claim that Jonet had met the devil approximately seven years before her trial introduces a common theme in witchcraft accusations of the time: the belief in a pact or influence that would persist over years. This alleged event predating her trial by nearly a decade reflects the enduring suspicion that could follow individuals in their communities. While specific details of Jonet's purported encounter are not recorded, such accusations often involved devilish compacts or participation in supposed diabolic ceremonies, which were met with severe punishment in 17th-century Scotland.
Jonet's trial, documented under trial number T/LA/393, was part of a broader historical context where fears of witchcraft led to numerous accusations and convictions throughout Scotland from 1563 to 1736, a period marked by intense witch-hunting fervor. The records do not reveal the final verdict or any subsequent fate Jonet faced resulting from these proceedings. However, her case, like many others, highlights the perilous intersection of fear, superstition, and justice that characterized this tumultuous period in Scottish history.