In the spring of 1662, under the shadowy circumstances typical of early modern Scottish witch trials, Jonet Dewar, a married woman residing in the town of Haddington, found herself ensnared in a web of accusations. Her case, marked by the record number C/EGD/490, unfolded amidst a wave of denunciations spurred by a young boy named James Welch. Welch, though considered too young to be tried as an adult, had his various accusations taken seriously by the authorities, and his confessions proved consequential for those he named, including Jonet.
The records do not delve into the specifics of Welch's claims or the reasons he pointed to Jonet, but it is clear that his words weighed heavily in the eyes of those tasked with investigating witchcraft. Despite the tenuous nature of a child's testimony, Jonet's association with Welch led to formal proceedings against her. The trial, catalogued as T/LA/1352, is a testament to the precariousness of the times when suspicion and fear could rapidly overturn the life of any community member. The scant details in the surviving documents shed little light on Jonet’s personal story or the outcome of her trial, leaving her fate unresolved in the labyrinth of history.