In the harsh winter of 1590, John Fean, a school teacher from Preston in Haddington, found himself entangled in the fervid wave of witch trials that swept through Scotland. He was a single man of middling socioeconomic status, a fact indicating neither prosperity nor poverty, and had previously resided in the nearby town of Tranent. Accusations against John centered on his alleged participation in a witches’ meeting, a charge that carried grim implications during a time when fear of witchcraft was rampant.
John’s trial was held in Edinburgh on December 26, 1590, a date that sealed his fate swiftly and decisively with a guilty verdict. Recorded records mention confessions obtained from him, though the type of torture used remains unspecified—a common and somber aspect of these trials that often raises questions about the reliability of such confessions. His name was further embroiled with others; notably, he was mentioned as an accomplice by several individuals in their own trials, including Michael Clark, Robert Grierson, and the notorious Agnes Sampsoune, among others. This web of accusations painted a damning picture of John Fean's supposed involvement in acts of witchcraft.
As with many accused during this period, John was implicated in causing widespread property damage, including damage to buildings, boats, crops, and animals. Such allegations were often tied to the belief in the malevolent powers supposedly wielded by witches. These charges likely served to amplify the palpable fear and superstition that fueled the witch trials of the era. The records of John Fean's ordeal capture a snapshot of the tensions and paranoia that characterized the late 16th century Scotland, reflecting the harsh realities faced by those accused during this turbulent period of the Scottish witch trials.