In the year 1662, amidst the turmoil of the Scottish witch trials, David Meikle of Haddington found himself ensnared in a web of accusations that swept through the land with merciless fervour. He was a married man residing in Haddington, a community caught in the grips of fear and superstition. David and his wife became the subjects of scrutiny due to accusations leveled by a young informer named James Welch. Despite Welch's youth and the authorities deeming him too immature to put on trial, his allegations were not dismissed entirely. Instead, Welch's incarceration led to his confessions and denunciations being taken seriously by those presiding over matters of witchcraft.
The specifics surrounding David's indictment are captured in the case records designated as C/EGD/527, revealing that he was only one among many to be caught up in Welch's sweeping accusations. The gravity of such accusations during this period cannot be understated, as they often led to trials and grave consequences for those named. The general tone of the documentation surrounding David's case points to the broader climate of suspicion and the eagerness to act on any whisper of malfeasance, no matter the source.
On the 17th of April, 1662, the formal proceedings against David began, as part of a broader societal effort to root out purported witchcraft. The trial documents, referenced as T/LA/1327, provide a sober account of the judicial process faced by David, illustrating the serious nature with which such cases were treated, despite the age and credibility of the accuser. David Meikle's story is emblematic of a tumultuous period in Scottish history, where fear of the supernatural intertwined with judicial practice, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of many like him.