In the tumultuous period of the late 17th century, as fear of witchcraft swept across Scotland, Grissell Walker found herself caught in the web of suspicion and intrigue that defined the infamous witch trials of the era. Residing in the humble parish of Humbie, Haddington, Grissell's life took a drastic turn in 1678 when she was formally accused of witchcraft. As the legal proceedings against her began, they were catalogued in the records under the case name Walker, Grissell, with the notable date of September 13 of that year.
Her trial took place in Edinburgh on August 13, 1678. However, the records reveal that Grissell did not attend her trial. Her absence led to her being declared a fugitive, a legal status marked by her being "put to the horn," a customary act denoting outlawry in Scotland. This meant that not only was she accused, but she was also considered to be in defiance of the legal process by failing to present herself before the court. The declaration of her as a fugitive indicates that, despite the seriousness of the accusations, she either chose to evade the proceedings or was otherwise unable to be present.
The absence of further documented trials or sentences suggests that Grissell became embedded in this status of fugitive, leaving the ultimate resolution of her case unrecorded. The historical silence that follows speaks volumes of the uncertainty and peril faced by those accused of witchcraft during this period, highlighting the precarious balance of life that could so easily tip into peril and ostracism in this fraught chapter of Scottish history.