Margaret Lowis, a 36-year-old resident of Humbie in Haddington, found herself at the center of a harrowing episode in 1678, emblematic of Scotland's fraught history with witch trials. For over a decade, Margaret had endured whispered accusations within her community, suggesting a reputation that had lingered uneasily in the minds of her neighbors. This culminated in a formal accusation and subsequent trial that would mark the final chapter of her life.
The trial proceedings commenced in Edinburgh on the 13th of September, 1678, under the watchful eye of the Lord Advocate, the principal legal officer for Scotland. Margaret was found guilty, a verdict reached amidst the climate of fear and superstition that had characterized so many witchcraft trials of the era. Records indicate that a confession was obtained from Margaret on two separate occasions, first on the 11th and later on the very day of her trial. Such confessions, often extracted under duress or threat, served to cement her fate.
Margaret Lowis was sentenced to execution, a grim consequence that was swiftly carried out. On the 18th of September, she was executed on the Gallow, the site infamous for its association with the witch trials. The method of her execution—strangling followed by burning—was a common practice intended to eradicate the perceived malevolence of witchcraft from society. Margaret’s story, preserved through these sparse but telling records, provides a poignant glimpse into the personal tragedies wrought by the witch trials, reflective of wider societal tensions and the harsh judiciary practices of 17th-century Scotland.