Agnes Thomson, a resident of Overkeith in Humbie, Haddington, found herself entangled in the witch trials that swept across Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries. Her case, recorded under case number C/EGD/623, was brought to the court on the 13th of September, 1678, placing her at the heart of a tumultuous period marked by fear and allegations of witchcraft. Agnes' trial was set to take place in Edinburgh, a central hub for such judicial proceedings during the era.
Despite the grave nature of the accusations, Agnes did not appear for her trial. As recorded in trial documents T/LA/818 and T/LA/839, her absence in court led to her being declared a "fugitive," a formal pronouncement that she was on the run and defying the summons of the authorities. Subsequently, she was "put to the horn," a legal term indicating that she was formally outlawed. This status meant that Agnes was considered outside the protection of the law, effectively ostracized from society and vulnerable to arrest at any moment.
The records do not detail the specific accusations she faced or the reasons behind her absence, leaving contemporary observers to ponder the circumstances that led her to flee. Whether motivated by fear, protest, or some other necessity, Agnes' decision to remain absent from her trial marked her as a notable figure among those accused of witchcraft in Scotland during this fraught historical period. Her name now joins the many others who were swept up and profoundly affected by the witch hunts that left an indelible mark on Scotland's history.