In the tumultuous climate of late 17th century Scotland, Agnes Thomson of Overkeith found herself ensnared in the pervasive fear and suspicion that marked the era's witch trials. Residing in Humbie, Haddington, Agnes was accused in the year 1678—a time when Scotland was rife with accusations and trials, as communities grappled with hardships often attributed to the malevolent workings of witches. The records, sparse yet revealing, indicate that her case was one among many that brought the spectral fears of witchcraft into the judicial arenas of Edinburgh.
Scheduled to appear before the authorities on the 13th of September 1678, Agnes’s trial is noted as having an unusual conclusion. Unlike many of her contemporaries, who faced the ordeal of trial, Agnes did not present herself to the court. The absence led to a distinctive judicial outcome; she was declared a fugitive and “put to the horn.” This legal phrase signified that Agnes became an outlaw, with the authorities no longer pursuing a conventional trial but instead publically proclaiming her as beyond the protection of the law until she could be apprehended.
The declaration of fugitive status was a mark of serious repercussions, suggesting that Agnes must have sought refuge beyond the immediate grasp of governmental forces in Edinburgh or elsewhere nearby. The record does not provide further details of Agnes Thomson’s fate following this pronouncement, leaving her story enshrouded in mystery as she eluded a system that had already condemned her. Such narratives echo the precariousness of life during the witch trials—a period where accusation could swiftly lead to a life on the run, defined by uncertainty and exile.