In the mid-17th century, amidst the heightened tensions of suspicion and fear that pervaded early modern Scotland, a woman named Janet Bowmaker found herself entangled in the web of witchcraft accusations that gripped the town of Duns in Berwick. Janet, whose personal life remains largely concealed by history, became a central figure in the records dated June 2, 1629, when a case was brought against her with charges of witchcraft.
The course of her legal battle is noted through at least two distinct trial records—T/LA/2220 and T/LA/678—indicating that her case underwent multiple proceedings. This was not uncommon in witch trials of the era, where accusations often led to complicated and prolonged legal processes. The records do not provide specific details of the accusations or the testimonies delivered during these trials. However, what surfaces prominently is a denunciation filed by Alexander Hamilton, a resident of Duns, dated July 13, 1629. Such denunciations were typically formal statements of accusation, emphasizing a community member's suspicion or purported experiences with the accused.
Understanding Janet's predicament within the broader context of the Scottish witch trials reveals a society fraught with anxiety, where personal grievances or unexplained misfortunes often culminated in accusations of witchcraft. Her case represents one of many where the fabric of early modern Scottish society was woven tightly with fears of the supernatural, leading to judicial actions that today serve as poignant reminders of the past.