Bessie Sleigh's story unfolds against the backdrop of early modern Scotland, an era marked by religious turmoil and social anxieties that often found an outlet in the persecution of those accused of witchcraft. Residing in the town of Duns within the county of Berwick, Bessie found herself at the heart of such tribulations in 1629. Records indicate that she was involved in at least two separate trials, illustrating the severity and persistence of the accusations against her.
The formal legal proceedings began on the 2nd of June, 1629, as documented in case file C/EGD/630. However, her troubles were not confined to a single episode in court. The trials recorded under entries T/LA/2218 and T/LA/677 suggest that Bessie was subjected to a series of judicial inquests. Such multiple inquiries were characteristic of the period's intense scrutiny and fear of witchcraft, where accusations could lead to prolonged judicial processes.
On the 13th of July, 1629, the suspicion and social stigma surrounding Bessie intensified through a formal denunciation by Alexander Hammilton, a fellow resident of Duns. In the tightly-knit communities of the time, a denunciation often carried significant weight, potentially triggering further legal action and social ostracization. The existing documents do not detail the specifics of Alexander Hammilton's allegations, but his denunciation would likely have contributed to the perception of guilt, reflecting the complex interplay of personal rivalries, local tensions, and broader societal fears that characterized the Scottish witch trials. Bessie's narrative, encapsulated in the sparse details of historical records, offers a glimpse into the precarious existence faced by those who lived through such turbulent times.