Elizabeth Wood, a resident of the small village of Overkeith in Humbie, Haddington, found her life entangled in the complex and perilous web of witchcraft accusations prevalent in 17th-century Scotland. On the 13th of September, 1678, her name appeared in the historical records as an accused in a case that would ultimately leave her in a state of legal liminality. Despite the serious allegations levied against her, the details leading up to her trial remain sparse, shedding little light on the reasons or evidence behind her accusation.
Elizabeth's trial, documented under the reference T/LA/838, was scheduled to take place in Edinburgh, a city familiar with the witch trials that punctuated this era. However, Elizabeth Wood never appeared before the court on that pivotal day. Her absence led to her being declared a fugitive, resulting in her being "put to the horn"—a Scottish legal process where a person was proclaimed an outlaw, often symbolized by blowing a horn three times at the market cross. The sentence "declared fugitive" suggests that Elizabeth may have fled or found herself unable to reach the trial, an act that left her outside the law’s protection.
Though no explicit details survive regarding Elizabeth’s fate post-trial, her absence at the proceedings and the subsequent declaration would have had grave implications. Being put to the horn severed her from legal protections, rendering her vulnerable both legally and socially. The case of Elizabeth Wood is one of countless narratives reflecting the perilous landscape for women during the Scottish witch trials, a period marked by fear, suspicion, and the harshness of swift judicial proceedings.