In the often turbulent landscape of 17th-century Scotland, a time when fears of witchcraft gripped communities, Margaret Wightman found herself ensnared in the web of suspicion and accusation that characterized this era. Residing in Lauder, within the county of Haddington, she was among many who faced the sharp scrutiny of a society eager to root out alleged witchcraft. On the 9th of September, 1679, the authorities summoned Margaret to trial under the accusation of witchcraft, as indicated in the records from case C/EGD/820.
However, Margaret's story took an unusual turn, as documented in trial record T/LA/1183. On the day of her trial, Margaret did not appear at the courthouse, which was slated to convene at either Haddington or, as another reference suggests, Edinburgh. Her absence led the court to declare her a fugitive, a decision reflective of the severe legal and social repercussions of her non-appearance. This designation as a fugitive meant that Margaret was not tried in person, and thus the evidence or accusations against her were not publicly aired in the court's formal setting. Consequently, Margaret's case added another layer of complexity to the Scottish witch trials, illustrating the fear-driven and often chaotic nature of these proceedings. Her status as a fugitive would have carried the heavy burden of suspicion and potential repercussions in her local community and beyond.