In the late summer of 1679, Marion Robertson of Fisherrow, a locality near Inveresk, Edinburgh, found herself at the center of a tumultuous and perilous storm — the witch trials that ravaged many parts of Scotland during this period. Residing in a region known for its bustling fishing community, Marion was among a number of individuals whose names appeared in the Edinburgh porteous roll of delinquent dittays on September 8, 1679. This roll, a grim ledger, contained the formal accusations leveled against them: witchcraft, sorcery, and necromancy, along with a renunciation of baptism and a complete surrender to the Devil. Such charges were standard language in the heyday of witch trials, reflecting the intense fear and suspicion woven into the fabric of 17th-century Scottish society.
Marion's brief but significant mention in the historical record — on the very day her trial was documented — suggests she underwent scrutiny under the same accusations that haunted many during this era. The trial, held in Edinburgh, would have adhered to the protocols of the time, where evidence ranged from tangible to spectral, and defendants were often at the mercy of palpable societal anxieties. While the specific details of her trial proceedings and outcome remain elusive from this record alone, Marion Robertson's name, like so many others from this period, stands as a testament to the challenging milieu faced by those accused in an age where the supernatural was perceived as an imminent threat requiring rigorous legal and moral intervention.