In the early 17th century, Jonet Listar, a resident of Innerwick in the county of Haddington, found herself ensnared in the web of witchcraft accusations that swept through Scotland during this tumultuous period. Jonet was married to a gardener, which placed her and her family within the lower socio-economic strata of society—a class that often bore the brunt of suspicion and rumor. The case against her, officially recorded as case C/EGD/854, documented the allegations that led to a trial on the 2nd of March, 1613.
During this era, societal factors rendered individuals like Jonet particularly vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft. Her marital and economic status, as well as her residence in a community small enough for gossip to severely impact one's standing, may have contributed to her becoming a target. The trial's presence in the record, cited as T/LA/214, provides a formal acknowledgment of the proceedings against her. The nature of such trials often involved examinations and testimonies aimed at extracting confessions under duress or coercion, procedures typical of the witch trials of the time.
Although the historical records do not offer further details about the outcome or specifics of Jonet's trial, her story reflects the broader narrative of fear, superstition, and social tension that characterized early modern Scotland. The case of Jonet Listar remains a sobering reminder of the volatile intersection of gender, class, and communal fears that fueled the witch trials, leaving a lasting impression on the collective memory of Scottish history.