In the mid-17th century, against the tumultuous backdrop of Scotland's witch trials, Richard Umpherstone, a man from Aberlady in Haddington, found himself ensnared in the web of accusations that swept through the nation. The historical records, albeit sparse and elusive, list Richard among five individuals whose names appeared on a request for commission dated August 8, 1649. This commission was likely a formal request to investigate and prosecute suspected witches, a common practice during this period when fear and suspicion often overruled justice.
On that same day, Richard's confession was meticulously recorded, a standard procedure indicating that some form of interrogation had been conducted. The specifics of this confession have not survived, leaving historians only to acknowledge its existence and the grim reality that such confessions were often extracted under duress. The scant details of the trial itself, registered under a separate entry, also fail to enlighten the exact nature of the accusations or the outcome for Richard. What endures in the record is the stark reminder of the vulnerability faced by individuals ensnared in the fervor of witch trials—a phenomenon that cast a long shadow over many lives in 17th century Scotland.