In the late summer of 1679, Jannet Hunter from the hamlet of Luphray Maines in Ormiston, Haddington, found herself entangled in the chilling web of the witch trials that cast a long shadow over Scotland's early modern period. The chain of events that led to her accusation began with a denunciation by Elpeth Knox on September 7, 1678. As with many trials of this era, Jannet was accused of the ominous charges that colored the Haddington porteous roll of delinquent dittays: witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, and the grave accusation of renouncing her baptism and giving herself over to the Devil, body and soul.
Jannet's trial record, dated September 9, 1679, suggests a story not uncommon during these turbulent times. Despite the serious nature of the accusations, court documents indicate that just a year prior, on September 12, 1678, Jannet had been declared a fugitive. This suggests that she did not appear to face the charges, which was often a choice made by those fearful of the outcomes in such trials. Without modern notions of a fair trial, the mere absence was enough to solidify her guilt in the eyes of the authorities. Her case, shared under record C/LA/2951, becomes a part of the broader narrative of fear and superstition that pervaded 17th-century Scotland, illustrating the precariousness of life for women like Jannet Hunter who found themselves at odds with the powerful cultural and legal forces of the time.