In the late 17th century, amidst the fervour of witch persecutions that swept through Scotland, a woman named Janet, known only by her forename in historical records, found herself ensnared in the web of witchcraft accusations that permeated her time. Hailing from Laudersdale in Haddington, Janet's life was marked by her role as a servant, specifically under the employ of William Hunter. As a woman of lower socioeconomic status, her social position may have made her more vulnerable to the suspicions and accusations that were omnipresent during this dark period of Scottish history.
On September 8, 1679, Janet's name appeared in the Haddington porteous roll, an ominous register detailing accused individuals charged with various offences, of which witchcraft, sorcery, and necromancy were common among them. The accusations against her were typical of the era: abandoning baptism, a sacrosanct rite, and pledging allegiance to the Devil, effectively handing over her soul. These charges, grave and fearsome in their implication, reflected the societal fears and religious anxieties that characterized the witch trials of the time.
Her trial, recorded just a day later on September 9, 1679, took place in Haddington, although its proceedings swiftly concluded with Janet being declared a fugitive by September 12. The declaration denotes that Janet may have escaped the immediate clutches of her accusers, evading the fate that befell many accused witches. Yet, the outcome and subsequent events of her life remain obscured in the mists of history, with records providing no further illumination on her fate following the fugitive declaration. Janet's tale, though brief in the annals, speaks to the precariousness and volatility faced by many during this turbulent epoch.