In the annals of early modern Scottish history, the figure of Poile Watson emerges from the turbulent backdrop of the Shetland isles during a period of heightened suspicion and fear of witchcraft. Poile, a male resident of Waiss on Shetland, faced the arduous task of preserving his reputation in July of 1602. The records that recount his trial unfold a narrative not uncommon for the time, laden with accusations that blurred the lines between theft and witchcraft, both of which could imperil a person's life and standing in the community.
On the 30th of July, 1602, in Skeldevo, Poile Watson and his wife found themselves summoned to the Sheriff Court, a place where the burden of proof lay heavily on their shoulders. The court permitted Poile an opportunity familiar within the Scottish legal framework known as the ‘saxter aith,’ wherein the accused could have their neighbours swear to their good character and innocence. This demand underlined the communal nature of justice in those days, where one's fate could be swayed by the oaths of fellow community members—six in this instance—to affirm the accused's integrity.
However, Poile's defence met a stumbling block. While disputing claims that included property damage specifically related to a dairy, which in agrarian and seafaring communities was a vital resource, the outcome faltered when he was unable to fulfil the requirements to clear his name of theft—failing what was known as the quittance of 'stowth.' This resulted in a financial penalty, with a fine of two merk silver marking the conclusion of his trial. The records do not expound further on Poile's fate beyond this indignity, leaving a singular extract of a life touched by the pervasive climate of suspicion that characterized the era.