In the summer of 1629, Margaret Patersoun, a resident of the village of Langnewtoun in the county of Roxburgh, was brought before the legal authorities to answer for the charge of witchcraft. Her case, documented under the reference C/EGD/1120, marks a significant moment in the administrative response to perceived supernatural activity within the Scottish Borders. On the first of August, the formal processing of her accusation commenced, initiating a sequence of events that would eventually culminate in her appearance at trial.
The legal proceedings against Margaret were recorded under the identifier T/LA/697, situating her case within the structured framework of early modern Scottish jurisprudence. As the court convened to address the charges brought against her, the administrative record serves as the primary testament to her experience. Following her initial entry into the judicial system on August 1st, Margaret remained the subject of formal inquiry until the conclusion of the trial process, reflecting the period's rigorous, if contentious, approach to prosecuting those suspected of the crime of witchcraft.