In December 1629, the life of Katherine Kirktoun took a precarious turn when she was denounced as a witch by Alexander Hamilton, an individual identified in the records as a warlock. This accusation initiated a formal process within the burgh of Haddington that culminated in her detention within the local tolbooth. The weight of Hamilton’s testimony, in which he categorized Katherine as a known witch, served as the primary instrument for her transition from a member of the Haddington community to a prisoner awaiting judgment.
By July 2, 1630, preparations for the legal conclusion of her case were underway. Presbytery records indicate that the brethren were strictly ordered to attend the trial by assize, which was convened in Haddington on that date to resolve the matter of Katherine. The proceedings reflect the structured, communal nature of early modern judicial processes in Scotland, where local religious authorities maintained an active oversight of the trials conducted against those accused of maleficium or demonic association.
