In the spring of 1631, the legal authorities in Aberdeen turned their attention toward Marion Rodgie, a woman who resided along the coastal fringes of the St Machar parish. On April 20, 1631, Marion was brought before the court to answer for charges related to the practice of witchcraft, an accusation that carried grave implications within the social and religious framework of early modern Scotland. Her case, documented as C/EGD/1242, specifically identified her participation in a prohibited witches’ meeting, an allegation that placed her at the center of local anxieties regarding clandestine gatherings and perceived threats to the community.
Beyond the charge of assembly, the legal proceedings against Marion also addressed tangible grievances concerning the destruction of property. Specifically, she was accused of causing damage to boats, an act that likely held significant weight in a community where the maritime economy was essential to survival. As the judicial process detailed in T/LA/786 unfolded, these accusations served to formalize the connection between Marion’s alleged supernatural activities and the concrete misfortune experienced by her neighbors on the Aberdeen shore.