In the autumn of 1661, Margaret Ker, a resident of the parish of Bolton in Haddington, became deeply entangled in a widespread series of legal proceedings concerning allegations of witchcraft. Following an initial confession recorded on 30 May 1661, she was formally brought to trial later that year, with records noting 14 November 1661 as the date associated with the case. The charges levelled against Margaret centered primarily on her alleged participation in a witches' meeting, an act that sat at the heart of the judicial scrutiny directed toward her during this period.
The gravity of the case against Margaret is further reflected in her prominence within the broader testimonies of the time. She was explicitly named as an accomplice by a significant network of thirteen other women, including Jonet Baigbie, Bessie Dawsoun, Bessie Todrig, Anna Kemp, Issobell Smith, Jeane and Helene Deanes, Issobell Cathie, Jonet Wast, Elspeth Baillie, Margaret Maislet, Issobell Ritchardsone, and Jonnet Kempe. These interlocking accounts suggest that Margaret occupied a central position within the collective accusations that swept through the local community, documenting a complex web of associations that defined her trial proceedings.