Jonat Davidsone, a 55-year-old married woman from Stoundayiswell in Aberdeenshire, found herself caught within the mechanisms of the Scottish judicial system during the late 1590s. Though records link her residence to Collestoun through her husband, John Findley, Jonat’s legal troubles centered primarily around the jurisdiction of Aberdeen. By the time of her initial trial on April 24, 1597, the accusations against her suggested a long-standing pattern of behavior; the proceedings noted that she had allegedly been involved in the practice of witchcraft for some thirty years. The court found her guilty of being an "evil neighbour," a charge that encompassed a wide array of social discord and community friction, resulting in a sentence of banishment from the sheriffdom of Aberdeen.
Despite this expulsion, Jonat’s legal difficulties persisted. By August 29, 1598, she was once again facing judicial scrutiny, this time appearing in Banff. The charges in this subsequent case explicitly included participation in a "witches’ meeting," a grave accusation that further compounded her reputation as an disruptive presence within the region. Her notoriety was such that she was even denounced by others, including Margerat Bane, during their own trials. Ultimately, the assize in Banff reaffirmed the earlier assessment of her character, once again labeling her an evil neighbour. The court ordered her banishment to the south, issuing a stern condition that should she return to the area, the punishment would be escalated to execution by burning.