In September 1649, the legal records of Selkirk formally documented the case of James Henrison, a married man residing within the burgh. The archival entry, preserved under reference C/EGD/2383, marks his involvement in the judicial proceedings that characterized the intense period of witch trials in mid-seventeenth-century Scotland. At this time, the Scottish legal system was frequently engaged in the prosecution of individuals suspected of diabolical pacts or maleficium, and James was drawn into this climate of intensive judicial scrutiny.
While the primary documentation for James remains tethered to this specific administrative record, his inclusion reflects the broader social pressures faced by families in the Borders during the late 1640s. The details captured in the register provide a concise silhouette of an individual processed by the court, standing as a testament to the administrative rigor applied by local authorities as they navigated the complex legislative framework regarding witchcraft. Despite the brevity of the surviving notes, the case of James serves as a significant marker in the historical study of Selkirk’s legal engagement with these accusations.