In June 1629, legal proceedings were initiated against Samuel Fairlie, a resident of Fouldean in the county of Berwick. The documentation preserved in the historical record (C/EGD/634) formalizes the charges brought against him, marking the commencement of a legal process that would eventually proceed to trial under the reference number T/LA/632. As a male accused during this period, Samuel’s case reflects the specific administrative and judicial scrutiny applied to witchcraft allegations within the Border regions of Scotland during the seventeenth century.
The records for Samuel provide the skeletal framework of a legal ordeal that was common to the era’s criminal justice system. Following the initial filing of his case on 11 June 1629, the transition toward trial underscores the systematic nature of the Scottish witch trials. While the specific nature of the allegations remains contained within the technical archival references, Samuel’s inclusion in these judicial registers offers a clear view of how local residents were drawn into the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts, highlighting the intersection of regional residence and the rigorous application of early modern law.