On October 21, 1708, Agnes Currie, a resident of the parish of Torryburn in Fife, appeared before the court to face allegations of witchcraft. While some historical scholarship, such as that of Christina Larner, has previously associated Agnes with the region of Perth, primary records clarify her origins within the Dunfermline area of Fife. This distinction is significant in the study of the judicial proceedings of the period, as local parishes often served as the primary nexus for the initial reporting and investigation of suspected supernatural malfeasance.
The legal process surrounding Agnes reached a definitive, if inconclusive, turning point on the day of her trial in Perth. Rather than facing a conviction or the severe penalties often associated with such accusations in the early modern period, she was released upon providing a bond of caution. This legal instrument required a financial or personal guarantee to ensure her future compliance with the court’s authority. Although the records indicate she was intended to appear at the next circuit court in Perth, there is no extant evidence to confirm that she ever fulfilled this obligation, leaving the final chapter of her legal journey historically obscured.