In the summer of 1615, Katherine Hill, a resident of Dalmeny in the county of Linlithgow, found herself at the centre of a formal legal inquiry regarding allegations of witchcraft. At the time of these events, the ecclesiastical oversight of her community was rooted in the parish of Dalmeny, as the nearby town of Queensferry had not yet been established as a separate parish. On 20 July 1615, the administrative machinery of the period was set in motion, recording her case under the reference C/EGD/878.
The legal process moved with considerable urgency following the initial filing. By the following day, 21 July 1615, Katherine was brought to the county town of Linlithgow to face trial (T/LA/233). The seriousness with which the authorities viewed the proceedings is evidenced by the notes preserved in the presbytery records; these documents reveal that the church officials issued a formal request for the local brethren to attend the trial, ensuring that the legal and religious weight of the assembly was fully represented as the case against Katherine was heard.