In the spring of 1627, the community of Turriff in Aberdeen became the setting for a legal proceeding against Alexander Mowat. On the 6th of May, Alexander, a married man residing in the parish, was brought before the local authorities under the charge of witchcraft, a matter documented in case file C/EGD/999. The gravity of these accusations was underscored by the domestic and social implications of his arrest, as his wife was simultaneously accused of the same offense, casting a shadow over the entire household.
The records concerning Alexander, referenced under trial number T/LA/475, reflect the procedural rigor applied to such cases during this period of early modern Scottish history. As legal mechanisms were activated to address these grave charges, the focus of the court remained fixed on the specific allegations levied against him. By linking his case directly to that of his spouse, the authorities treated their situation as a singular concern for the local jurisdiction, marking a notable moment in the judicial response to suspected supernatural activities within the Turriff community.