On April 19, 1643, the presbytery of Haddington convened to hear testimony regarding Margaret Dicksone, a resident of Pencaitland. The judicial proceedings against her moved swiftly, beginning with the formal recording of denouncements by witnesses before the presbytery. These accounts focused on allegations of property damage, specifically concerning the harm of livestock. It is possible that this Margaret is the same individual identified in local records as residing in Peaston, though the available minutes provide no further details regarding her age or social status.
Following the presbytery's hearing of these accusations, Margaret provided a confession later that same day within the setting of the church. This confession served as the foundation for the subsequent legal steps taken against her. By April 25, 1643, the formal case reached the trial stage, marking a significant development in the documented proceedings against her. These records, preserved within the archives of the period, illustrate the procedural progression of such matters from initial community denouncement to ecclesiastical confession and formal trial.