Maggie Dickson

Maggie Dickson's Story In 1723 Margaret Dickson, a fish hawker in Edinburgh, left town to visit relatives after being deserted by her husband. On the way south she stopped off n Kelso at an Inn to break the journey. She stayed a while and worked in return for her board and lodgings. While she was there, Maggie formed a relationship wth the landlady's son and fell pregnant with his child. This was not n her contract of employment so she concealed the fact that she was expectng and in tme the child was born prematurely. When the baby died a few days later, she was determined to throw the body into the River Tweed. Losing her nerve, she laid the baby at the water's edge. The body was discoverd later that day and traced back to Maggie. Arrested and tried under the 1690 Concealment of Pregnancy Act, she was sentenced to be hanged n the Grassmarket Ednburgh on 2nd September 1724. Maggie was hanged and after her death was pronounced, the body was taken to Musselburgh for burial. On the way there, the funeral heard noises from Maggie's coffin, On opening the coffin they found Maggie to be very much alive. Recovering to full health, she was allowed to live as it was seen to be God's will that she survive. Living the rest of her days in Edinburgh she was known by all as the celebrated 'Half-Hangit Maggie'

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