Evidence out of Essex County details suggests that the latest Scots just weren’t rich and never starred in people positions indicating strengths or stature
Margaret Scott’s sources was hidden. Born Margaret Stevenson in The united kingdomt somewhere around the entire year 1615, she basic starred in the fresh new record instructions within the 1642, when she within the Scott. The brand new Scott members of the family found its way to Rowley in the 1651 where Margaret provided birth to three a lot more pupils. Of all of the youngsters, simply three existed in order to adulthood. Nonetheless, by the point of your witchcraft examples, the seventy-seven year-dated Margaret Scott had possibly eleven grandkids.dos
Probably the most dangerous part of being a great widow are the shortage off a partner to have court support and dictate
It is not easy to pinpoint the fresh updates of Scott loved ones among the many citizens regarding Rowley. Benjamin Scott himself is never tasked a leading-status term instance Mister or the all the way down position term Goodman. New Scotts lacked the cash to order their home. As an alternative from inside the 1664 the town contributed residential property to help you Benjamin Scott.3 During the in the Scott is convicted of the crime out-of theft, which he had been “fined and you can admonished.” Although not, half a year later on the guy grabbed new Freeman’s Oath, showing he had been both an effective householder and you will a chapel associate, simply speaking, an upstanding individual.4 Benjamin Scott passed away in 1671 leaving an estate really worth merely 67 weight and 17 shillings, not much by criteria of that time period. not, Margaret was required to survive that it home for another twenty-one to age and by the time of Salem examples, have to have started less than perfect.5
At first glance, Margaret Scott appears to have resided an uneventful existence. not, particular regions of their character made this lady a highly more than likely candidate as a good witch suspect. One particular aspect is the new higher infant mortality rates certainly the girl children. Feamales in New The united kingdomt who’d difficulties increasing pupils was most vulnerable to witchcraft charges. Actually, just seven from the 62 implicated female witches for the Brand new England just before 1692 got a considerable number of children.six
Out-of Margaret’s eight students, just around three made it so you can adulthood. This doesn’t envision any miscarriages and other issues that Scott possess got. Additionally, just one from her around three children created in the Rowley stayed so you can adulthood. New people regarding Rowley would-have-been well aware away from her large baby death rates.7
Another basis in the Margaret Scott’s character you to definitely produced their vulnerable to allegations are this lady standing as a beneficial widow for twenty-one to decades. Are an excellent widow don’t itself expose a female to suspicion.8 Although not, Scott suffered with the economical and you will societal aftereffects of are a great widow having an extended months. Also, Scott, 56 at the time of the girl partner’s demise, try obligated to live off her husband’s short estate to possess twenty-you to many years. Have a tendency to widows who have been more than 50 rather than rich, were unable to get a different sort of mate meaning that were quicker so you’re able to impoverishment and asking. By the asking, Margaret create establish herself so you can witchcraft suspicions considering what historian Robin Briggs calls the latest “refusal guilt disorder”. Which sensation taken place when an effective beggar’s needs was basically denied causing thoughts out-of guilt and you will hostility towards the refuser’s region. The fresh refuser projected which hostility to your begger and you will expanded doubtful off the woman.9
Some of the depositions up against Scott did cover misfortunes occurring to help you people who got refused their a support otherwise a. Perhaps Scott in reality utilized this lady profile to receive prefers, which could be very effective. In the event 
the some body considered that Scott are a good witch, they could features eagerly given the woman what she asked out of concern about retaliation. Although not, if someone refused Scott following fell with the bad things, witchcraft suspicions and you will accusations were nearly a certainty.10
