First this new Scotts stayed in Braintree, but later on transferred to Cambridge where that they had five college students between 1644 and you may 1650

Evidence from Essex County suggestions demonstrates the fresh new Scots just weren’t rich and never starred in any ranks recommending benefits otherwise stature

Margaret Scott’s root was obscure. Born Margaret Stevenson for the The united kingdomt about the entire year 1615, she very first appeared in the latest number courses inside the 1642, when she inside Scott. The newest Scott family arrived in Rowley in the 1651 where Margaret gave beginning to three additional people. Of all the people, only around three lived so you can adulthood. Nevertheless, by the point of one’s witchcraft examples, the new seventy-seven year-dated Margaret Scott got as much as eleven grandkids.dos

The absolute most unsafe facet of becoming a great widow is actually the lack away from a partner having legal support and you will determine

It is hard so you’re able to pinpoint the fresh reputation of your Scott family members one of several owners regarding Rowley. Benjamin Scott themselves was never tasked a leading-updates identity such as for example Mister and/or down reputation title Goodman. The brand new Scotts lacked the bucks to find her home. Rather inside the 1664 the city donated belongings so you’re able to Benjamin Scott.step three In the inside the Scott is convicted of the offense away from thieves, whereby he had been “fined and you will admonished.” Although not, 6 months after he grabbed the new Freeman’s Oath, proving he was each other a good householder and you can a chapel affiliate, basically, an upstanding people.cuatro Benjamin Scott died into the 1671 making a house worth only 67 pounds and you may 17 shillings, little by requirements of the time. not, Margaret had to survive so it property for another twenty-one decades and by enough time of your Salem trials, must have become sub-standard.5

At first, Margaret Scott appears to have existed a keen uneventful existence. However, certain areas of this lady profile generated her a highly more than likely candidate while the an excellent witch believe. One such element is this new higher child death rates certainly one of her youngsters. Feamales in Brand new The united kingdomt who’d difficulties raising students was extremely at risk of witchcraft costs. In reality, simply 7 out from the 62 implicated people witches for the The fresh new England prior to 1692 got a considerable number of pupils.6

Away from Margaret’s 7 college students, just about three managed to get to help you adulthood. This does not believe one miscarriages and other conditions that Scott could have got. In addition, just one out-of the woman three children created inside the Rowley stayed in order to adulthood. The customers off Rowley would-have-been completely aware out-of the lady highest infant death rate.eight

Several other basis regarding the Margaret Scott’s character that generated the girl vulnerable to accusations are the girl updates due to the fact a beneficial widow to have twenty-you to many years. Getting an excellent widow didn’t by itself establish a woman to uncertainty.8 However, Scott experienced the economical and you can social results of are a widow for a prolonged several months. And, Scott, 56 during the time of this lady partner’s passing, try compelled to live of this lady husband’s quick home getting twenty-one to age. Often widows who were over fifty and not rich, were not able to locate a unique partner which means have been reduced in order to poverty and you will begging. From the asking, Margaret would expose by herself so you can witchcraft suspicions predicated on just what historian Robin Briggs calls the “refusal shame problem”. Which occurrence occurred whenever a beggar’s demands have been refuted causing ideas out of guilt and you may aggression toward refuser’s region. The fresh refuser estimated which hostility toward begger and you will increased doubtful off her.9

A number of the depositions facing Scott performed involve misfortunes occurring to people that got refused her a service otherwise a good. Perhaps Scott indeed put this lady profile to get prefers, which could be helpful. In the event that anyone believed that Scott is an excellent witch, they could provides eagerly provided the lady exactly what she asked of anxiety about retaliation. However, if someone else declined Scott and then dropped to the crappy circumstances, witchcraft suspicions and you will accusations was basically nearly a certainty.10