Transcription
THE LAST SPEECH and CONFESSION OF Margaret Crooks, who was Executed at the Grass-Market of Edinburgh, the twenty fourth of December 1718. for the Murthering her own Child. MARGARET CROOKS, Born in the Parish of North-Berwick in East Loutbian, Aged Twenty Five Years, or thereby ; Being but of Poor Parents, whose Father Deceased when she was but a Child, and the sober Circumstances of her Mother was the Occasion of her being not Educat- ed nor learned to Read ; But Engaged her self in Country Service such as she was Capable off, where she fell Acquainted with a Young Man, whom she says Courted her under Pretence of Marriage, and appointed the Martimas following for the Accomplishing the same ; But during which Time she fell with Child,she says that she told( the Father of it ) and he at that Time Discouraged her with offering to go off the Country. Which was the .Cause of her Concealing her being with Child. And Three Months before her Delivery left her Service, and went home to her Mo- thers House, who is an Aged old Woman, Living in the Parish of Ditle- toun in East-Louthian. At which Place she was Delivered of a Child without help, her Mother being not at Home at that Time. And she likewise Declares and Affirms that the Child was Dead Born; And she striving still to Conceal the same; And in a Day or two there-. after carried the Dead Child to 'tis Father, who she Declares earnestly Requested her to Burrie the same. Which she owns she did Burrie in an Old Feel Dick, three Miles from her Mothers House. And then re- turning to her Mothers House, found it in Confusion by an Accidental Fire which had happened the House during her Absence. And thereafter being Challenged by the Minister of the Parish, she did Confess that she had brought, forth a Child but that it was Dead Born, and that she had Burried the same. Where upon the Minister who had been at great Pains with her, ordered some of his Parishoners to go_ with her to the place where she had Burried it. And when they had found it the Child was not in the least Putrified, and the same Time she took the Pains of a Woman in Labour, notwithstanding it was Eleven Days before that Time, that she was Delivered of her Child. She also Regreated her taking the Sacrament, during the time of her being with Child. She was very Penitent upon the Scaffold, and own'd the justice of her Sentance; The Ministers taking very much Pains upon her, Praying with her and for her, she desired the Prayers of all good Christians for her and desired the Spectators to take Example by her. EDINBURGH, Printed at the Foot of the Horse Wynd. 1718.
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Date of publication:
1718 shelfmark: Ry.III.c.36(042)
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