Margaret Scott

Margaret Scott (née Stephenson; March 28, 1616 – ) was found guilty of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials and was executed by hanging on September 22, 1692. She was part of the last group to be executed, which also included Mary Eastey, Martha Corey, Ann Pudeator, Samuel Wardwell, Mary Parker, Alice Parker, and Wilmot Redd. She was the only accused person from Rowley to be executed. As a lower-class, long-term widow, having lost several children in infancy, she was a prototypical witch candidate. When her husband, Benjamin, died, he left a very small estate and she, being unable to remarry, was reduced to begging, which invited resentment and suspicion. In this manner, her circumstances were comparable to fellow victim Sarah Good.

Early life Margaret was born in England, on March 28, 1616, likely migrating to the colonies with her parents. From the status of her future husband, it is most probable that they were a lower class family. The first record of her in America is her marriage to Benjamin Scott in 1642. They had seven children, though only three survived to adulthood. The town of Rowley granted Benjamin land in 1664. Shortly after, he was declared a freeman. A man by the same name (presumably the same man) was fined and "admonished" for theft. Benjamin died in 1671, leaving an estate of only 67 pounds and 17 shillings, which would have to support Margaret and her family for the rest of her life, as she never remarried. Consequently, she was reduced to begging. Margaret's primary accusers were the two most prominent families in Rowley, the Nelsons and the Wycombs. One of the "confessed" witches, recorded only as "M. G.", claimed that she and Margaret had turned invisible to hit Captain Wycomb with a stick, an event which he corroborated. When Margaret denied having done this, M. G. was incredulous and reaffirmed her accusation.

Margaret was indicted on charges of witchcraft, against 17-year-old Frances Wycomb and 19-year-old Mary Daniel, unmarried women from Rowley. Daniel was a servant girl in the household of Rev. Edward Payson.

Margaret maintained her innocence throughout the process, but was found guilty on September 17, 1692, and sentenced to be executed. Sir William Phips soon shut down the trials and this was the last group to be executed. Eventually, all of the remaining accused people were released, except for those who had died in custody.

In March 2012, her original indictment was sold at a New York auction for $26,000. It was the first Salem witch trial document to be sold in 30 years.

The January 10, 2023, episode of Finding Your Roots discussed the case with actress Claire Danes, who is a ninth great-granddaughter of Margaret Scott.