At Edinburgh Thursday 17th January 1695
A1695/1/32
A1695/1/321
Act
Change of sentance Margaret Watt
Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of their Majesties privy Councill by Margaret Wat prisoner in the tolbooth of Forfar Shewing that wher the said petitioner is a poor Criminall Condemned to dye with Alexander Barrie her Master who not only debauched her in his owne house but perswaded her to deny her being with Child untill it was borne and then not only refused to let her cry for help but assisted her in the birth stiffled the child and burried it in the house and then took the petitioner solemn oath never to reveal it which he forced her to doe in her weak conditione for fear of her life for which the said Alexander Barry is executed to death and the said petitioner in respect of her nonage ignorance of the law and ingenuous confessione of the whole matter of act was repryved by the said Lords once and againe and still hoped to have her doome changed to banishment wherein she may sincerlie repent her sad wickedness and sin:
The Lords of his majesties privy Councill having considered the foresaid petitione given in to them to them2 by the said Margaret Watt They hereby change the sentance of death pronounced against her to banishment And ordains her to be transported to his majesties plantationes in America and Discharges her to returne to these Kingdomes under the paine of death and allowes the magistrats of Forfar so soon as opportunity offers of a vessell goeing to the said plantations To delyver the said petitioner to any merchant or persone goeing thither who shall give bond with sufficient Cautione That He shall furthwith transport her to the said plantationes in the foresaid vessell under the penaltie of […] sic subscribitur Annandale p J Morton Cassillis Forfar Breadalbane Tarbat Carmichaell James Stueart John Lauder
1. NRS, PC1/50, 101.
2. Sic.
1. NRS, PC1/50, 101.
2. Sic.