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Around 1667 Margaret Wilson was born to Gilbert Wilson at Glenvernoch.
In February 1685 the sixteen-year-old [her brother] Thomas Wilson left to join other Covenanters in the hills. The girls went on a secret visit to Wigtown, Wigtownshire to visit friends, including an elderly widow Margaret McLachlan (there are various spellings of her second name). The young sisters Margaret (age 18) and [her sister] Agnes were taken prisoner, possibly after declining to drink the King's (age 51) health, and put into the "thieves' hole".
On 13th April 1685 Margaret Wilson (age 18), [her sister] Agnes Wilson and Margaret McLachlan were indicted as being guilty of conventicles. They were found guilty on all charges, and sentenced to be "tied to palisades fixed in the sand, within the floodmark of the sea, and there to stand till the flood o'erflowed them". Agnes Wilson was subsequently granted freedom on a bond of 100 Pounds Scots. Reprieves were written out for the two Margarets with a date of 30th April 1685.
On 11th May 1685, despite the reprieves Margaret Wilson (age 18) and Margaret McLachlan were drowned at Wigtown, Wigtownshire on the orders of Robert Grierson 1st Baronet (age 30), for refusing to swear an oath declaring James II and VII (age 51) as head of the church.
Some Remarkable Passages of the Life and Death of Mr Alexander Peden Chapter 24. The broth was hell-hot in these days; they 'wanted long-shanked spoons that supped with the devil:' I could give many instances, but at this time shall only mention the drowning of these two women at Wigtoun in Galloway, the 11th of May 1685, (which some deny to be matter of fact) viz. Margaret Lauchlan, who was past sixty-three years, and some of her intimates said to me. She was a christian of deep exercise through much of her life, and of high attainments and great experiences in the ways of godliness; and Margaret Wilson (age 18) who was put to death with her, aged twenty-three. The old woman was first tied to the stake, enemies saying, 'Tis needless to speak to that old damn'd bitch, let her go to hell: but,' say they, 'Margaret, ye are young; if ye'll pray for the king, we will give you your life.' She said, 'I'll pray for salvation to all the elect, but the damnation of none.' They dashed her under the water, and pulled her up again. People looking on said, 'O Margaret, will ye say it I' She said, 'Lord, give him repentance, forgiveness and salvation, if it be thy holy will.' Lagg (age 30) cry'd, 'Damn'd bitch, we do not want such prayers: tender the oaths to her.' She said, ' No, no sinful oaths for me ' They said, 'To hell with them, to hell with them, it is o'er good for them.' Thus suffered they that extraordinary and unheard-of death.
1871. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 41). "The Martyr of Solway". She, Margaret Wilson, was executed by drowning for refusing to swear an oath declaring James II and VII as head of the church. Margaret McLachlan was also executed.