In 1724, Maggie Dickson, a fish seller from Musselburgh, was convicted under the Concealment of Pregnancy Act—legislation that harshly punished women accused of hiding pregnancies, particularly when an infant died or disappeared under unclear circumstances.
She was publicly executed by hanging in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, a site historically used for such punishments. After being declared dead, her body was placed in a coffin and transported toward Musselburgh for burial.
The Unexpected Revival
During the journey, something extraordinary happened: witnesses reported sounds coming from inside the coffin. When it was opened, Maggie was found alive.
This raises immediate questions:
Was the execution improperly carried out?
Did she enter a state mistaken for death?
Or has the story been embellished over time?
Given the medical limitations of the 18th century, premature declarations of death were not unheard of. Hanging, in many cases, caused unconsciousness rather than immediate death—especially if the drop was short.
