Both ladies were condemned to die by drowning. Among other things they were accused of not attending the local apostate church but attending at least twenty meetings on hillsides and twenty meetings in homes where persecuted preachers brought forth God's Word. Writing in a letter to a friend from her prison cell young Margaret wrote of her sense of the wonderful love of God and explained scripturally the reason for refusing to listen to apostate ministers.
The town of Wigtown where they were held is situated on the Solway forth. When the tide goes out the muddy banks are left accessible. The soldiers tied the two ladies to two posts out on the sandy banks. The older Margaret was tied further out in order to become the first victim. As the tide came in it soon rose around old Margaret until she gasped her last breath. The soldiers asked young Margaret what she thought of the sight before her. She said “I see Christ in one of his members, wrestling there.”
When young Margaret was tied to her post she began to sing several verses of Psalm 25 then quoted portions of Romans chapter 8 then continued in audible prayer till the waters reached her mouth. Just then the soldiers cut her loose in order that she might renounce her faith. She refused with the words “I will not; I am one of Christ children; let me go.” With this she was thrust back into the water and drowned. She went quickly to her eternal reward.
I have stood on the river banks of Wigtown where this took place and stood at their graveside nearby and considered the sacrifice of such lives. These are the true heroes and heroines of the faith. Willing to suffer; willing to die; willing to be deprived of the basics of life for love of Christ. If you gather on Sunday morning, or any other day, in a true church with true preaching then thank God. Many over the centuries have been willing to die in order to gather in such a manner yet we so easily take it for granted.