Who Was Margaret Ward?

Margaret Ward was canonized (made a Saint) by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty English and Welsh Martyrs in 1970. She was born in Cheshire during Penal Times in England, when there were certain laws against practicing the Catholic faith. Margaret regularly visited a Catholic priest, Father William Watson, who was imprisoned in the Bridewell prison in London. By making friends with the gaoler's wife she got permission to visit the priest. At first she was searched extensively on entering the gaol for visits, but gradually the authorities became less strict and she managed to smuggle in a rope. Fr Watson made his escape, and despite being injured from the fall off the roof, he got away. But the incriminating rope was left behind and was traced back to Margaret, who was soon arrested. She refused to disclose the priest's hiding place and was severely tortured. At her trial, she pleaded guilty to the charge of helping Fr Watson to escape. The Catholic woman was offered a pardon on condition that she attended Protestant Church services, but she also refused to do this. Margaret was hanged at Tyburn on 30 August 1588.