Margaret Cunningham facts for kids

Lady Margaret Cunningham (born in the 1580s – died September 1623, in Malsly) was a Scottish writer who kept a diary and wrote many letters. She was the daughter of James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn and his first wife, Margaret Campbell. Lady Margaret was a strong Protestant and her sister was Lady Ann Cunningham.

Early Life and First Marriage Challenges

Lady Margaret Cunningham married Sir James Hamilton of Crawfordjohn on January 24, 1598. This marriage was a very difficult time for her. She wrote in her diary that her husband was unkind and caused her much distress.

At first, Lady Margaret stayed with her parents. When she tried to join her husband at his home, she was not welcomed. Her writings show that she struggled to get money for food and was sometimes forced to leave their home, even at night.

Her detailed writings are important because they show how hard life could be for women during that time. They reveal that even with family support, it was difficult for women to be protected from unkind husbands.

Lady Margaret and Sir James Hamilton had five children together. By 1608, when she wrote her memoirs, she had left him. She lived with her children in Libberton in South Lanarkshire, facing financial hardship.

A Happier Second Marriage

After Sir James Hamilton passed away in or after 1608, Lady Margaret married again. Her second husband was Sir James Maxwell of Calderwood. Her letters show that this was a happy marriage for her.

Lady Margaret and Sir James Maxwell had two sons and four daughters. Interestingly, her daughter Jean from her first marriage married James, one of Sir James Maxwell's sons from an earlier marriage.

Lady Margaret became a widow for the second time. In 1622, she wrote a letter from Malsly to her sister, Lady Ann Cunningham. In this letter, she asked her sister to help her children who would survive her. She also included her will, dated October 2, 1622.