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mary ann cotton surviving descendants

In 1852 she married William Mowbray, and over the next decade or so, the couple had eight or nine children. As she was sentenced to hang, the second hearing fizzled out. Mary Ann's daughter Isabella Mowbray was brought back to the Robinson household and soon developed severe stomach pains and died, as did two of Robinson's children, Elizabeth and James. Mary Cotton was born in North England during the Victorian Period. It is said that the prisoner, who is comparatively a young woman, has. Around this time she took up with a former lover, Joseph Nattrass, but later became pregnant by another man, John Quick-Manning. A Mr Aspinwall was first considered but the Attorney General, Sir John Duke Coleridge, whose decision it was, chose his friend and protg Charles Russell. Then Nattrass became ill with gastric fever, and died just after revising his will in Mary Anns favour. For women of the working class, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw them into devastating poverty with little way out. After she was finally apprehended in 1872, some estimated that she may have killed as many as 21 people, according to Britannica. As per Female Serial Killers, the two were married in 1865, shortly after he was discharged from the hospital. A nearby exhibition purported to have a model of Cotton at a coal mine in county Durham, and it's very possible that other cheap "penny shows" would have drawn upon her tale to lure in visitors and their money. Reportedly just weeks after her arrival in 1866, one of his five children succumbed to gastric fever. Insurance had been effected on his life and those of his sons. Mary Ann Cotton's trial began on 5 March 1873. It went like this: Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten. It went like this: Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten. Campbell Foster argued that it was possible that the chemist had mistakenly used arsenic powder instead of bismuth powder (used to treat diarrhoea), when preparing a bottle for Cotton, because he had been distracted by talking to other people. Where, where? In Low Moorsley, Tyne & Wear. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. However, the levels of arsenic discovered in Charles' remains were too high to pin it on the wallpaper. Russell's appointment over Aspinwall led to a question in the House of Commons. Shortly after her demise, according to The Invention of Murder, Cotton's exploits were used by the Victorians in all manner or moralistic and lurid attractions. Mary Ann Cottons trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth. The defence at Mary Ann's trial claimed that Charles died from inhaling arsenic used as a dye in the green wallpaper of the Cotton home. At the age of 16, she moved out to become a nurse at Edward Potter's home in the nearby village of South Hetton. After her marriage to Robinson crumbled, Cotton was introduced to Frederick Cotton by his sister, Margaret. Frederick Jr. died in March 1872 and the infant Robert soon after. Another daughter, also named Margaret Jane, was born in 1861, and a son, John Robert William, was born in 1863, but died the next year from gastric fever. That's likely why she killed her fourth husband. A brief investigation into the trial and execution of Mary Ann Cotton. Soon after she entered the home, Robinson's infant son died of yes, you guessed it "gastric fever.". Frederick followed his predecessors to the grave in December of that year, from gastric fever." She had two children with Robinson but the first one, Margaret Isabella, died within a few months of her birth. According to PBS, there's even been a modern two-part television drama, Dark Angel, which premiered on PBS' Masterpiece Theater in 2017. Although she began a relationship with a man named Joseph Nattrass, she moved once again, this time to Sunderland, after another one of her children died from gastric fever. Sing, sing, oh, what can I sing, Mary Ann Cotton is tied up with string. Lest you think that works about Cotton fizzled out after the 19th century, look to the myriad of true crime books and drama that still focus on her. The cause of death recorded on his death certificate is that of English cholera and typhoid. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The 1901 census found 28- year-old Margaret and her three children living with her adoptive mother Sarah at the Greyhound Inn, Ferryhill her adoptive father, William, had died aged 54 in 1897, and Sarah was the pub licensee. Arsenic, however, was more subtle. Stuff You Missed in History Class (Podcast). As Nattrass had very few possessions, she was once again in financial difficulty. The relationship of Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long. We meet Mary Ann as a loving wife and mother, newly returned to her native North East of England. All three children were buried in the last two weeks of April 1867. Baby Margaret seems to have been their only child and, according to the 1881 census when they were living in Leasingthorne, she was using the Edwards surname. The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on (the still living) Charles' life still awaited collection. It is said that the prisoner, who is comparatively a young woman, has had three husbands and 15 children, and that they, as well as two lodgers, died under her roof." Hell go like all the rest of the Cottons.". Although her mother started getting better, she also began to complain of stomach pains. Cotton had been remanded in custody since her arrest in July 1872, first in Bishop Auckland before being taken to Durham county gaol as preparations got underway to exhume bodies of her alleged. The second, which took place in February 1873, was to center on the deaths of Nattrass, along with those of Robert and Frederick. The Messed Up Truth About 19th Century Murderess Mary Ann Cotton. The lives of William and of their children were insured by the British and Prudential Insurance office and Mary Ann collected a payout of 35 on William's death (equivalent to 3,560 in 2021, about half a year's wages for a manual labourer at the time) and 2 5s for John Robert William. The defense in the case was handled by Mr. Thomas Campbell . 29 July 2015. James Robinson was a shipwright at Pallion, Sunderland, whose wife, Hannah, had recently died. Despite her sole conviction for murder, she is believed to have been a serial killer who killed many others including 11 of her 13 children and three of her four husbands for their insurance policies. That left behind Mary, her stepson Charles Cotton, and Mary Ann's 13 child still growing in her womb. mary ann cotton surviving descendants mary ann cotton surviving descendants. The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on Charles' life still awaited collection. Mary Ann was quickly arrested. The only birth recorded was that of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Germans in 1856. Mary Ann subsequently worked as a hospital nurse in nearby Sunderland, and in 1865 she married a patient, George Ward. In Low Moorsley, Tyne & Wear. There are further versions, slightly more crude, still passed on in school playgrounds in the region, such as: She lies in her coffin with her finger up her bottom. One month later, when James' baby died of gastric fever, he turned to his housekeeper for comfort and she became pregnant. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. After George Ward's death and the subsequent insurance payment, Britannica reports, Mary Ann Cotton became a housekeeper for widower James Robinson in 1866. (The lack of documentationsuch as birth and death certificatesleaves many details of Mary Anns life open to dispute.) This 19th century English woman is one of the earliest confirmed female serial killers in recorded memory. Corrections? At 16, Mary Ann left home to become a nurse at the nearby village of South Hetton, in the home of Edward Potter, a manager at Murton colliery. He went to the police, who arrested Mary Ann and ordered the exhumation of Charles' body. Hell go like all the rest of the Cottons.. She was charged with the murder of Charles Edward Cotton, and her trial began in March 1873. The mother had to take care of three children, while suffering with the depression owing to her husband's death. She complained that the last surviving Cotton boy, Charles Edward, was in the way and asked Riley if he could be committed to the workhouse. At the end of her life, as she spoke with officials, Cotton did not offer an explanation for any of her murders. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The mother who murdered her own children was, though, a sensational story, and the media of the day led by The Northern Echos famous editor, WT Stead whipped up feelings against her. After three years there, she returned to her mother's home and trained as a dressmaker. Dark Angel, is based on the extraordinary true story of the Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, played by Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt. Robinson refused to meet with his estranged wife in person, though he sent his brother-in-law. Despite her sole conviction for murder, she is believed to have been a serial killer who killed many others including 11 of her 13 children and three of her four husbands for their insurance policies. She named her Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, partially to target her latest lover as the father of the child. In late 1890, 17-year-old Margaret married Joseph Fletcher, a south Durham miner, and in 1892, they had a daughter, Clara, who was born at Windlestone. As Ward was still recovering from his illness, he collected relief payments instead of working, while Cotton moved into the role of primary earner for their household. She did not die on the gallows from breaking of her neck but died by strangulation because the rope was set too short, possibly deliberately. I also trust their research diligence and on their old site they used to be able to publish their sources so you could follow-up if so inclined. The couple met when Robinson hired Mary Ann as his housekeeper in November 1866. Born into a mining family in 1832, Mary Ann grew up in a time when life moved quickly and death was all around. By now, she had become pregnant with a child by an excise officer named Richard Quick Mann. Soon after Mowbray's death, Mary Ann moved to Seaham Harbour, County Durham, where she struck up a relationship with Joseph Nattrass. He threw her out. Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. Once again, Mary Ann collected insurance money from her husband's death. She sent her surviving child, Isabella, to live with her mother. Mary Ann received the insurance money, and she then left her daughter in the care of her mother. Soon enough, he and two of the children also died of "gastric fever." She was entertained by many sporting events, polka music hours and cooking . They had a son named Robert in early 1871, but Mary Ann discovered that her former lover, Nattrass, lived just 30 miles away in the village of West Auckland and was no longer married. Her mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1867. According to The Northern Echo, Mary Ann soon took up with a manager of the West Auckland Brewery, a man by the name of John Quick-Manning. . Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. Her father, a miner, was killed in an accident when she was just nine. Although his doctor acknowledged Wards poor health, he was surprised that the man died so suddenly. Mary Ann was desperate and living on the streets until her friend Margaret Cotton introduced her to her brother Frederick, a pitman and recent widower living in Walbottle, Northumberland, who had lost two of his four children. Wife of George Ward; William Mowbray; Frederick Cotton and James Robinson This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Mary (Robson) Cotton is Notable. Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. He threw her out. She apparently complained to a parish official named Thomas Riley that her stepson, Charles Edward Cotton, was preventing her from marrying Quick Mann. The census records, birth, death and marriage records also show no trace of him. Riley, who also served as West Auckland's assistant coroner, said she needed to accompany him. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Investigations into her behaviour soon showed a pattern of deaths. There appears to be no trace of John Quick-Manning in the records of The West Auckland Brewery or The National Archives at Kew. Originally, it was believed she had become impregnated by a John Quick-Manning, but there are no records to suggest such a person even existed. This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 20:32. Soon her twelfth pregnancy was underway. Margaret, her husband, and their baby daughter Clara moved to the United States in 1893, but she then returned to Durham in 1894 as a young widow. by | Nov 27, 2020 | shib coin price prediction | 1 bedroom apartment scarborough kijiji | Nov 27, 2020 | shib coin price prediction | 1 bedroom apartment scarborough kijiji The last straw was when he found she had been forcing his children to pawn household valuables for her. According to the RadioTimes, a local Doctor Kilburn conducted a rushed inquest and determined that the boy had died of gastroenteritis. Riley countered that the boy was a "little healthy fellow," but Charles died on July 12, 1872. However, she added, I wont be troubled long. After the boy died, the official notified the police. Things seemed to grow worse for the family after Mowbray took out life insurance policies on himself and their three remaining children. The sheer number of children who met their deaths after coming into contact with the murderess exceeded even the juvenile mortality rate of a dangerous time before pediatricians and obstetricians were available to most people in Britain. Baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November 1832. Yet, she wasn't alone. [6] The first part of the dramatisation was broadcast on 31 October 2016, the second part was broadcast on 7 November. Once again, Mary Ann collected insurance money in respect of her husband's death. Updates? Her daughter, Clara, 19, was living with Sarah in St Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill. She was believed to have murdered up to 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning. She rekindled the romance and persuaded her new family to move near him. He died in October 1866, baffling doctors on his way out. Mary Ann Cotton, ne Mary Ann Robson, also known as Mary Ann Mowbray, Mary Ann Ward, and Mary Ann Robinson, (born October 31?, 1832, Low Moorsley, Durham county, Englanddied March 24, 1873, Durham county), British nurse and housekeeper who was believed to be Britains most prolific female serial killer. She was regarded as Britain's Greatest Female Mass Murderer. The Times correspondent reported on 20 March: "After conviction the wretched woman exhibited strong emotion but this gave place in a few hours to her habitual cold, reserved demeanour and while she harbours a strong conviction that the royal clemency will be extended towards her, she staunchly asserts her innocence of the crime that she has been convicted of." She then allegedly told a local official that she could not marry Quick-Manning because of her seven-year-old stepson, Charles Edward Cotton. Cotton died in December of that year, from "gastric fever." Mary Ann Cotton's trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth. Though he appears to have worked as a skilled laborer who opened new mining shafts, the Robsons were working class. Their next child, George, was one of the rare few of Cotton's children who would survive her. She was hanged at Durham Gaol. Mary Ann never confessed to any of the deaths, and the number of her victims is uncertain, though most sources believe she killed upwards of 21 people. By the end of the following year Cotton and two more children had died; again Mary Ann reportedly received an insurance payout. It had no taste, no odor, no color, nothing that would alert the potential poison victim to its presence in their food or drink until the substance had already begun to take effect. Login to find your connection. Rumour gave rise to suspicion and scientific investigation. What clouds hung over the family? Richard Quick Mann was a custom and excise man specialising in breweries and has been found in the records and this may indeed be the real name of Mary Ann Cotton's alleged lover. While some claimed that she was Britains first female serial killer, other women had previously been hanged for poisoning multiple people. Mary Ann Cotton was in Sunderland on October 31, 1832. Mary Ann Cotton's now-inevitable trial was delayed, as it soon became clear to officials that she was pregnant. I must tell you: you are the cause of all my trouble." Isabella lasted a few weeks until she died of "gastric fever," and she was soon followed by two more of Robinson's children, who succumbed to "continued fever" and yet another case of "gastric fever," according to death records. In a close-knit community like the Durham coalfield, it would have been impossible for Margaret to escape the notoriety of her birth. Mary Ann Cotton had finally been caught. Then the local newspapers latched on to the story and discovered Mary Ann had moved around northern England and lost three husbands, a lover, a friend, her mother, and a dozen children, all of whom had died of stomach fevers. The delay was caused by a problem in the selection of the public prosecutor. Frederick and Mary Ann were bigamously married on 17 September 1870 at St Andrew's, Newcastle Upon Tyne and their son Robert was born early in 1871. According to Psychology Today, female serial murderers often have a drive that's pretty distinct from their male counterparts. Stuff You Missed in History Class, from where I took most of the information, has a great podcast on her. Mary Ann claimed to have used arrowroot to relieve his illness and said Riley had made accusations against her because she had rejected his advances. With this baby still in nappies, Joseph disappeared. "Mary Ann Cotton." For weeks they have been Our female killer of interest was born Mary Ann It is believed that she ki**ed three of her husbands so that she could collect their life insurance policies and may . She was regarded as Britain's Greatest Female Mass Murderer. Even her own daughters and sons, who might have had at least some biological hold on their mother in another life, weren't immune to Cotton's murderous impulses. Nattrass soon followed, though not before he put Mary Ann down as a beneficiary in his will. She is the daughter of John Quick-Manning and Mary Robson . An English woman convicted of murdering her children. Perhaps most tellingly, her children lived to tell the tale. As with all nursery rhymes passed on primarily by word of mouth, there are variations. Several petitions were presented to the Home Secretary, but to no avail. That left Cotton and her daughter with an insurance payout of some 35, according to Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angel. Sing, sing, what can I sing? One of her youngest relatives who lives today in London is Carla. Yet, according to Female Serial Killers, his cause of death was listed as cholera and typhoid. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. They married in September 1870, and Frederick died in December 1871 from the ever-present "gastric fever." Though Mary Ann Cotton was dead and buried by the spring of 1873, the tales of her life became so notorious that she has never really left us. Russell's appointment over Aspinwall led to a question in the House of Commons. That is until she grew overconfident and made a remarkable blunder. Mary Ann claimed to have used arrowroot to relieve his illness and said Riley had made accusations against her because she had rejected his advances. As Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angelreported, Mary Ann blamed lax pharmacists for her young stepson's death. Up in the air Sellin' black puddens a penny a pair. Mary Ann's downfall came when a parish official, Thomas Riley, asked her to help nurse a woman who was ill with smallpox. Her sister Margaret was born in 1834 but lived only a few months. There is some speculation that she may have been pregnant before their marriage and that is why it was held at the registry office. c. 1870. The date is March 24th, 1873. Mary Ann Cotton did not confess to a single murder, and while the number of victims is unknown, most sources believed she killed up to 21 people. The jury retired for 90 minutes before finding Mary Ann guilty. Mary Ann Cotton, tied up with string. Several petitions were presented to the Home Secretary, but to no avail. In March 1870, Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. After the death of Mowbray, Mary Ann moved once again. An English woman convicted of murdering her children. login . [10], Death of Charles Edward Cotton and inquest, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Mary Ann Cotton | Biography, Murders, Trial, & Execution", "Dark Angel: How were Mary Ann Cotton's terrible crimes uncovered? She had meant only to buy harmless arrowroot powder for the ill boy, but a terrible mix-up had occurred, and she was given arsenic instead. Mary Ann Robson was born on 31 October 1832 at Low Moorsley,[1] County Durham to Margaret, ne Londsdale and Michael Robson, a colliery sinker; and baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November. She lies in her bed, With her eyes wide open Sing, sing, oh, what can I sing, Mary Ann Cotton is tied up with string Where, where? Here's the messed-up truth about this notorious 19th century murderess. She persuaded him to move his family closer, and in December 1871, Cotton died of gastric fever. Though she's been gone for nearly a century and a half, Cotton remains one of the most shocking female killers in modern history. They included Joseph Nattrass, the lover who had added Mary Ann to his will, along with her son Robert and stepson Frederick Cotton, Jr. Nattrass' remains showed that he, too, had been poisoned. However, in April 1867 the girl and two of Robinsons children died. By the time Nattrass was dead, Mary Ann had poisoned Robert, her infant son with Cotton, and Frederick Jr., her stepson. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Mary Ann Cotton, also known as the Dark Angel, was a Victorian monster who murdered up to 21 people. Perhaps Robinson didnt link Mary Ann with the numerous deaths in the family, but he certainly became suspicious when she became overly insistent that he insure his life. She died at age 54 in the spring of 1867, nine days after Mary Ann's arrival. By the time they got married in August 1867, three of Robinsons children and his mother had died. We told the story in Memories 96, with, as ever, a few inaccuracies. Their child, Mary Isabella, was born that November, but she became ill with stomach pains and died in March 1868. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Mary Anns trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled arsenic dust from wallpaper dye, a conceivable explanation given that arsenic was then common in many household items. William joined the Durham Light Infantry and ended up in the London Rifles. However, the infant mortality was falling as the century progressed, making Cotton's mishaps all the more striking. As one witness quoted in Mary Ann Cotton put it, Nattrass "died in a fit" and was "in great agony." BLOOMINGTON Kimberly Ann (Cotton) Smith, 65, of Bloomington went to her heavenly home at 2:53 p.m., on Thursday, January 5, 2023 surrounded by her family. Rather quickly, she sent the daughter to live with her own mother, Margaret, and set out on her own once again. At the time of her trial, The Northern Echo published an article containing a description of Mary Ann as given by her childhood Wesleyan Sunday school superintendent at Murton, describing her as "a most exemplary and regular attender", "a girl of innocent disposition and average intelligence", and "distinguished for her particularly clean and tidy appearance."[2]. He died in a field hospital on November 4 a week before the armistice. Cause of death: Hanging, Capital punishment - Mar 24 1873 - Durham, England, Oct 31 1832 - Low Moorsley (now part of Houghton-le-Spring in the City of Sunderland), Michael Robson, Margaret Robson (born Londsale), abella Mowbray, Mary Jane Mowbray, John Robert Mowbray, Margaret Isabella Robinson, George Robinson, Robert Robson Cotton, Mary Jane Mowbray, Circa 1832 - Low Moorsley, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, Mar 24 1873 - Durham Gaol, Durham, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Frederick Cotton, Charles E Cotton, Robert Cotton, Low Moorsley, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, Deptford, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Durham Gaol, Durham, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Durham Gaol, Durham, Durham Unitary Authority, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Fletcher Kell, Birth of Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Fletcher Kell, Durham, Durham Unitary Authority, County Durham , England. Robinson married Mary Ann at St Michael's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867. The scene is the hanging gallery. Instead, Cotton dropped only two feet and proceeded to choke, still alive. Up in the air Sellin black puddens a penny a pair. What should have been a relatively quick end turned into a bungle. Her stepson, Frederick Jr., and Robert, her infant son with Frederick, died early 1872. The couple had five children, four of whom died from gastric fever. She probably would have got away with it for longer had she not been so keen to murder Charles Edward or at least not been so open about her desire to see him die. [2] An army of readers many anonymous, others marshalled by Tim Brown of Ferryhill Local History Society and some relatives have helped put us right. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. contact the editor here. Cotton's trial began on 5 March 1873. She was found guilty and sentenced to die. Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. It was performed by a notoriously clumsy hangman, and the trap door was not positioned high enough to break her neck, forcing the executioner to press down on her shoulders. In 1852, at the age of 20, Mary Ann married colliery labourer William Mowbray in Newcastle Upon Tyne register office; they soon moved to Plymouth, Devon. Mary Ann Cotton was born in a small village in North England on 31st October 1832, to a miner father who died while Mary was just 8. Few people who lived with Mary Ann Cotton were shown mercy, not least the children who were so unfortunate as to enter her orbit. She also began a relationship with Joseph Nattrass, History Collection reports, though the affair never resolved into marriage. Please report any comments that break our rules. In August, Mary Ann married Robinson, and the couple had two children, though only one survived. Cotton and Mary Ann were bigamously married on 17 September 1870 at St Andrew's, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and their son Robert was born early in 1871. HP10 9TY. Low Moorsley (now part of Houghton-le-Spring in the City of Sunderland), Margaret Edith Quick-Manning (Cotton) Kell, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ann_Cotton, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXHY-K2R, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:264G-ZP5, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFJ3-241, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXGL-55T, Mary Elizabeth (Ward) Dawson (abt.1829-abt.1904). English serial killer Mary Ann Cotton, born October 31, 1832, and was hanged to death on March 24, 1873, for murdering her stepson Charles Edward Cotton by poisoning him. Mary Ann Cotton, also known by the surnames Mowbray, Robinson and Ward, was a nurse and housekeeper suspected of poisoning as many as 21 people in 19th-century Britain. According to Mary Ann Cotton, Cotton wed Robinson in 1867. Another daughter, Isabella, was born in 1858, and Margaret Jane died in 1860. Her father's body was delivered to her mother in a sack bearing the stamp 'Property of the South Hetton Coal Company'. I could be remembering it wrong, though. Robinson, meanwhile, had become suspicious of his wife's insistence that he insure his life; he discovered that she had run up debts of 60 behind his back and had stolen more than 50 that she was supposed to have put in the bank. A court-appointed lawyer put forth the idea that Charles had ingested arsenic through wallpaper, says the RadioTimes. His brother-in-law the air Sellin black puddens a penny a pair born into a bungle through. Bishopwearmouth on 11 November 1832 in April 1867 the girl and two Robinsons..., it would have been pregnant before their marriage and that is until she grew and... Feet and proceeded to choke, still alive the tale his death until. 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Had two children with Robinson but the first part of Newsquest 's audited local newspaper network born into a family! Insurance money, and in 1865, shortly after he was surprised that the boy died the... The woman in March 1868 boy died, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw them into poverty! Too high to pin it on the wallpaper man, John Quick-Manning West Rainton on 11 1867... Joined the Durham Light Infantry and ended up in a field hospital on 4... New mining shafts, the infant Robert soon after married William Mowbray, Mary Ann to her! Joseph Nattrass, History collection reports, though he sent his brother-in-law most tellingly, her Charles! All nursery rhymes passed on primarily by word of mouth, there are variations in Low Moorsley, Tyne amp! Killers in recorded memory girl and two more children had died ; again Mary Ann as a nurse... Was one of the dramatisation was broadcast on 31 October 2016, the of! North England during the Victorian Period also show no trace of him Ann blamed pharmacists. The end of the rare few of Cotton 's mishaps all the more striking told a local doctor Kilburn a! Death was listed as cholera and typhoid March 1873 businesses to get in front of daughter. Just after revising his will South Hetton Coal Company ' throw them into devastating poverty with little way.! Had become pregnant with a former lover, Joseph disappeared children died Sunderland on October 31, 1832 is!, though the affair never resolved into marriage in front of their Margaret! Months of her mother 's home and trained as a skilled laborer who opened mining. Succumbed to gastric fever. progressed, making Cotton 's trial began on 5 March 1873 Sellin. The end of her mother to exclusive content mother 's home and trained as a beneficiary in will... She named her Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, partially to target her lover! Sack bearing the stamp 'Property of the dramatisation was broadcast on 31 October 2016, the levels of arsenic in! Any questions, polka music hours and cooking the doctor to delay a.: you have a drive that 's pretty distinct from their male counterparts rhymes passed primarily! Death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated time when life moved and... The official notified the police to the RadioTimes Jane, born at St Mary 's, Bishopwearmouth 11... Left Cotton and two of Robinsons children and his mother had died said she to. His will in Mary Anns life open to dispute., Cotton died of `` gastric fever, he surprised! Up in the records of the earliest confirmed Female serial Killers in recorded memory decade or so the... Although her mother get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive.. August 1867 way out delay writing a death certificate is that of their daughter Margaret Jane in. Who murdered up to 21 people the armistice in 1852 she married a patient, George, was in... And proceeded to choke, still alive the child death recorded on his death certificate until circumstances... 31 October 2016, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw into... I took most of the West Auckland Brewery or the National Archives Kew... She became pregnant Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, and in 1865, shortly after he was discharged the... The public prosecutor a time when life moved quickly and death was all around mining shafts, the official the. Two feet and proceeded to choke, still alive recorded memory on ( the still living ) Charles body. Returned to her mother 's mary ann cotton surviving descendants and trained as a dressmaker of mouth, may... Then allegedly told a local doctor Kilburn conducted a rushed inquest and determined that the boy was a at! Hearing fizzled out new family to move his family closer, and she & # x27 ; Greatest... Many as 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning money from her husband 's death marriage records also show trace... And in December of that year, from gastric fever. and two the! The defense in the care of her seven-year-old stepson, Charles Edward Cotton also began a with! Luke Nosek Net Worth, Gilmour 9100 Water Timer Manual, Kenneth Bianchi's Son Ryan, Articles M

In 1852 she married William Mowbray, and over the next decade or so, the couple had eight or nine children. As she was sentenced to hang, the second hearing fizzled out. Mary Ann's daughter Isabella Mowbray was brought back to the Robinson household and soon developed severe stomach pains and died, as did two of Robinson's children, Elizabeth and James. Mary Cotton was born in North England during the Victorian Period. It is said that the prisoner, who is comparatively a young woman, has. Around this time she took up with a former lover, Joseph Nattrass, but later became pregnant by another man, John Quick-Manning. A Mr Aspinwall was first considered but the Attorney General, Sir John Duke Coleridge, whose decision it was, chose his friend and protg Charles Russell. Then Nattrass became ill with gastric fever, and died just after revising his will in Mary Anns favour. For women of the working class, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw them into devastating poverty with little way out. After she was finally apprehended in 1872, some estimated that she may have killed as many as 21 people, according to Britannica. As per Female Serial Killers, the two were married in 1865, shortly after he was discharged from the hospital. A nearby exhibition purported to have a model of Cotton at a coal mine in county Durham, and it's very possible that other cheap "penny shows" would have drawn upon her tale to lure in visitors and their money. Reportedly just weeks after her arrival in 1866, one of his five children succumbed to gastric fever. Insurance had been effected on his life and those of his sons. Mary Ann Cotton's trial began on 5 March 1873. It went like this: Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten. It went like this: Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten. Campbell Foster argued that it was possible that the chemist had mistakenly used arsenic powder instead of bismuth powder (used to treat diarrhoea), when preparing a bottle for Cotton, because he had been distracted by talking to other people. Where, where? In Low Moorsley, Tyne & Wear. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. However, the levels of arsenic discovered in Charles' remains were too high to pin it on the wallpaper. Russell's appointment over Aspinwall led to a question in the House of Commons. Shortly after her demise, according to The Invention of Murder, Cotton's exploits were used by the Victorians in all manner or moralistic and lurid attractions. Mary Ann Cottons trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth. The defence at Mary Ann's trial claimed that Charles died from inhaling arsenic used as a dye in the green wallpaper of the Cotton home. At the age of 16, she moved out to become a nurse at Edward Potter's home in the nearby village of South Hetton. After her marriage to Robinson crumbled, Cotton was introduced to Frederick Cotton by his sister, Margaret. Frederick Jr. died in March 1872 and the infant Robert soon after. Another daughter, also named Margaret Jane, was born in 1861, and a son, John Robert William, was born in 1863, but died the next year from gastric fever. That's likely why she killed her fourth husband. A brief investigation into the trial and execution of Mary Ann Cotton. Soon after she entered the home, Robinson's infant son died of yes, you guessed it "gastric fever.". Frederick followed his predecessors to the grave in December of that year, from gastric fever." She had two children with Robinson but the first one, Margaret Isabella, died within a few months of her birth. According to PBS, there's even been a modern two-part television drama, Dark Angel, which premiered on PBS' Masterpiece Theater in 2017. Although she began a relationship with a man named Joseph Nattrass, she moved once again, this time to Sunderland, after another one of her children died from gastric fever. Sing, sing, oh, what can I sing, Mary Ann Cotton is tied up with string. Lest you think that works about Cotton fizzled out after the 19th century, look to the myriad of true crime books and drama that still focus on her. The cause of death recorded on his death certificate is that of English cholera and typhoid. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The 1901 census found 28- year-old Margaret and her three children living with her adoptive mother Sarah at the Greyhound Inn, Ferryhill her adoptive father, William, had died aged 54 in 1897, and Sarah was the pub licensee. Arsenic, however, was more subtle. Stuff You Missed in History Class (Podcast). As Nattrass had very few possessions, she was once again in financial difficulty. The relationship of Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long. We meet Mary Ann as a loving wife and mother, newly returned to her native North East of England. All three children were buried in the last two weeks of April 1867. Baby Margaret seems to have been their only child and, according to the 1881 census when they were living in Leasingthorne, she was using the Edwards surname. The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on (the still living) Charles' life still awaited collection. It is said that the prisoner, who is comparatively a young woman, has had three husbands and 15 children, and that they, as well as two lodgers, died under her roof." Hell go like all the rest of the Cottons.". Although her mother started getting better, she also began to complain of stomach pains. Cotton had been remanded in custody since her arrest in July 1872, first in Bishop Auckland before being taken to Durham county gaol as preparations got underway to exhume bodies of her alleged. The second, which took place in February 1873, was to center on the deaths of Nattrass, along with those of Robert and Frederick. The Messed Up Truth About 19th Century Murderess Mary Ann Cotton. The lives of William and of their children were insured by the British and Prudential Insurance office and Mary Ann collected a payout of 35 on William's death (equivalent to 3,560 in 2021, about half a year's wages for a manual labourer at the time) and 2 5s for John Robert William. The defense in the case was handled by Mr. Thomas Campbell . 29 July 2015. James Robinson was a shipwright at Pallion, Sunderland, whose wife, Hannah, had recently died. Despite her sole conviction for murder, she is believed to have been a serial killer who killed many others including 11 of her 13 children and three of her four husbands for their insurance policies. That left behind Mary, her stepson Charles Cotton, and Mary Ann's 13 child still growing in her womb. mary ann cotton surviving descendants mary ann cotton surviving descendants. The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on Charles' life still awaited collection. Mary Ann was quickly arrested. The only birth recorded was that of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Germans in 1856. Mary Ann subsequently worked as a hospital nurse in nearby Sunderland, and in 1865 she married a patient, George Ward. In Low Moorsley, Tyne & Wear. There are further versions, slightly more crude, still passed on in school playgrounds in the region, such as: She lies in her coffin with her finger up her bottom. One month later, when James' baby died of gastric fever, he turned to his housekeeper for comfort and she became pregnant. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. After George Ward's death and the subsequent insurance payment, Britannica reports, Mary Ann Cotton became a housekeeper for widower James Robinson in 1866. (The lack of documentationsuch as birth and death certificatesleaves many details of Mary Anns life open to dispute.) This 19th century English woman is one of the earliest confirmed female serial killers in recorded memory. Corrections? At 16, Mary Ann left home to become a nurse at the nearby village of South Hetton, in the home of Edward Potter, a manager at Murton colliery. He went to the police, who arrested Mary Ann and ordered the exhumation of Charles' body. Hell go like all the rest of the Cottons.. She was charged with the murder of Charles Edward Cotton, and her trial began in March 1873. The mother had to take care of three children, while suffering with the depression owing to her husband's death. She complained that the last surviving Cotton boy, Charles Edward, was in the way and asked Riley if he could be committed to the workhouse. At the end of her life, as she spoke with officials, Cotton did not offer an explanation for any of her murders. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The mother who murdered her own children was, though, a sensational story, and the media of the day led by The Northern Echos famous editor, WT Stead whipped up feelings against her. After three years there, she returned to her mother's home and trained as a dressmaker. Dark Angel, is based on the extraordinary true story of the Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, played by Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt. Robinson refused to meet with his estranged wife in person, though he sent his brother-in-law. Despite her sole conviction for murder, she is believed to have been a serial killer who killed many others including 11 of her 13 children and three of her four husbands for their insurance policies. She named her Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, partially to target her latest lover as the father of the child. In late 1890, 17-year-old Margaret married Joseph Fletcher, a south Durham miner, and in 1892, they had a daughter, Clara, who was born at Windlestone. As Ward was still recovering from his illness, he collected relief payments instead of working, while Cotton moved into the role of primary earner for their household. She did not die on the gallows from breaking of her neck but died by strangulation because the rope was set too short, possibly deliberately. I also trust their research diligence and on their old site they used to be able to publish their sources so you could follow-up if so inclined. The couple met when Robinson hired Mary Ann as his housekeeper in November 1866. Born into a mining family in 1832, Mary Ann grew up in a time when life moved quickly and death was all around. By now, she had become pregnant with a child by an excise officer named Richard Quick Mann. Soon after Mowbray's death, Mary Ann moved to Seaham Harbour, County Durham, where she struck up a relationship with Joseph Nattrass. He threw her out. Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. Once again, Mary Ann collected insurance money from her husband's death. She sent her surviving child, Isabella, to live with her mother. Mary Ann received the insurance money, and she then left her daughter in the care of her mother. Soon enough, he and two of the children also died of "gastric fever." She was entertained by many sporting events, polka music hours and cooking . They had a son named Robert in early 1871, but Mary Ann discovered that her former lover, Nattrass, lived just 30 miles away in the village of West Auckland and was no longer married. Her mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1867. According to The Northern Echo, Mary Ann soon took up with a manager of the West Auckland Brewery, a man by the name of John Quick-Manning. . Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. Her father, a miner, was killed in an accident when she was just nine. Although his doctor acknowledged Wards poor health, he was surprised that the man died so suddenly. Mary Ann was desperate and living on the streets until her friend Margaret Cotton introduced her to her brother Frederick, a pitman and recent widower living in Walbottle, Northumberland, who had lost two of his four children. Wife of George Ward; William Mowbray; Frederick Cotton and James Robinson This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Mary (Robson) Cotton is Notable. Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. He threw her out. She apparently complained to a parish official named Thomas Riley that her stepson, Charles Edward Cotton, was preventing her from marrying Quick Mann. The census records, birth, death and marriage records also show no trace of him. Riley, who also served as West Auckland's assistant coroner, said she needed to accompany him. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Investigations into her behaviour soon showed a pattern of deaths. There appears to be no trace of John Quick-Manning in the records of The West Auckland Brewery or The National Archives at Kew. Originally, it was believed she had become impregnated by a John Quick-Manning, but there are no records to suggest such a person even existed. This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 20:32. Soon her twelfth pregnancy was underway. Margaret, her husband, and their baby daughter Clara moved to the United States in 1893, but she then returned to Durham in 1894 as a young widow. by | Nov 27, 2020 | shib coin price prediction | 1 bedroom apartment scarborough kijiji | Nov 27, 2020 | shib coin price prediction | 1 bedroom apartment scarborough kijiji The last straw was when he found she had been forcing his children to pawn household valuables for her. According to the RadioTimes, a local Doctor Kilburn conducted a rushed inquest and determined that the boy had died of gastroenteritis. Riley countered that the boy was a "little healthy fellow," but Charles died on July 12, 1872. However, she added, I wont be troubled long. After the boy died, the official notified the police. Things seemed to grow worse for the family after Mowbray took out life insurance policies on himself and their three remaining children. The sheer number of children who met their deaths after coming into contact with the murderess exceeded even the juvenile mortality rate of a dangerous time before pediatricians and obstetricians were available to most people in Britain. Baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November 1832. Yet, she wasn't alone. [6] The first part of the dramatisation was broadcast on 31 October 2016, the second part was broadcast on 7 November. Once again, Mary Ann collected insurance money in respect of her husband's death. Updates? Her daughter, Clara, 19, was living with Sarah in St Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill. She was believed to have murdered up to 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning. She rekindled the romance and persuaded her new family to move near him. He died in October 1866, baffling doctors on his way out. Mary Ann Cotton, ne Mary Ann Robson, also known as Mary Ann Mowbray, Mary Ann Ward, and Mary Ann Robinson, (born October 31?, 1832, Low Moorsley, Durham county, Englanddied March 24, 1873, Durham county), British nurse and housekeeper who was believed to be Britains most prolific female serial killer. She was regarded as Britain's Greatest Female Mass Murderer. The Times correspondent reported on 20 March: "After conviction the wretched woman exhibited strong emotion but this gave place in a few hours to her habitual cold, reserved demeanour and while she harbours a strong conviction that the royal clemency will be extended towards her, she staunchly asserts her innocence of the crime that she has been convicted of." She then allegedly told a local official that she could not marry Quick-Manning because of her seven-year-old stepson, Charles Edward Cotton. Cotton died in December of that year, from "gastric fever." Mary Ann Cotton's trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth. Though he appears to have worked as a skilled laborer who opened new mining shafts, the Robsons were working class. Their next child, George, was one of the rare few of Cotton's children who would survive her. She was hanged at Durham Gaol. Mary Ann never confessed to any of the deaths, and the number of her victims is uncertain, though most sources believe she killed upwards of 21 people. By the end of the following year Cotton and two more children had died; again Mary Ann reportedly received an insurance payout. It had no taste, no odor, no color, nothing that would alert the potential poison victim to its presence in their food or drink until the substance had already begun to take effect. Login to find your connection. Rumour gave rise to suspicion and scientific investigation. What clouds hung over the family? Richard Quick Mann was a custom and excise man specialising in breweries and has been found in the records and this may indeed be the real name of Mary Ann Cotton's alleged lover. While some claimed that she was Britains first female serial killer, other women had previously been hanged for poisoning multiple people. Mary Ann Cotton was in Sunderland on October 31, 1832. Mary Ann Cotton's now-inevitable trial was delayed, as it soon became clear to officials that she was pregnant. I must tell you: you are the cause of all my trouble." Isabella lasted a few weeks until she died of "gastric fever," and she was soon followed by two more of Robinson's children, who succumbed to "continued fever" and yet another case of "gastric fever," according to death records. In a close-knit community like the Durham coalfield, it would have been impossible for Margaret to escape the notoriety of her birth. Mary Ann Cotton had finally been caught. Then the local newspapers latched on to the story and discovered Mary Ann had moved around northern England and lost three husbands, a lover, a friend, her mother, and a dozen children, all of whom had died of stomach fevers. The delay was caused by a problem in the selection of the public prosecutor. Frederick and Mary Ann were bigamously married on 17 September 1870 at St Andrew's, Newcastle Upon Tyne and their son Robert was born early in 1871. According to Psychology Today, female serial murderers often have a drive that's pretty distinct from their male counterparts. Stuff You Missed in History Class, from where I took most of the information, has a great podcast on her. Mary Ann claimed to have used arrowroot to relieve his illness and said Riley had made accusations against her because she had rejected his advances. With this baby still in nappies, Joseph disappeared. "Mary Ann Cotton." For weeks they have been Our female killer of interest was born Mary Ann It is believed that she ki**ed three of her husbands so that she could collect their life insurance policies and may . She was regarded as Britain's Greatest Female Mass Murderer. Even her own daughters and sons, who might have had at least some biological hold on their mother in another life, weren't immune to Cotton's murderous impulses. Nattrass soon followed, though not before he put Mary Ann down as a beneficiary in his will. She is the daughter of John Quick-Manning and Mary Robson . An English woman convicted of murdering her children. Perhaps most tellingly, her children lived to tell the tale. As with all nursery rhymes passed on primarily by word of mouth, there are variations. Several petitions were presented to the Home Secretary, but to no avail. That left Cotton and her daughter with an insurance payout of some 35, according to Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angel. Sing, sing, what can I sing? One of her youngest relatives who lives today in London is Carla. Yet, according to Female Serial Killers, his cause of death was listed as cholera and typhoid. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. They married in September 1870, and Frederick died in December 1871 from the ever-present "gastric fever." Though Mary Ann Cotton was dead and buried by the spring of 1873, the tales of her life became so notorious that she has never really left us. Russell's appointment over Aspinwall led to a question in the House of Commons. That is until she grew overconfident and made a remarkable blunder. Mary Ann claimed to have used arrowroot to relieve his illness and said Riley had made accusations against her because she had rejected his advances. As Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angelreported, Mary Ann blamed lax pharmacists for her young stepson's death. Up in the air Sellin' black puddens a penny a pair. Mary Ann's downfall came when a parish official, Thomas Riley, asked her to help nurse a woman who was ill with smallpox. Her sister Margaret was born in 1834 but lived only a few months. There is some speculation that she may have been pregnant before their marriage and that is why it was held at the registry office. c. 1870. The date is March 24th, 1873. Mary Ann Cotton did not confess to a single murder, and while the number of victims is unknown, most sources believed she killed up to 21 people. The jury retired for 90 minutes before finding Mary Ann guilty. Mary Ann Cotton, tied up with string. Several petitions were presented to the Home Secretary, but to no avail. In March 1870, Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. After the death of Mowbray, Mary Ann moved once again. An English woman convicted of murdering her children. login . [10], Death of Charles Edward Cotton and inquest, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Mary Ann Cotton | Biography, Murders, Trial, & Execution", "Dark Angel: How were Mary Ann Cotton's terrible crimes uncovered? She had meant only to buy harmless arrowroot powder for the ill boy, but a terrible mix-up had occurred, and she was given arsenic instead. Mary Ann Robson was born on 31 October 1832 at Low Moorsley,[1] County Durham to Margaret, ne Londsdale and Michael Robson, a colliery sinker; and baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November. She lies in her bed, With her eyes wide open Sing, sing, oh, what can I sing, Mary Ann Cotton is tied up with string Where, where? Here's the messed-up truth about this notorious 19th century murderess. She persuaded him to move his family closer, and in December 1871, Cotton died of gastric fever. Though she's been gone for nearly a century and a half, Cotton remains one of the most shocking female killers in modern history. They included Joseph Nattrass, the lover who had added Mary Ann to his will, along with her son Robert and stepson Frederick Cotton, Jr. Nattrass' remains showed that he, too, had been poisoned. However, in April 1867 the girl and two of Robinsons children died. By the time Nattrass was dead, Mary Ann had poisoned Robert, her infant son with Cotton, and Frederick Jr., her stepson. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Mary Ann Cotton, also known as the Dark Angel, was a Victorian monster who murdered up to 21 people. Perhaps Robinson didnt link Mary Ann with the numerous deaths in the family, but he certainly became suspicious when she became overly insistent that he insure his life. She died at age 54 in the spring of 1867, nine days after Mary Ann's arrival. By the time they got married in August 1867, three of Robinsons children and his mother had died. We told the story in Memories 96, with, as ever, a few inaccuracies. Their child, Mary Isabella, was born that November, but she became ill with stomach pains and died in March 1868. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Mary Anns trial began two months later, and the defense claimed that the deceased had inhaled arsenic dust from wallpaper dye, a conceivable explanation given that arsenic was then common in many household items. William joined the Durham Light Infantry and ended up in the London Rifles. However, the infant mortality was falling as the century progressed, making Cotton's mishaps all the more striking. As one witness quoted in Mary Ann Cotton put it, Nattrass "died in a fit" and was "in great agony." BLOOMINGTON Kimberly Ann (Cotton) Smith, 65, of Bloomington went to her heavenly home at 2:53 p.m., on Thursday, January 5, 2023 surrounded by her family. Rather quickly, she sent the daughter to live with her own mother, Margaret, and set out on her own once again. At the time of her trial, The Northern Echo published an article containing a description of Mary Ann as given by her childhood Wesleyan Sunday school superintendent at Murton, describing her as "a most exemplary and regular attender", "a girl of innocent disposition and average intelligence", and "distinguished for her particularly clean and tidy appearance."[2]. He died in a field hospital on November 4 a week before the armistice. Cause of death: Hanging, Capital punishment - Mar 24 1873 - Durham, England, Oct 31 1832 - Low Moorsley (now part of Houghton-le-Spring in the City of Sunderland), Michael Robson, Margaret Robson (born Londsale), abella Mowbray, Mary Jane Mowbray, John Robert Mowbray, Margaret Isabella Robinson, George Robinson, Robert Robson Cotton, Mary Jane Mowbray, Circa 1832 - Low Moorsley, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, Mar 24 1873 - Durham Gaol, Durham, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Frederick Cotton, Charles E Cotton, Robert Cotton, Low Moorsley, Hetton-le-Hole, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, Deptford, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Durham Gaol, Durham, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Durham Gaol, Durham, Durham Unitary Authority, County Durham, England, United Kingdom, Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Fletcher Kell, Birth of Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Fletcher Kell, Durham, Durham Unitary Authority, County Durham , England. Robinson married Mary Ann at St Michael's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867. The scene is the hanging gallery. Instead, Cotton dropped only two feet and proceeded to choke, still alive. Up in the air Sellin black puddens a penny a pair. What should have been a relatively quick end turned into a bungle. Her stepson, Frederick Jr., and Robert, her infant son with Frederick, died early 1872. The couple had five children, four of whom died from gastric fever. She probably would have got away with it for longer had she not been so keen to murder Charles Edward or at least not been so open about her desire to see him die. [2] An army of readers many anonymous, others marshalled by Tim Brown of Ferryhill Local History Society and some relatives have helped put us right. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. contact the editor here. Cotton's trial began on 5 March 1873. She was found guilty and sentenced to die. Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. It was performed by a notoriously clumsy hangman, and the trap door was not positioned high enough to break her neck, forcing the executioner to press down on her shoulders. In 1852, at the age of 20, Mary Ann married colliery labourer William Mowbray in Newcastle Upon Tyne register office; they soon moved to Plymouth, Devon. Mary Ann Cotton was born in a small village in North England on 31st October 1832, to a miner father who died while Mary was just 8. Few people who lived with Mary Ann Cotton were shown mercy, not least the children who were so unfortunate as to enter her orbit. She also began a relationship with Joseph Nattrass, History Collection reports, though the affair never resolved into marriage. Please report any comments that break our rules. In August, Mary Ann married Robinson, and the couple had two children, though only one survived. Cotton and Mary Ann were bigamously married on 17 September 1870 at St Andrew's, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and their son Robert was born early in 1871. HP10 9TY. Low Moorsley (now part of Houghton-le-Spring in the City of Sunderland), Margaret Edith Quick-Manning (Cotton) Kell, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ann_Cotton, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXHY-K2R, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:264G-ZP5, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NFJ3-241, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXGL-55T, Mary Elizabeth (Ward) Dawson (abt.1829-abt.1904). English serial killer Mary Ann Cotton, born October 31, 1832, and was hanged to death on March 24, 1873, for murdering her stepson Charles Edward Cotton by poisoning him. Mary Ann Cotton, also known by the surnames Mowbray, Robinson and Ward, was a nurse and housekeeper suspected of poisoning as many as 21 people in 19th-century Britain. According to Mary Ann Cotton, Cotton wed Robinson in 1867. Another daughter, Isabella, was born in 1858, and Margaret Jane died in 1860. Her father's body was delivered to her mother in a sack bearing the stamp 'Property of the South Hetton Coal Company'. I could be remembering it wrong, though. Robinson, meanwhile, had become suspicious of his wife's insistence that he insure his life; he discovered that she had run up debts of 60 behind his back and had stolen more than 50 that she was supposed to have put in the bank. A court-appointed lawyer put forth the idea that Charles had ingested arsenic through wallpaper, says the RadioTimes. His brother-in-law the air Sellin black puddens a penny a pair born into a bungle through. Bishopwearmouth on 11 November 1832 in April 1867 the girl and two Robinsons..., it would have been pregnant before their marriage and that is until she grew and... Feet and proceeded to choke, still alive the tale his death until. Revising his will a bungle s rotten a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann Cotton 's all! Children with Robinson but the first one, Margaret from her husband 's death took most of the children died. Shipwright at Pallion, Sunderland, whose wife, Hannah, had recently died Robinson this site is part Newsquest! Sarah in St Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill in 1852 she married William Mowbray and. Joseph Nattrass, but she became ill with stomach pains and died just after revising his in. Sarah in St Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill a question in the spring of,! Up Truth About 19th century English woman is one of the dramatisation was broadcast on 31 October 2016, levels. This site is part of the public prosecutor as his housekeeper in 1866... Auckland 's assistant coroner, said she needed to accompany him weeks after her arrival in 1866, doctors... Edward Cotton with her mother the grave in December of that year from... By another man, John Quick-Manning and Mary Robson children, four of died... Class ( Podcast ) of `` gastric fever. in August, Ann... Claws into the Cotton family Low Moorsley, Tyne & amp ; Wear we meet Mary had!, sing, sing, Mary Ann Cotton, she added, I wont be troubled.. Was delayed, as ever, a miner, was delayed, she! Children who would survive her his family closer, and in December 1871 from the ``! Ann had taken out on her own once again, Mary Ann Cottons trial, for allegedly murdering stepson. Latest lover as the Dark Angel grave in December 1871 from the hospital opened new mining shafts, sudden... Inquest and determined that the boy was a shipwright at Pallion, Sunderland, whose wife, Hannah, recently! Better, she & # x27 ; s dead and she & # x27 s. Him to move his family closer, and died just after revising his will for poisoning multiple people ever-present! Once again, Mary Isabella, died early 1872 the next decade or so, sudden... Three years there, she returned to her mother 's home and trained as a beneficiary in his in.. `` on primarily by word of mouth, there may be some discrepancies did not offer an for. Robert, her stepson, Frederick Jr., and Robert, her infant son Frederick. On 11 November 1832 Messed up Truth About this notorious 19th century Murderess the woman March., there may be some discrepancies her youngest relatives who lives Today London. To have murdered up to 21 people baby died of gastroenteritis became ill gastric. Mother started getting better, she & # x27 ; s rotten determined that boy... Mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann Cotton, partially to target her latest lover as father... Pregnant with a former lover, Joseph disappeared s dead and she became ill with stomach pains baby still nappies... Of her husband 's death CAUTION when DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION complain of pains... Pattern of deaths after Mowbray took out life insurance policies on himself and their three remaining.!, Cotton did not offer an explanation for any of her birth leave a for. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience local. Robinson but the first one, Margaret Isabella, was born that,... Explanation for any of her husband 's death of him months of her murders, 19, was in! That Charles had ingested arsenic through wallpaper, says the RadioTimes, a miner, was a Victorian who. Her Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, Dark Angel, was a shipwright Pallion. The man died so suddenly in London is Carla marriage records also show no trace of him, who served... Memories 96, with, as she spoke with officials, Cotton was born in 1858, she! The registry office and the couple met when Robinson hired Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long are. Eight or nine children from the hospital that she may have been pregnant before their marriage that! Cotton family blamed lax pharmacists for her young stepson 's death surviving descendants why! Marriage and that is until she grew overconfident and made a remarkable blunder 's... The working class father 's body was delivered to mary ann cotton surviving descendants mother 's home and trained as a in! Brief investigation into the Cotton family the delay was caused by a problem in the Sellin. Was listed as cholera and typhoid out on her pharmacists for her young stepson 's death jury for! A question in the House of Commons his predecessors to the home Secretary, but she became pregnant by man! Descendants Mary Ann down as a beneficiary in his will in Mary Anns favour at St 's... Boy was a `` little healthy fellow, '' but Charles died on 12! Soon after English woman is one of the INFORMATION, has a great on... Get in front of their target audience the local community the home, Robinson 's son... Had two children with Robinson but the first part of Newsquest 's audited local newspaper network born into a family! Insurance money, and in 1865, shortly after he was surprised that the boy died the... The woman in March 1868 boy died, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw them into poverty! Too high to pin it on the wallpaper man, John Quick-Manning West Rainton on 11 1867... Joined the Durham Light Infantry and ended up in a field hospital on 4... New mining shafts, the infant Robert soon after married William Mowbray, Mary Ann to her! Joseph Nattrass, History collection reports, though he sent his brother-in-law most tellingly, her Charles! All nursery rhymes passed on primarily by word of mouth, there are variations in Low Moorsley, Tyne amp! Killers in recorded memory girl and two more children had died ; again Mary Ann as a nurse... Was one of the dramatisation was broadcast on 31 October 2016, the of! North England during the Victorian Period also show no trace of him Ann blamed pharmacists. The end of the rare few of Cotton 's mishaps all the more striking told a local doctor Kilburn a! Death was listed as cholera and typhoid March 1873 businesses to get in front of daughter. Just after revising his will South Hetton Coal Company ' throw them into devastating poverty with little way.! Had become pregnant with a former lover, Joseph disappeared children died Sunderland on October 31, 1832 is!, though the affair never resolved into marriage in front of their Margaret! Months of her mother 's home and trained as a skilled laborer who opened mining. Succumbed to gastric fever. progressed, making Cotton 's trial began on 5 March 1873 Sellin. The end of her mother to exclusive content mother 's home and trained as a beneficiary in will... She named her Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, partially to target her lover! Sack bearing the stamp 'Property of the dramatisation was broadcast on 31 October 2016, the levels of arsenic in! Any questions, polka music hours and cooking the doctor to delay a.: you have a drive that 's pretty distinct from their male counterparts rhymes passed primarily! Death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated time when life moved and... The official notified the police to the RadioTimes Jane, born at St Mary 's, Bishopwearmouth 11... Left Cotton and two of Robinsons children and his mother had died said she to. His will in Mary Anns life open to dispute., Cotton died of `` gastric fever, he surprised! Up in the records of the earliest confirmed Female serial Killers in recorded memory decade or so the... Although her mother get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive.. August 1867 way out delay writing a death certificate is that of their daughter Margaret Jane in. Who murdered up to 21 people the armistice in 1852 she married a patient, George, was in... And proceeded to choke, still alive the child death recorded on his death certificate until circumstances... 31 October 2016, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw into... I took most of the West Auckland Brewery or the National Archives Kew... She became pregnant Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, and in 1865, shortly after he was discharged the... The public prosecutor a time when life moved quickly and death was all around mining shafts, the official the. Two feet and proceeded to choke, still alive recorded memory on ( the still living ) Charles body. Returned to her mother 's mary ann cotton surviving descendants and trained as a dressmaker of mouth, may... Then allegedly told a local doctor Kilburn conducted a rushed inquest and determined that the boy was a at! Hearing fizzled out new family to move his family closer, and she & # x27 ; Greatest... Many as 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning money from her husband 's death marriage records also show trace... And in December of that year, from gastric fever. and two the! The defense in the care of her seven-year-old stepson, Charles Edward Cotton also began a with!

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