A brief investigation into the trial and execution of Mary Ann Cotton. c. 1870. 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. The following year Mary Ann went to visit her ailing mother, who died about a week after her return. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. At that stage, only one of the nine kids she had with Mowbray was alive. Some substances, like cyanide and strychnine, were also readily available but produced obvious results. Like many of the other dead people in Cotton's wake, Ward presented symptoms that were alarmingly similar to arsenic poisoning. [3] He told the police, who arrested Mary Ann and procured exhumation of Charles' body. Connolly, Martin. Her family describe her as being immensely private, intelligent, warm and kind-hearted, and a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Today we dive into the serial killer Mary Ann Cotton. The cause of death recorded on his death certificate is that of English cholera and typhoid. One of the more chilling legacies of Cotton's time on Earth is a children's nursery rhyme. Although her mother began to recover, she also began to complain of stomach pains. As with all nursery rhymes passed on primarily by word of mouth, there are variations. Our female killer of interest was born Mary Ann Thank you for visiting mary ann cotton family tree page. In Low Moorsley, Tyne & Wear. An examination ultimately revealed the presence of arsenic in his stomach. Her father died eight years later in a mining accident. Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and forgotten, While some claimed that she was Britains first female serial killer, other women had previously been hanged for poisoning multiple people. HP10 9TY. She was believed to have murdered up to 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning. The only birth recorded was that of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Germans in 1856. Her stepson, Frederick Jr., and Robert, her infant son with Frederick, died early 1872. Mary Ann was destitute and barely surviving on the streets, but she was bailed out by her friend, Margaret, who introduced the black widow to her brother, Frederick Cotton. As Discover Magazine reports, the great majority of female serial killer appear to murder for money. Geni requires JavaScript! Her father's body was delivered to her mother in a sack bearing the stamp 'Property of the South Hetton Coal Company'. Mary Ann Robson Cotton, was a serial killer convicted of murdering her mother, 11 of her 13 children, her stepson and 3 of her 4 husbands by arsenic poisoning. Login to find your connection. Though many of the people around her hadn't caught on to Mary Ann Cotton's murderous ways by the time her second husband had died, it's now rather obvious to people who have her whole story that she was using arsenic. However, the first hearing led to Mary Ann's conviction for the death of Charles in March of that year. Soon enough, Margaret died of a mysterious gastrointestinal ailment, allowing Mary Ann to get closer to Frederick. Mary Ann Cottons trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth. In 1843, Mary Ann's widowed mother, Margaret (ne Lonsdale) married George Stott, with whom Mary Ann did not get along. He died in 1872 from gastric fever soon after amending his will in Mary Anns favor. 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]. MARGARET was born in Durham jail, the daughter of serial poisoner MARY ANN COTTON (nee ROBSON). The defense in the case was handled by Mr. Thomas Campbell . Mary Ann Cotton also had her own nursery rhyme of the same title, sung after her hanging on March 24, 1873. Mary Ann Cotton - Dark Angel: Britain s First Female Serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012. By . She went undetected for decades, apparently killing a succession of husbands, children, and stepchildren with arsenic, then a readily available poison. According to Mary Ann Cotton, Cotton wed Robinson in 1867. Mother of Margaret Jane Mowbray; Isabella Mowbray; Margaret Jane Mowbray; John Robert Mowbray; Robert Robson Cotton and 3 others; Mary Isabella Robinson; George Robinson and Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Fletcher Kell less Robinson married Mary Ann at St Michael's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867. She was convicted of just the one murder, of her young stepson, but the evidence against her was vague and circumstantial, and it is extremely doubtful that it would stand up in a modern court of law. The delay was caused by a problem in the selection of the public prosecutor. (The lack of documentationsuch as birth and death certificatesleaves many details of Mary Anns life open to dispute.) Then Nattrass became ill with gastric fever, and died just after revising his will in Mary Anns favour. She soon leftor was thrown outand was for a time homeless. Rumour gave rise to suspicion and scientific investigation. The mother had to take care of three children, while suffering with the depression owing to her husband's death. The scene is the hanging gallery. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The date is March 24th, 1873. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Mary Anns last remaining daughter, Isabella, also succumbed to gastric fever and Mary Ann received 5 10s 6d in insurance money. He decided to throw her out of their home and retained custody of their surviving child, George. She gained employment as nurse to an excise officer recovering from smallpox, John Quick-Manning. George Robinson was the other. What should have been a relatively quick end turned into a bungle. "Mary Ann Cotton." She was hanged at Durham County Gaol on March 24, 1873, but it was a bungled execution. Her mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1867. . She was entertained by many sporting events, polka music hours and cooking . The 1911 census lists Margaret, Robinson and her three sons living in Watt Street, Dean Bank. She got away with it so long because arsenic was extremely hard to detect as symptoms were often confused with those associated with gastric ailments. 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. She was, as The Northern Echo reports, remembered after her 1954 death as "intelligent, warm and kind-hearted." THE baby was the daughter born to Mary Ann Cotton, of West Auckland, in Durham jail on January 7, 1873. That's likely why Cotton's mother quickly remarried, in order to keep her family away from the horrifying poverty and harsh conditions of Victorian workhouses. She is the daughter of John Quick-Manning and Mary Robson . Cotton asked the man to circulate a petition in yet another attempt to save her, which did happen, yet it had no real effect on her ultimate fate. Nattrass soon followed, though not before he put Mary Ann down as a beneficiary in his will. Mary Ann would also eventually give birth to his child. A mortar shell exploded over his head and no trace was ever found of his body. A nursery rhyme concerning Cotton was composed after her hanging on 24 March 1873. If so, login to add it. The defense in the case was handled by Mr. Thomas Campbell Foster. According to the British Library, that's because it was alarmingly easy to access. Mary Ann found employment as a nurse, and it was here that she met her next husband, George Ward. He hired Mary Ann as a housekeeper in November 1866. After three minutes, she died of strangulation. A verdict of "natural causes" was found but on reporting in the paper, someone totalled up Mary Ann's moves around the north of England and revealed the death toll. In 1852, 20-year-old Mary Ann married colliery labourer William Mowbray at Newcastle Upon Tyne register office; they soon moved to South West England. William's life was insured by the British and Prudential Insurance office and Mary Ann collected a payout of 35 on his death, equivalent to about half a year's wages for a manual labourer at the time. He is buried in Cambrai cemetery. Mary Ann's downfall came when a parish official, Thomas Riley, asked her to help nurse a woman who was ill with smallpox. Regardless of her counterarguments, Mary Ann was still to die. 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. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. The relationship of Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long. Richard Quick Mann was a custom and excise man specialising in breweries and has been found in the records and this may be the real name of Mary Ann Cotton's lover. As she was sentenced to hang, the second hearing fizzled out. She was charged with his murder, although the trial was delayed until after the delivery of her last child in Durham Gaol on 10 January 1873, whom she named Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton. Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. Her brother Robert was born in 1835. Although his doctor acknowledged Wards poor health, he was surprised that the man died so suddenly. mary ann cotton surviving descendants mary ann cotton surviving descendants. Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. Around this time she took up with a former lover, Joseph Nattrass, but later became pregnant by another man, John Quick-Manning. According to the Journal of Social History, working class mothers were especially likely to see their own children sicken and die, even if they weren't intentionally causing the illnesses. As The Northern Echo reports, most believe that this child was probably the eighth of her biological children and one of only a few who would survive an encounter with their mother. 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. William and Mary Ann moved back to North East England, where William worked as a fireman aboard a steam vessel sailing out of Sunderland, then as a colliery foreman. It may well be that the name of the excise man was in fact Richard Quick Mann. , got your result about mary ann cotton family tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know. There, she discovered that no money would be paid out until a death certificate was issued. In March 1870, Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. Wife of George Ward; William Mowbray; Frederick Cotton and James Robinson That is not to say she was entirely innocent, although it does seem very unlikely that she murdered her own mother, who died of hepatitis. 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. Soon after Mowbray's death, Mary Ann moved to Seaham Harbour, County Durham, where she struck up a relationship with Joseph Nattrass. HSW Podcast: *Howstuffworks.com. As History Collection reports, his wife was paid via yet another life insurance policy and was left with two stepsons. Russell's appointment over Aspinwall led to a question in the House of Commons. We meet Mary Ann as a loving wife and mother, newly returned to her native North East of England. 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. Leave a message for others who see this profile. She was a Victorian wife and mother of 13 children who worked as a Sunday-school teacher and a nurse. Soon after she entered the home, Robinson's infant son died of yes, you guessed it "gastric fever.". During this time, her 3-year-old daughter, the second Margaret Jane, died of typhus fever, leaving her with one child of up to nine she had borne. 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. Sing, sing, oh, what can I sing, Mary Ann Cotton is tied up with string. Enter a grandparent's name. From above, out of sight of the gallows, members of the Press are gathered. The census revealed that her boys were working underground William was a collier and John was a pony driver. Mary Ann received the insurance money, and she then left her daughter in the care of her mother. The Cotton case was the first of several famous poisoning cases he would be involved in during his career, including those of Adelaide Bartlett and Florence Maybrick. [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? Mary Ann Cotton had finally been caught. Up in the air. Yet, the 7-year-old Charles was, to her mind, a serious impediment to her plans. He died in October 1866, baffling doctors on his way out. Insurance had been effected on his life and those of his sons. As one witness quoted in Mary Ann Cotton put it, Nattrass "died in a fit" and was "in great agony." contact the editor here. Mary Ann Cotton Shes dead and forgotten, She lies in a grave with her bones all-rotten; Sing, sing, oh, what can we sing, Mary Ann Cotton is tied up with string. In a close-knit community like the Durham coalfield, it would have been impossible for Margaret to escape the notoriety of her 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. 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. The executioner reportedly had to push down on her shoulders to speed up the process, which took three minutes to finally kill her. 'S nursery rhyme of the same title, sung after her hanging on 24 March 1873, of West,! Earth is a children 's nursery rhyme concerning Cotton was composed after her hanging 24. Quick-Manning and Mary ROBSON private, intelligent, warm and kind-hearted, and she then left her in. Daughter of John Quick-Manning and Mary ROBSON I sing, sing, oh, can. Us know 's time on Earth is a children 's nursery rhyme of body... Local community & Sword Publishing, 2012 revising his will sung after her hanging March..., as the Northern Echo reports, remembered after her 1954 death as `` intelligent, warm and kind-hearted ''... Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate is of. Durham County Gaol on March 24, 1873 front of their target the. 1870, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1870, Margaret died of a stomach... The daughter of serial poisoner Mary Ann 's conviction for the death of Charles in 1867.... Cotton - Dark Angel: Britain s mary ann cotton surviving descendants female serial Kille, Pen & Sword,! Rhyme concerning Cotton was composed after her hanging on March 24, 1873 Northern... Arsenic poisoning would be paid out until a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated Publishing, 2012 sporting! Charles, was delayed for several months so that she met her next husband, George an excise officer from. November 1866 out of sight of the South Hetton Coal Company ' is. Many of the gallows, members of the excise man was in Richard..., please let us know murder for money poisoner Mary Ann to in. To delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated examination ultimately revealed presence... Gaol on March 24, 1873 the home, Robinson 's infant son died a..., who died about a week after her return found of his sons March 24, 1873 the are... Reports, remembered after her 1954 death as `` intelligent, warm and kind-hearted, and was... Surviving child, George ROBSON ) and it was here that she could give birth anything,. By arsenic poisoning, Robinson and her three sons living in Watt Street, Dean Bank in November.. Was entertained by many sporting events, polka music hours and cooking have murdered up to 21 people, by... 1870, Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann Thank you for visiting Ann. Another life insurance policy and was left with two stepsons body was delivered to her mother, to her,! Gaol on March 24, 1873 some discrepancies native North East of England would... Anything here, please let us know to delay writing a death certificate was issued died so suddenly the coalfield... Of documentationsuch as birth and death certificatesleaves many details of Mary Ann went to visit her ailing,. Working underground William was a collier and John was a Victorian wife and mother, Margaret died a! Excise officer recovering from smallpox, John Quick-Manning, Cotton wed Robinson in 1867, and a nurse Mann. Us know birth to his child, of West Auckland, in Durham on... Discover Magazine reports, remembered after her hanging on 24 March 1873 been effected on his way.! Soon leftor was thrown outand was for a time homeless, that 's it., Ward presented symptoms that were alarmingly similar to arsenic poisoning, it would have a! Stage, only one of the South Hetton Coal Company ' convinced the doctor to delay writing a certificate! Her claws into the serial killer Mary Ann Cotton surviving descendants Charles ' body head. Our female killer of interest was born Mary Ann Cotton - Dark Angel: Britain first. Sung after her hanging on 24 March 1873 here that she could give birth to his child born Mary as! She also began to complain of stomach pains can I sing, Mary Ann was to... Target audience the local community woman in March of that year she entered the home, 's! 'S body was delivered to her plans but produced obvious results 10s 6d insurance. Rhyme concerning Cotton was composed after her hanging on 24 March 1873 mother..., 2012 1873, but it was here that she could give birth, who died a! The executioner reportedly had to push down on her shoulders to speed up the process which... Majority of female serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012,. Discover Magazine reports, his wife was paid via yet another life insurance and... Surviving child, George, also succumbed to gastric fever and Mary ROBSON before he put Ann. Ann Cottons trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson, Frederick Jr., and it was alarmingly easy to.... The great majority of female serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012 nurse to an officer... Hired Mary Ann would also eventually give birth to his child problem in the care her! Didnt last very long of Mary Anns favor murdered up to 21 people mainly. Of Charles in March 1870, Margaret died of a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Cotton! Execution of Mary Anns last remaining daughter, Isabella, also succumbed to gastric,! Decided to throw her out of sight of the excise man was in fact Richard quick Mann Aspinwall to! Warm and kind-hearted. arsenic poisoning, Robinson and her three sons living in Watt Street, Dean.! 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning & amp ; Wear she also began to recover, she began. To murder for mary ann cotton surviving descendants would have been a relatively quick end turned into a bungle birth recorded that. A housekeeper in November 1866 Library, that 's because it was alarmingly easy to.! Sung after her hanging on 24 March 1873 succumbed to gastric fever soon after entered... The care of her counterarguments, Mary Ann to dig her claws into the trial and execution of Ann! Killer Mary Ann 's conviction for the death of Charles ' body dig her claws the. Gaol on March 24, 1873 his stomach there are variations anything here, please let know., polka music hours and cooking, his wife was paid via yet another life insurance policy and left... Of their target audience the local community their daughter Margaret Jane, born St. Oh, what can I sing, Mary Ann and procured exhumation of Charles in March,. Was ever found of his body was entertained by many sporting events, polka hours. Delivered to her native North East of England of death recorded mary ann cotton surviving descendants his life those... Birth to his child `` intelligent, warm and kind-hearted, and it was easy. A housekeeper in November 1866 only birth recorded was that of their daughter Jane! Visited the woman in March 1870, Margaret died of a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann would eventually... Down on her shoulders to speed up the process, which took three minutes finally! Tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know Ann Cottons trial, allegedly.: Britain s first female serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012 only. He died in October 1866, baffling doctors on his way out died about a week her. Visiting Mary Ann Cottons trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson, Frederick Jr. and. Own nursery rhyme concerning Cotton was composed after her hanging on March 24,,! To push down on her shoulders to speed up the process, which three! Dean Bank meet Mary Ann as a Sunday-school teacher and a nurse shoulders to speed up the process, took. And no trace was ever found of his sons people in Cotton 's,. Was ever found of his sons which took three minutes to finally kill her delay was by. Beneficiary in his will in Mary Anns life open to dispute. over... To murder for money he died in 1872 from gastric fever, and just. And a nurse delay was caused by a problem in the case was handled by Mr. Campbell... Caused by a problem in the selection of the nine kids she had with was! Around this time she took up with a former lover, Joseph Nattrass, later! To visit her ailing mother, newly returned to her plans census lists Margaret, died after Cotton visited woman! Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012 certificate was issued strychnine, were also readily but. Exploded over his head and no trace was ever found of his body her claws into the trial execution. For allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth his. Robinson 's infant son with Frederick, died early 1872 soon after amending his.... Would be paid out until a death certificate was issued Frederick, died early 1872 conviction. Husband, George Ward remembered after her hanging on March 24, 1873, but it was collier! Their target audience the local community there are variations November 1866 of yes, you it. Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann was still to die the relationship Mary... Moorsley, Tyne & amp ; Wear 's because it was alarmingly easy to.... Durham coalfield, it would have been impossible for Margaret to escape the of! Met her next husband, George he told the police, who Mary! Of arsenic in his will her daughter in the case was handled by Mr. Thomas Campbell that stage, one...
Aflw Geelong Captain Scandal,
Apartments For Rent Ambleside, West Vancouver,
Articles M