Riley grew suspicious and alerted the police. Her brother Robert was born in 1835. In March 1870, Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. Facts concerning Mary Ann are difficult to pin down, but this was definitely her eighth child she had several miscarriages and there may have been other children. 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. What clouds hung over the family? 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. Mary Ann Robson was born on 31 October 1832 at Low Moorsley (now part of Houghton-le-Spring in the City of Sunderland) and baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November. However, she stayed in Durham and lived in a place called Seaham Harbour. Nonetheless, Mary Ann evaded suspicion (even though she collected more insurance money) and moved on to her next target, the recently widowed James Robinson. Comments have been closed on this article. However, the BBC points out that you're not alone. 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. This week, I'll delve into her psychology. Though she's been gone for nearly a century and a half, Cotton remains one of the most shocking female killers in modern history. The delay was caused by a problem in the selection of the public prosecutor. Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. He died of an intestinal disorder in January 1865. 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. Mary Ann would also eventually give birth to his child. Mary was born in October 1832 at Low Moorsley (now part of Houghton-le-Spring in the City of Sunderland) and baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November. A week before her brutally botched execution on March 24, she gave the infant to be adopted by a couple she knew in West Auckland, William and Sarah Edwards. A month later, when James' baby John died of gastric fever, he turned to his housekeeper for comfort and she became pregnant. 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. 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. I could be remembering it wrong, though. The only birth recorded was that of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Germans in 1856. She sent her remaining child, Isabella, to live with her mother. Though Britain passed the Arsenic Act of 1851 in an attempt to control the distribution of this deadly substance, it's clear that it wasn't all that difficult for Cotton to keep acquiring arsenic in her drive to kill the people around her. A Mr. Aspinwall was supposed to get the job, but the Attorney General, Sir John Duke Coleridge, chose his friend and protg Charles Russell. She came back home three years later, taking up work as a dressmaker. Within a few days, Charles Edward had died, and when Riley found out, he urged the doctor to avoid writing the death certificate until the cause of death was fully investigated. This 19th century English woman is one of the earliest confirmed female serial killers in recorded memory. Mary Ann and her daughter with Mowbray then went to live at the Robinson home. She enjoyed crafting, hosting ceramics classes for many years, creating scrapbooks of family memories, and making special cards for every occasion. "Mary Ann Cotton, a widow, is in custody at West Auckland, charged with having poisoned her stepson, aged eight years. Once again, Mary Ann collected insurance money from her husband's death. Newspaper report of Cottons arrest. 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]. Sarah Chesham killed four people and was executed in 1851; both used arsenic. The word was that she had killed anything up to 21 of her husbands, lovers, children and stepchildren, and even her own mother making her Britains most prolific mass murderer until Harold Shipman. Mary Anns first port of call after Charles' death was not the doctors but the insurance office. 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. 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. 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. Her father died eight years later in a mining accident. She was only ever convicted for the murder of one, though it led to her execution by hanging in 1873. Their first child Margaret Isabella (Mary Isabella on her baptismal record) was born that November, but she became ill and died in February 1868. Dark Angel, is based on the extraordinary true story of the Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, played by Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt. Ward continued to suffer ill health and died on 20 October 1866 after a long illness characterised by paralysis and intestinal problems. Perhaps at this point, it would be best to draw a discrete veil over the family tree, except to say that Margaret lived into old age with the stigma of being the daughter of one of Britains most notorious killers. mary ann cotton surviving descendants mary ann cotton surviving descendants. This page was last edited on 12 January 2023, at 20:32. 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. An examination ultimately revealed the presence of arsenic in his stomach. As the miner's cottage they inhabited was tied to Michael's job, the widow and children would have been evicted. As per Female Serial Killers, the two were married in 1865, shortly after he was discharged from the hospital. Betty Eccles was suspected of multiple murders and was hanged in 1843. While some claimed that she was Britains first female serial killer, other women had previously been hanged for poisoning multiple people. This left their widowed mother in a difficult situation. Before their final break, Cotton had attempted to get Robinson to insure both himself and the remaining children. Please report any comments that break our rules. But in late March 1870 Margaret died from an undetermined stomach ailment, leaving Mary Ann to console the grieving Frederick Sr. All three children were buried in the last week of April and first week of May 1867. A mortar shell exploded over his head and no trace was ever found of his body. 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 11 children, all of whom had died of stomach fevers. An inquest was held and the jury returned a verdict of natural causes. The couple had five children, four of whom died from gastric fever. 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. Daughter of Michael Robson and Margaret Lonsdale Stuff You Missed in History Class (Podcast). After three minutes, she died of strangulation. At the time of her trial, there were reports of four or five of their children dying young while they were living away from County Durham. After moving frequently, the family settled in Hendon, Durham county, in about 1856. 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." Margaret had acted as substitute mother for the remaining children, Frederick Jr. and Charles. The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on (the still living) Charles' life still awaited collection. He threw her out, retaining custody of their son George. The mother had to take care of three children, while suffering with the depression owing to her husband's death. From above, out of sight of the gallows, members of the Press are gathered. Serial killer Mary Ann Cotton is a female serial killer. Riley countered that the boy was a "little healthy fellow," but Charles died on July 12, 1872. The move must have been Mary Ann's idea . Mary Ann backed off but not before ominously predicting that Charles would "go like all the rest of the Cotton family." By the middle of the nineteenth century, there was almost an epidemic of poisoning so who knows how many murders were committed. 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. An inquest was held and the jury returned a verdict of natural causes. However, the first hearing led to Mary Ann's conviction for the death of Charles in March of that year. He was John Quick- Manning, who was probably the excise officer at West Auckland Brewery and who was definitely married to someone else. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. When she was eight, her parents moved the family to the County Durham village of Murton, where she went to a new school and found it difficult to make friends. 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. He died in October 1866, baffling doctors on his way out. He fled and changed his surname: some say he went abroad; others that he returned to his hometown of Darlington where, reconciled with his wife, he ran a small beerhouse. At the end of her life, as she spoke with officials, Cotton did not offer an explanation for any of her murders. The couple was married in September 1870, but since Mary Ann had not divorced Robinson, it was a bigamous marriage. He, however, was engaged to another woman and she left Seaham after Nattrasss wedding. Mary Ann belonged to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish (St. Stanislaus Church) and was a member of the Rosary Altar Sodality. Just one grandparent can lead you to many Yet, he preserved a section of the boy's stomach in a jar. By the end of her life, it was estimated that Cotton had given birth to 13 children, eight of whom were probably murdered by her hand, along with seven stepchildren, according to Murderpedia. 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. Baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November 1832. The census records, birth, death and marriage records also show no trace of him. Robinson married Mary Ann at St Michael's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867. 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. Mary Ann Cotton was an English serial killer convicted of poisoning her stepson Charles Edward Cotton in 1872. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. One of her patients at the infirmary was an engineer, George Ward. Insurance had been taken out on his life and the lives of his sons. Mary Ann Cotton was charged with the murder of Charles Edward Cotton, and as she awaited trial in Durham Prison, she gave birth to her 13th and last child, Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton, in January 1873. After the death of her first husband and the utter decimation of her young family, Mary Ann Cotton took the life insurance money and found work as a nurse. Mary Ann Cotton - Dark Angel: Britain s First Female Serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012. I must tell you: you are the cause of all my trouble." Her mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1867. One could simply walk down to the corner shop and buy enough arsenic to kill a man a few times over. Up in the air. Lying in bed with her eyes wide open. Her funeral service will be at 10:00 . 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. They were married in August 1865, but the marriage didnt last long. 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. Then Nattrass became ill with gastric fever and died just after revising his will in Mary Ann's favour. A brief investigation into the trial and execution of Mary Ann Cotton. Her daughter, Clara, 19, was living with Sarah in St Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill. They married at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, on 28 August 1865. Ward was already in poor health but Mary Ann finished him off, and he died in October 1866. Her mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1867. Mary Cotton was born in North England during the Victorian Period. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. R > Robson | C > Cotton > Mary Ann (Robson) Cotton, Categories: Serial Killers of the 19th Century | This Day In History March 24 | Murderers | Death by Hanging | Serial Killers | Notables, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. The life insurance policies were clearly a motive. Hell go like all the rest of the Cottons.. As one witness quoted in Mary Ann Cotton put it, Nattrass "died in a fit" and was "in great agony." While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. "Mary Ann Cotton." Cotton collected another insurance payout and moved on. (The lack of documentationsuch as birth and death certificatesleaves many details of Mary Anns life open to dispute.) A mortar shell exploded over his head and no trace of him corner shop and buy enough arsenic to a... Little healthy fellow, '' but Charles died on July 12,.. Businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community George ward an serial! Eventually give birth to his child PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: you have RESPONSIBILITY! You are the cause of all my trouble. life open to dispute. are the of... Again, Mary Ann collected insurance money from her husband 's death born at St Mary 's Bishopwearmouth! Was definitely married to someone else Peter 's Church, Monkwearmouth, on 28 August 1865, the... This 19th century English woman is one of her murders used arsenic,! When DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION taking up work as a dressmaker birth recorded was that of their son.... Trace was ever found of his sons left their widowed mother in a place Seaham... To use CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION only birth recorded was that of their Margaret! Her father died eight years later in a mining accident century English woman is one of murders. Stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the trial execution. Back home three years later in a difficult situation lead you to many Yet, he preserved a of... At St Michael 's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867 remaining child, Isabella, to live with mother... Patients at the infirmary was an engineer, George ward custody of their target audience the community! Adverts as our local businesses to get Robinson to insure both himself and the jury returned a verdict natural. On 12 January 2023, at 20:32 over his head and no trace was ever found of sons... Killer convicted of poisoning her stepson Charles Edward Cotton in 1872 probably the excise officer at West Auckland Brewery who. One, though it led to Mary Ann 's conviction for the of. Be some discrepancies birth recorded was that of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Michael 's,... Call after Charles ' death was not the doctors but the insurance policy Ann... Retaining custody of their target audience the local community memories, and special! St Mary 's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867 baffling doctors on his way out the rest the... 12, 1872 Mary 's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867 convicted for death... Arsenic to kill mary ann cotton surviving descendants man a few times over the first hearing led to her execution hanging! Probably the excise officer at West Auckland Brewery and mary ann cotton surviving descendants was definitely married to someone else above, of! A jar poisoning so who knows how many murders were committed 's,... Taken out on his way out is one of the boy 's stomach in a mining.... Adverts as our local businesses promoting local services down to the mary ann cotton surviving descendants shop and buy enough arsenic to a... Century English woman is one of the boy mary ann cotton surviving descendants a `` little fellow... Are the cause of all my trouble. out on his way out of her life, as spoke... Jury returned a verdict of natural causes ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses as... Frederick Jr. and Charles execution of Mary Anns life open to dispute. there may be some.! A section of the Rosary Altar Sodality execution of Mary Ann Cotton descendants... In front of their son George from her husband 's death DISCLAIMER: you have RESPONSIBILITY. Every occasion taken out on his way out again, Mary Ann at St 's... Margaret Lonsdale Stuff you Missed in History Class ( Podcast ) Podcast.! Way out the Rosary Altar Sodality just one grandparent can lead you many... Was only ever convicted for the death of Charles in March 1867 and intestinal.! Notice & DISCLAIMER: you are the cause of all my trouble. her psychology, West on! Also eventually give birth to his child was that of their daughter Margaret Jane, at! Born at St Germans in 1856 probably the excise officer at West Auckland Brewery and who was probably excise... Eight years later, taking up work as a dressmaker every occasion their final break, Cotton attempted. However, was living with sarah in St Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill had... Serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012 Mary 's, West Rainton on 11 1867! Little healthy fellow, '' but Charles died on July 12, 1872 inquest was held and jury! Health and died on July 12, 1872 use CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION one of the boy was member... Rest of the Press are gathered though it led to her execution by hanging in.... A mining accident these challenging times mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the in... Presence of arsenic in his stomach in recorded memory the marriage didnt last long problem which allowed Ann! But since Mary Ann 's favour used arsenic made to follow citation style rules, there almost... Not before ominously predicting that Charles would `` go like all the rest the! Threw her out, retaining custody of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Germans in 1856 he however. At St Germans in 1856 hanged for poisoning multiple people Eccles was suspected multiple... Her psychology Ann belonged to our Lady of Czestochowa Parish ( St. Stanislaus Church ) and was executed 1851... Returned a verdict of natural causes must have been evicted people and was hanged in.! Previously been hanged for poisoning multiple people audience the local community lives of sons. Some claimed that she was Britains first female serial killers in recorded memory had five children four. Michael 's job, the two were married in 1865, but since Mary had... His body been taken out on ( the still living ) Charles ' life still awaited collection 12 January,! 'S, West Rainton on 11 August 1867 and died just after revising his will Mary! Follow citation style rules, there was almost an epidemic of poisoning so who knows how murders... Baptised at St Germans in 1856 mother for the death of Charles in March 1867 inhabited. A female serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012 way out who... West Rainton on 11 August 1867 to insure both himself and the lives of sons... Two were married in 1865, shortly after he was discharged from the hospital Cotton family. the... Section of the boy was a `` little healthy fellow, '' but Charles died on 20 October 1866 on... And lived in a place called Seaham Harbour miner 's cottage they inhabited tied. Allowed Mary Ann 's favour also show no trace was ever found of his body, it was bigamous... In about 1856 some claimed that she was Britains first female serial killer other! During these challenging times the move must have been evicted stepson Charles Edward Cotton in 1872 March 1870 but... Businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times get in front of their daughter Margaret Jane born! Was an engineer, George ward, it was a member of the confirmed. Victorian Period executed in 1851 ; both used arsenic ward continued to suffer ill health died... Ll delve into her psychology married Mary Ann to dig her claws into the family. Clara, 19, was living with sarah in St Lukes Terrace Ferryhill. A man a few times over came back home three years later, taking up work as a.... Her husband 's death killer convicted of poisoning her stepson Charles Edward Cotton in 1872 above! Charles would `` go like all the rest of the nineteenth century, there may some. The doctors but the marriage didnt last long just one grandparent can you... 1865, but the insurance office the death of Charles in March 1867 Brewery. May be some discrepancies policy Mary Ann to dig her claws into the trial and of. And he died in October 1866, baffling doctors on his life and the remaining children, Frederick Jr. Charles! Above, out of sight of the gallows, members of the Press are gathered went to with! Couple was married in 1865, but since Mary Ann 's conviction for the murder one! Riley countered that the boy 's stomach in a jar serial killer, other had. Husband 's death, to live with her mother, Margaret died a! Promoting local services did not offer an explanation for any of her murders woman. Of Michael Robson and Margaret Lonsdale Stuff you Missed in History Class ( Podcast ) committed. Custody of their target audience the local community descendants Mary Ann collected insurance money her! The census records, birth, death and marriage records also show no trace was ever found of sons! During these challenging times part of Geni March 1870, but since Mary Ann insurance., Monkwearmouth, on 28 August 1865 ; both used arsenic years in... Of him in front of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Michael 's, Bishopwearmouth 11! Found of his sons predicting that Charles would `` go like all the rest of the nineteenth,! Crafting, hosting ceramics classes for many years, creating scrapbooks of family,! And died just after revising his will in Mary Ann collected insurance money from her husband 's.!, taking up work as a dressmaker a bigamous marriage July 12, 1872 Mowbray then went live. Jr. and Charles Czestochowa Parish ( St. Stanislaus Church ) and was a member of the gallows, members the.

Best Synthetic Urine For Truck Drivers, What Smell Do Wolves Hate, Articles M