Though he appears to have worked as a skilled laborer who opened new mining shafts, the Robsons were working class. A sister named Margaret was born in 1834, but died a few short months later. 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." . Daily Mirror. Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. When Cotton gave birth to her and Robinson's child, her infant daughter quickly died of "convulsions." Another daughter, Isabella, was born in 1858, and Margaret Jane died in 1860. She officially died of hepatitis, though she died just over a week after her daughter came to tend to her. 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. Mary Anne and Ginger are the last two surviving members of Gilligan's Island. That left Cotton and her daughter with an insurance payout of some 35, according to Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angel. 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. Their next child, George, was one of the rare few of Cotton's children who would survive her. Yet, the 7-year-old Charles was, to her mind, a serious impediment to her plans. After moving frequently, the family settled in Hendon, Durham county, in about 1856. We told the story in Memories 96, with, as ever, a few inaccuracies. She was hanged at Durham Gaol. Insurance had been effected on his life and those of his sons. The doctor testified that there was no other powder on the same shelf in the chemist's shop as the arsenic, only liquid; the chemist himself claimed that there were other powders. 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. She told Riley that the boy was sickly and added: "I wont be troubled long. Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 - 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson.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.Her preferred method of killing was poisoning with . 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. 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. Her stepson, Frederick Jr., and Robert, her infant son with Frederick, died early 1872. She was believed to have murdered up to 21 people, mainly by arsenic poisoning. Mary Ann is a very female serial killer, a poisoner whose methods leave no visible scars, allowing her tally of victims to mount unsuspected by a Victorian society unable to conceive of a woman capable of such terrible crimes. Mary Ann Robson was born on 31 October 1832 and baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November..When Mary Ann 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. She returned to Sunderland and took up employment at the Sunderland Infirmary, House of Recovery for the Cure of Contagious Fever, Dispensary and Humane Society. The episode was based on the novel 'Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer' by crime novelist David Wilson. Lying in bed with her eyes wide open. Margaret died at her home - 66, Church Lane, Ferryhill and left an Estate valued at 740, divided between her daughter CLARA and only surviving son - ROBINSON KELL. That left behind Mary, her stepson Charles Cotton, and Mary Ann's 13 child still growing in her womb. Perhaps most tellingly, her children lived to tell the tale. The defense in the case was handled by Mr. Thomas Campbell . Neither came home. She apparently complained to a parish official named Thomas Riley that her stepson, Charles Edward Cotton, was preventing her from marrying Quick Mann. Mary Ann would also eventually give birth to his child. The ships manifest shows they were bound for Pennsylvania a coalmining area where Joseph presumably planned to find work. Here she had free access to the drugs supply. 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. Her sister Margaret was born in 1834 but lived only a few months. 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. Her death was registered by her son ROBINSON the day after she died. As Nattrass had very few possessions, she was once again in financial difficulty. In September 1870 Mary Ann and Cotton were marriedthough she was still wed to Robinsonand she later gave birth to a son. The trial got going on March 3 and Mary Ann was found guilty of the one murder four days later. Mary disliked her new step father. On March 24, 1873, Mary Ann was hanged in a bungled execution. We told the story in Memories 96, with, as ever, a few inaccuracies. Though many killers are male, it turns out that women have turned to serial murder as well. . 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. One of her youngest relatives who lives today in London is Carla. An inquest was held and the jury returned a verdict of natural causes. Selling black puddings, a penny a pair. At the beginning of it all, the girl who would become Mary Ann Cotton seemed, frankly, pretty unremarkable. The delay was caused by a problem in the selection of prosecution counsel. It is unclear how she died. Explore genealogy for Mary (Cotton) Marshall born 1553 Abbotts Ann, Andover, Hampshire, England died 1625 London, England including ancestors + descendants + 1 photos + 2 genealogist comments + more in the free family tree community. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Cotton's trial began on 5 March 1873. Last week, we covered the life and crimes of Mary Ann Cotton, also known as the West Auckland Poisoner. Then came the First World War. February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . As History Collection reports, his wife was paid via yet another life insurance policy and was left with two stepsons. Then Nattrass became ill with gastric fever and died just after revising his will in Mary Ann's favour. Sharon Costner Obituary, Cotton was no exception. The relationship of Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long. She died at age 54 in the spring of 1867, nine days after Mary Ann's arrival. Investigations into her behaviour soon showed a pattern of deaths. Estimated Net worth. It is quite clear that much of south Durham knew her life story, but it is also clear that she was accepted, and even admired, by that community. Another daughter, Isabella, was born in 1858, and Margaret Jane died in 1860. Someone had either inadvertently or, as some suspect, intentionally miscalculated the drop needed to break her neck and bring death instantaneously. An English woman convicted of murdering her children. Mary Ann Cotton was born in South Hetton, England in 1832 to a mining family. The last straw was when he found she had been forcing his children to pawn household valuables for her. Ward continued to suffer ill health and died on 20 October 1866 after a long illness characterised by paralysis and intestinal problems. Selling black pudding a penny a pair. Cotton took her daughter, Isabella Jane, who had been living with Margaret, with her. The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on (the still living) Charles' life still awaited collection. The series also featured Alun Armstrong, Jonas Armstrong and Emma Fielding. Family Time Line. To date Mary Ann remains Britain's most prolific female serial killer. A nursery rhyme concerning Cotton was composed after her hanging on 24 March 1873. Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. October, 31, 1832 Victory Church Oklahoma Pastor, A 19th Century Children's Ryhme was born out of her famed crimes. When she left, she started to train as a dressmaker. 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. Daily Mirror. It went like this: Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten. 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. Mary Ann Cotton was hanged at Durham County Gaol on 24 March 1873 by William Calcraft; she ultimately died not from her neck breaking but by strangulation caused by the rope being cut too short. The census records, birth, death and marriage records also show no trace of him. After her marriage to Robinson crumbled, Cotton was introduced to Frederick Cotton by his sister, Margaret. Life appeared to be taking an upturn when she married colliery . Riley grew suspicious and alerted the police. 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. 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. He died in a field hospital on November 4 a week before the armistice. Cotton's trial began on 5 March 1873. Soon enough, he and two of the children also died of "gastric fever." Once again, she profited from the insurance policy, but her spree was about to come to an end. 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. The author of this book believes she killed 17, based on the fact that their are no birth or death records for children she is supposed to have killed. Mary Ann Cotton ( ne Robson; 31 October 1832 - 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. [7] The drama was inspired by the book Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer by David Wilson, a criminologist. Their first child Margaret Isabella (Mary Isabella on her baptismal record) was born that November, but she became ill and died in February 1868. When Mary Ann was eight, her parents moved the family to the County Durham village of Murton. Up in the air. login . YouTube. Popular cultural sources have called him John Quick-Manning, though there appears to be no trace of a John Quick-Manning in the records of the West Auckland Brewery or the National Archives. The drama is based on the book Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer by historian David Wilson and remains true to many of the details of how the poisoner got found out - but . [9], Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten The Messed Up Truth About 19th Century Murderess Mary Ann Cotton. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. 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. [citation needed] The jury retired for 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. William and John went off to fight. The . Both of Mary Ann Cottons grandsons have their names engraved on Ferryhill War Memorial. For women of the working class, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw them into devastating poverty with little way out. This body count puts her third on the list of most kills by a serial killer in Britain. . She was eventually found. 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. Depiction of Mary Ann Cotton. Mary Ann Cotton - Dark Angel: Britain s First Female Serial Kille, Pen & Sword Publishing, 2012. Mary's father died in a tragic accident by falling 150 feet down a mine shaft at Murton . Then came the First World War. None of these deaths are registered, as although registration was compulsory at the time, the law was not enforced until 1874. The scene is the hanging gallery. William died of an intestinal disorder in January 1865. 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