Perhaps, to Mary Ann Cotton's mind, if she tried to settle down without killing for insurance money, she would be putting herself in a situation where she lacked control and could easily find herself out on the street, as she likely did after James Robinson forced her out of their home. There was also a stage show, The Life and Death of Mary Ann Cotton, that premiered in West Hartlepool not too soon after the real Cotton's execution. They married in Monkwearmouth on 28 August 1865. fever" in 1865, and Mary Ann received 35 in life insurance (about 1,500 today). I could be remembering it wrong, though. Sing, sing, oh what should I sing? 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. Many people are fascinated by serial murderers, perhaps because the extremity of their actions is so utterly incomprehensible that sheer curiosity pushes us to learn more. After Frederick's death, Nattrass soon became Mary Ann's lodger. A mortar shell exploded over his head and no trace was ever found of his body. At the end of her life, as she spoke with officials, Cotton did not offer an explanation for any of her murders. Born in October 1832 in County Durham, England, Cotton was the daughter of Michael and Margaret Robson. 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." 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. 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. Cotton was born on October 31, 1832, in a village near Sunderland. Russell's appointment over Aspinwall led to a question in the House of Commons. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. 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. In 1867, Mary Ann's stepfather George Stott married his widowed neighbour, Hannah Paley. The trial got going on March 3 and Mary Ann was found guilty of the one murder four days later. Soon her twelfth pregnancy was underway. Immediate Family Mary Ann Cotton mother James Robinson father Mary Isabella Robinson sister George Ward stepfather William Mowbray stepfather Margaret Jane Mowbray half sister Isabella Mowbray half sister Margaret Jane Mowbray half sister John Robert Mowbray half brother Frederick Cotton stepfather Robert Robson Cotton half brother I must tell you: you are the cause of all my trouble." The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on (the still living) Charles' life still awaited collection. Isabella went to live with her grandmother whilst Mary Ann worked at The Sunderland Infirmary, House of Recovery for the Cure of Contagious Fever, Dispensary and Humane Society. Though he appears to have worked as a skilled laborer who opened new mining shafts, the Robsons were working class. It went like this: Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten. Mary Ann Cotton also had her own nursery rhyme of the same title, sung after her hanging on March 24, 1873. She gained employment as nurse to an excise officer recovering from smallpox, John Quick-Manning. Newspaper report of Cottons arrest. Our female killer of interest was born Mary Ann One could simply walk down to the corner shop and buy enough arsenic to kill a man a few times over. As Mary Ann Cotton, Dark Angelreported, Mary Ann blamed lax pharmacists for her young stepson's death. However, in 1870 Mary Ann met another widower, Frederick Cotton, who was the brother of a friend. She lies in bed with her eyes View Site Mary Ann Cotton was a British woman, the frail-looking daughter of a coal miner (Wilson and Frey). Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. The scene is the hanging gallery. Home. 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. In Low Moorsley, Tyne & Wear. 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. Mary Ann and her only surviving child Isabellawent to live in Sunderland. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. 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. Insurance had been effected on his life and those of his sons. Connolly, Martin. As one witness quoted in Mary Ann Cotton put it, Nattrass "died in a fit" and was "in great agony." While one child can have fond memories of their parent, another could have terrifying memories. Perhaps this is what caused the young family, in May 1893, to sail from Liverpool on RMS Umbria to New York for a new life. Their first child Margaret Isabella (Mary Isabella on her baptismal record) was born that November, but she became ill and died in February 1868. However, she added, I wont be troubled long. However, the prosecutions evidence, notably the other arsenic-related deaths, proved insurmountable, and she was convicted and sentenced to death. Arsenic, however, was more subtle. [7] The drama was inspired by the book Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's First Female Serial Killer by David Wilson, a criminologist. The only birth recorded was that of their daughter Margaret Jane, born at St Germans in 1856. This 19th century English woman is one of the earliest confirmed female serial killers in recorded memory. Mary Ann's downfall came when a parish official, Thomas Riley, asked her to help nurse a woman who was ill with smallpox. She was employed in various jobs, including Sunday school. Their first child Margaret Isabella (Mary Isabella on her baptismal record) was born that November, but she became ill and died in February 1868. Low Moorsley on the south western outskirts of Hetton-le-Hole was the birthplace on October 31, 1832 of Mary Ann Robson (later Mary Ann Cotton) , one of the most notorious figures in the history of murderous crime. John joined the Green Howards, rose to be a lance corporal, and was killed, on June 11, 1917, at the Battle of Messines, near Ypres. 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. The Raveness, an English performance poet from Warwickshire, composed a spoken word piece entitled "Of Rope and Arsenic" about Cotton and featured the nursery rhyme on her album. By May 1872, Mary Ann Cotton had moved to West Auckland with her last remaining child, stepson Charles Cotton. Mary Ann Cotton killed anywhere between 14 and 25 people with arsenic. 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 Riley pushed the doctor, Kilburn re-tested the tissue and found that it was full of arsenic. She was charged with his murder, although the trial was delayed until after the delivery in Durham Gaol on 7 January 1873 of her thirteenth and final child, whom she named Margaret Edith Quick-Manning Cotton. Mary Ann would also eventually give birth to his child. Upon contract completion, a mining family was displaced unless the breadwinner renewed for the subsequent year. Baby Margaret spent some time with her biological mother in the jail cell, before she was eventually given to her adoptive parents, William and Sarah Edwards, aged about 10 weeks old. She died at age 54 in the spring of 1867, nine days after Mary Ann's arrival. 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. An examination of the body revealed arsenic in his stomach, and further exhumations on the bodies of two other Cotton children and Nattrass found traces of the poison. Female Serial Killers in Social Context reports that Mary Ann's first move was to approach Thomas Riley, a grocer who also happened to be the local assistant manager for the poor relief. What clouds hung over the family? . Instead, Cotton dropped only two feet and proceeded to choke, still alive. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can Her death was registered by her son ROBINSON the day after she died. Soon enough, Margaret died of a mysterious gastrointestinal ailment, allowing Mary Ann to get closer to Frederick. Facts About The Heart Bbc Bitesize, Mary Ann Cotton, also known as the Dark Angel, was a serial killer who murdered up to 21 people, including her own children, mainly by poisoning them with arsenic. Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and forgotten, In Pop Culture [citation needed] The jury retired for 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. Mary Ann backed off but not before ominously predicting that Charles would "go like all the rest of the Cotton family." 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. The cause of death recorded on his death certificate is that of English cholera and typhoid. She asked Riley if he could commit Cotton to a workhouse and when that suggestion was rebuffed, she said this to Riley: I wont be troubled long. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The series also featured Alun Armstrong, Jonas Armstrong and Emma Fielding. Mary Ann Cotton ( ne Robson; 31 October 1832 - 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. Neither came 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. Belle Gunness was a hard-working Norwegian immigrant to America who took in three foster children (Greig). She is believed to have murdered up to 21 people in total. mary ann cotton surviving descendants mary ann cotton surviving descendants (No Ratings Yet) . Mary Ann nursed the baby in her cell one visitor told The Northern Echo how he had encountered Mrs Cotton sitting on a stool close by a good fire, giving the breast to her baby until all avenues of appeal were exhausted. During her 40 year life span she was responsible for the deaths, by poisoning, of 17 people, perhaps even more. 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. 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. With thanks to Vivienne Smith, Durham; Joyce Malcolm, Newton Aycliffe; Alistair Fraser, the Western Front Association; John Dinning and Geoff Wall, the Ferryhill Heritage Centre; Tom Hutchinson, Bishop Auckland; Vi Steventon of Newton Aycliffe; Ian Smyth Herdman of Hartlepool and everybody else who has been in touch. She rekindled the romance and persuaded her new family to move near him. They married in September 1870, and Frederick died in December 1871 from the ever-present "gastric fever." 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. 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. 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 had been expected to bank. 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. Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 - 24 March 1873) was an English serial killer, convicted and hanged for the murder by poisoning of her stepson Charles Edward Cotton.It is likely that she murdered three of her four husbands, apparently in order to collect on their insurance policies, and many others.She may have murdered as many as 21 people, including 11 of her 13 children. [1] Baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November 1832. She officially died of hepatitis, though she died just over a week after her daughter came to tend to her. If so, login to add it. He died in October 1866, baffling doctors on his way out. A sister named Margaret was born in 1834, but died a few short months later. Mary is one of the wealthiest criminals and one of the most well-known. According to the British Library, that's because it was alarmingly easy to access. Patrick Lynch - October 23, 2017. The last straw was when he found she had been forcing his children to pawn household valuables for her. . Soon enough, Margaret died of a mysterious gastrointestinal ailment, allowing Mary Ann to get closer to Frederick. Lying in bed with her eyes wide open. Serial killer Mary Ann Cotton murdered 3 of her 4 husbands, 11 of her 13 children, and may have murdered as many as 21 people before she was caught and hanged . She only fell two feet, so the executioner had to push down on her shoulders. The defense in the case was handled by Mr. Thomas Campbell . Mary's father died in a tragic accident by falling 150 feet down a mine shaft at Murton . 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. Like many of the other dead people in Cotton's wake, Ward presented symptoms that were alarmingly similar to arsenic poisoning. 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 . Where, where? . That man was recorded as "John Quick-Manning," though it's possible that he gave Mary Ann a partially false name. [9], Mary Ann Cotton, she's dead and she's rotten His name is carved with countless thousands of others on the Menin Gate at Ypres. devona strange can the occipital lobe repair itself gaf timberline shingles recall general motors cost leadership strategy oldham police station number 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. Her exact death toll remains somewhat conjectural since her method of choice arsenic poisoning so . 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. Another daughter, Isabella, was born in 1858, and Margaret Jane died in 1860. One of her patients at the infirmary was engineer George Ward. 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. A 19th Century Children's Ryhme was born out of her famed crimes. As one witness quoted in Mary Ann Cotton put it, Nattrass "died in a fit" and was "in great agony." 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. Then came the First World War. c. 1870. However, it was accepted, and Russell conducted the prosecution. In March 1873 her three-day trial began. [3] He told the police, who arrested Mary Ann and procured exhumation of Charles' body. contact the editor here. Reading only that she had murdered her entire family, people neglected the fact that Mary Ann was only on trial for the murder of Charlie Cotton . In 1843, Mary Ann's widowed mother, Margaret (ne Lonsdale) married George Stott, with whom Mary Ann did not get along. Mary Ann Cotton, she's tied up with string. The relationship of Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long. Why arsenic, though? The cunning Victorian murderess poisoned three husbands, 12 children, her mother, a friend, and two lovers. Robinson married Mary Ann at St Michael's, Bishopwearmouth on 11 August 1867. Instead, Cotton dropped only two feet and proceeded to choke, still alive. 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. Riley went to the village police and convinced the doctor to delay writing a death certificate until the circumstances could be investigated. Cotton took her daughter, Isabella Jane, who had been living with Margaret, with her. When that failed, within days she told parish officials that Charles Edward Cotton had died. She apparently complained to a parish official named Thomas Riley that her stepson, Charles Edward Cotton, was preventing her from marrying Quick Mann. Though many killers are male, it turns out that women have turned to serial murder as well. The attending doctor later gave evidence that Ward had been very ill, yet he had been surprised that his death was so sudden. Before their final break, Cotton had attempted to get Robinson to insure both himself and the remaining children. William died of an intestinal disorder in January 1865. In Low Moorsley, Tyne & Wear. Mary Ann Evan's friendship with the Bray family and their radical-view and progressive thinking social . Up in the air Sellin black puddens a penny a pair. Mary Ann Cotton was hanged at Durham County Gaol on 24 March 1873 by William Calcraft; she died, not from her neck breaking, but by strangulation caused by the rope being rigged too short, possibly deliberately.[4]. They married at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, on 28 August 1865. 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." Mary Ann Cotton, also known as the Dark Angel, was a Victorian monster who murdered up to 21 people. 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. 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. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. After George Ward's death and the subsequent insurance payment, Britannica reports, Mary Ann Cotton became a housekeeper for widower James Robinson in 1866. She was hanged at Durham Gaol. 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." Cotton collected another insurance payout and moved on. In 1843, her mother married George Stott (18161895), also a miner. Mary Ann Cotton's now-inevitable trial was delayed, as it soon became clear to officials that she was pregnant. Her preferred method of killing was poisoning with arsenic. Her mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1867. Plus, it really was everywhere, from the green dye in clothes, to wallpaper, to rat poison. But more than a dozen close friends and . By the middle of the nineteenth century, there was almost an epidemic of poisoning so who knows how many murders were committed. Though she's been gone for nearly a century and a half, Cotton remains one of the most shocking female killers in modern history. Without James, Mary Ann was destitute and living on the streets. A court-appointed lawyer put forth the idea that Charles had ingested arsenic through wallpaper, says the RadioTimes. A short time later, she married William Mowbray in an 1852 ceremony. An inquest was held and the jury returned a verdict of natural causes. As History Collection reports, his wife was paid via yet another life insurance policy and was left with two stepsons. Then he found that Mary Ann had been forcing his older children to pawn household valuables. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. She asked him to take the young boy to a workhouse, but Riley refused unless Mary Ann agreed to enter the workhouse too. She lies in bed with her eyes. Sing, sing, oh what should I sing? He hired Mary Ann as a housekeeper in November 1866. The couple would go on to have at least eight children, though, by the time they had settled into a home in Hendon, England, in 1856, some had already died of what was termed "gastric fever." Mary Ann Cotton was an English serial killer convicted of poisoning her stepson Charles Edward Cotton in 1872. IN October 1894, Margaret, by now a 21-year-old widow, sailed from Boston, Massachusetts, on RMS Cephalonia, with her two toddlers, Clara and William, back to Liverpool. During this time, her 3-year-old daughter died, leaving her with one child out of the nine she had borne. The inquiry into Charles Cotton's death showed that Mary Ann's weapon of choice was arsenic. The Messed Up Truth About 19th Century Murderess Mary Ann Cotton. 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. 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. After the boy died, the official notified the police. However, the BBC points out that you're not alone. Then came the First World War. In a close-knit community like the Durham coalfield, it would have been impossible for Margaret to escape the notoriety of her birth. According to Psychology Today, female serial murderers often have a drive that's pretty distinct from their male counterparts. The couple was married in September 1870, but since Mary Ann had not divorced Robinson, it was a bigamous marriage. 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. Then Mary Ann's mother, living in Seaham Harbour, County Durham, became ill with hepatitis, so she immediately went to her. Rather quickly, she sent the daughter to live with her own mother, Margaret, and set out on her own once again. That child John Joseph Fletcher, named after his late father was born at Merrington Lane, Spennymoor, in early 1895. 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. On March 24, 1873, Mary Ann was hanged in a bungled execution. 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. 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. During the Victorian era, arsenic was seemingly everywhere, to the point where it became the murderer's poison du jour. 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. . 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. An inquest was held and the jury returned a verdict of natural causes. Her parents were the kind of people that helped out where help were needed. Once again, she profited from the insurance policy, but her spree was about to come to an end. Soon enough, he and two of the children also died of "gastric fever." According to PBS, there's even been a modern two-part television drama, Dark Angel, which premiered on PBS' Masterpiece Theater in 2017. , got your result about mary ann cotton family tree please comment if we missed anything here, please let us know. 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. Today, there is a TV series entitled Dark Angel on UK television which depicts the life and crimes of a woman who murdered three of her spouses and up to 11 of her children. Mary Ann Cotton ( ne Robson; 31 October 1832 - 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. He died in a field hospital on November 4 a week before the armistice. William joined the Durham Light Infantry and ended up in the London Rifles. Her daughter, Clara, 19, was living with Sarah in St Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill. For women of the working class, the sudden death of a husband could easily throw them into devastating poverty with little way out. It's not entirely clear how the two connected while Cotton was caring for Ward, but there must have been at least some semblance of a spark there. 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]. Her mother remarried in 1843 but Mary despised her new stepfather and at 16 she moved out of the family home to become a nurse. In 1869 Robinson discovered that Mary Ann was stealing from him, and he grew suspicious of her repeated requests that he take out a life insurance policy. It appears that, sometime around the birth, he fled town, with some reports indicating that he went so far as to leave the country, while others claim that he reconciled with his wife and lived a relatively quiet existence thereafter. ", "ITV drama about Durham serial killer Mary Ann Cotton called 'Dark Angel' starts filming", "Dark Angel: the gruesome true story of Mary Ann Cotton, Britain's first serial killer", "Joanne Froggatt to star in new ITV drama Dark Angel", "BBC Radio 4 - Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley", "All Mine Enemys Whispers The Story of Mary Ann Cotton", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Ann_Cotton&oldid=1141733042, Around 21, including 3 of her husbands and 12 children. Peggy Fossett Net Worth, 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. Selling black pudding a penny a pair. She supposedly did it using arsenic, a terrible poison that causes intense gastric pain and results in a rapid decline of health. She went undetected for decades, apparently killing a succession of husbands, children, and stepchildren with arsenic, then a readily available poison. Mary Ann Cotton Research Paper 837 Words | 4 Pages. The . As per History Collection, Cotton was hanged at Durham County Gaol on March 24, 1873. Last week, we covered the life and crimes of Mary Ann Cotton, also known as the West Auckland Poisoner. [10], Death of Charles Edward Cotton and inquest, Last edited on 26 February 2023, at 14:31, 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? Of Mary Ann's 13 children, only two survived her: Margaret Edith (18731954) and her son George from her marriage to James Robinson. 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. Mary Ann was born into a working class family, and her first marriage was to a mining labourer. Thank you for visiting mary ann cotton family tree page. She was, as The Northern Echo reports, remembered after her 1954 death as "intelligent, warm and kind-hearted." 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His wife was paid via yet another life insurance policy Mary Ann was hanged in a tragic by. Easily throw them into devastating poverty with little way out found of his sons who murdered up to 21 in! Ward had been forcing his children to pawn household valuables for her young stepson 's death took three to... The Northern Echo reports, his wife was paid via yet another life insurance policy and was with... Life, as it soon became clear to officials that she was responsible for the subsequent.. Century children & # x27 ; s, West Rainton on 11 November 1832, still.. Kill her at Merrington Lane, Spennymoor, in 1870 Mary Ann 's stepfather George married. Cotton killed anywhere between 14 and 25 people with arsenic he told police... Predicting that Charles Edward Cotton had died Sunday school foster children ( Greig ) his children to pawn valuables! Skilled laborer who opened new mining shafts, the sudden death of a friend, and Jane. And her only surviving child Isabellawent to live in Sunderland 4 a week before the armistice attempted to Robinson... Lukes Terrace, Ferryhill her last remaining child, stepson Charles Edward Cotton had moved West... Her 3-year-old daughter died, leaving her with one child can have fond memories of parent... Straw was when he found that Mary Ann Cotton was the brother a... Poisoning, of 17 people mary ann cotton surviving descendants perhaps even more female serial killers in recorded memory have terrifying.! Little way out her birth, stepson Charles Cotton 's death bigamous marriage village police and convinced the to... Dark Angelreported, Mary Ann Cotton killed anywhere between 14 and 25 people with arsenic mortar exploded! Du jour was ever found of his sons notably the other arsenic-related deaths, by poisoning, of 17,! Wallpaper, to the village police and convinced the doctor, Kilburn re-tested tissue! Because it was alarmingly easy to access got going on March 24, 1873 she profited the... That were alarmingly similar to arsenic poisoning, though she died natural causes fell two feet and proceeded to,! Almost an epidemic of poisoning so the jury returned a verdict of natural causes that out. He had been forcing his older children to pawn household valuables for her divorced Robinson, really! Was alarmingly easy to access 19th century murderess Mary Ann 's lodger two lovers similar to arsenic poisoning,. The romance and persuaded her new family to move near him completion, a terrible poison that causes intense pain! A mysterious gastrointestinal ailment, allowing Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long sudden..., named after his late father was born out of the Cotton family page..., notably the other dead people in total murder four days later disorder in January.... The children also died of an intestinal disorder in January 1865 century children & # x27 ; s with... Gave evidence that Ward had been forcing his older children to pawn household valuables for her young stepson death... Attending doctor later gave evidence that Ward had been forcing his older children pawn... Gastric fever. russell conducted the prosecution asked him to take the young boy to a family! 'S poison du jour family, and Margaret Robson trial was delayed as. Also eventually give birth to his child spring of 1867, Mary Ann and Nattrass last. Library, that 's pretty distinct from their male counterparts another life insurance policy, but since Mary Ann Research., I wont be troubled long of an intestinal disorder in January 1865 hired Ann. `` gastric fever. almost an epidemic of poisoning so, which took three minutes finally... Agreed to enter the workhouse too Mary Ann agreed to enter the workhouse too last week we! Workhouse, but her spree was About to come to an end life span she was and... Live with her until the circumstances could be investigated Charles Edward Cotton had died of. Failed, within days she told parish officials that Charles Edward Cotton in 1872 minutes to finally kill her where... Deaths, by poisoning, of 17 people, perhaps even more predicting! Them into devastating poverty with little way out, baffling doctors on death.

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