Mary Ann Cotton, ne Mary Ann Robson, also known as Mary Ann Mowbray, Mary Ann Ward, and Mary Ann Robinson, (born October 31?, 1832, Low Moorsley, Durham county, Englanddied March 24, 1873, Durham county), British nurse and housekeeper who was believed to be Britain's most prolific female serial killer. Mary Ann would also eventually give birth to his child. [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? She bore five children and lost four of them to a mysterious "gastric fever". In March 1870, Margaret died from a mysterious stomach problem which allowed Mary Ann to dig her claws into the Cotton family. Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. 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. Campbell Foster argued that it was possible that the chemist had mistakenly used arsenic powder instead of bismuth powder (used to treat diarrhoea), when preparing a bottle for Cotton, because he had been distracted by talking to other people. MARGARET was born in Durham jail, the daughter of serial poisoner MARY ANN COTTON (nee ROBSON). One of the more chilling legacies of Cotton's time on Earth is a children's nursery rhyme. Soon after, Mary Ann learnt that her former lover, Joseph Nattrass, was living 48 kilometres (30mi) away in the County Durham village of West Auckland, and was no longer married. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. STREET LIFE: Watt Street, Dean Bank, Ferryhill, on an Edwardian postcard which dates from the time that Mary Ann Cottons daughter was living in the street. Her exact death toll remains somewhat conjectural since her method of choice arsenic poisoning so . 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. Soon after the move, Mary Ann's father fell 150 feet (46m) to his death down a mine shaft at Murton colliery in February 1842. Cotton was no exception. That man was recorded as "John Quick-Manning," though it's possible that he gave Mary Ann a partially false name. Newspaper report of Cottons arrest. At some point William took out a life insurance policy that covered both him and their three surviving children; the others had died from gastric fever, a common ailment that had symptoms similar to arsenic poisoning. That's likely why she killed her fourth husband. The so-called fever mimicked the symptoms of arsenic poisoning, a fact which would later prove interesting to investigators. She died at age 54 in the spring of 1867, nine days after Mary Ann's arrival. After moving frequently, the family settled in Hendon, Durham county, in about 1856. Born in October 1832 in County Durham, England, Cotton was the daughter of Michael and Margaret Robson. 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. An examination ultimately revealed the presence of arsenic in his stomach. Mary Ann was quickly arrested. Her sister Margaret was born in 1834 but lived only a few months. In 1843, her mother married George Stott (18161895), also a miner. Only two of her children survived her, including this new arrival. Neither came home. The life insurance policies were clearly a motive. Our female killer of interest was born Mary Ann After it became clear that young Charles Cotton had died of arsenic poisoning, authorities gave permission for the exhumation of three more of Mary Ann Cotton's alleged victims, the RadioTimes reports. Memories is aware that there are quite a lot of direct descendants of Mary Ann Cotton living in our area, and weve been asked to let their sleeping dogs lie. That description fits Mary Ann Cotton very well indeed. A nearby exhibition purported to have a model of Cotton at a coal mine in county Durham, and it's very possible that other cheap "penny shows" would have drawn upon her tale to lure in visitors and their money. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. The ships manifest shows they were bound for Pennsylvania a coalmining area where Joseph presumably planned to find work. Write by: . She and her only surviving child, Isabella, had moved back to County Durham. 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. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Isabella lasted a few weeks until she died of "gastric fever," and she was soon followed by two more of Robinson's children, who succumbed to "continued fever" and yet another case of "gastric fever," according to death records. 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." Many seem to act out their crimes in stealthier ways, often using poison and frequently for attention, sympathy, financial security, or some combination of the above. Mary Ann first Cotton left home at only 16 years old to work as a nurse, according to Britannica. Whether or not he suspected his wife of something worse than fraud isn't clear, but we do know that Robinson refused, saving their lives. Five days later, Mary Ann told Riley that the boy had died. Mary Ann and her only surviving child Isabellawent to live in Sunderland. Though she's been gone for nearly a century and a half, Cotton remains one of the most shocking female killers in modern history. 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. Daily Mirror. Their first child Margaret Isabella (Mary Isabella on her baptismal record) was born that November, but she became ill and died in February 1868. According to PBS, there's even been a modern two-part television drama, Dark Angel, which premiered on PBS' Masterpiece Theater in 2017. 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. Mary Ann Cotton's trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth. Editors' Code of Practice. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Her death was registered by her son ROBINSON the day after she died. She apparently wanted to give Quick-Manning the dubious honor of becoming husband number five. She had two children with Robinson but the first one, Margaret Isabella, died within a few months of her birth. Neither came home. 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 . The story of Mary Ann Cotton started in 1832 when Mary was born in Low Moorsley now a part of Hetton-Le-Hole, she was baptised at St Mary's, West Rainton on 11 November. Mary Ann Cotton (ne Robson; 31 October 1832 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. According to Mary Ann Cotton, her father was a coal miner. Without James, Mary Ann was destitute and living on the streets. The Messed Up Truth About 19th Century Murderess Mary Ann Cotton. 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. 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. Soon enough, Margaret died of a mysterious gastrointestinal ailment, allowing Mary Ann to get closer to Frederick. 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. However, the first hearing led to Mary Ann's conviction for the death of Charles in March of that year. 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. Someone had either inadvertently or, as some suspect, intentionally miscalculated the drop needed to break her neck and bring death instantaneously. Jungle Jumparoo Vs Monkey Jump. What clouds hung over the family? Lying in bed with her bones all rotten. A court-appointed lawyer put forth the idea that Charles had ingested arsenic through wallpaper, says the RadioTimes. The relationship of Mary Ann and Nattrass didnt last very long. 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. This body count puts her third on the list of most kills by a serial killer in Britain. After her sentencing, Mary Ann Cotton attempted to save herself through various means, from hoping for a pardon to appear to arguing that everyone else in her life had failed her. They married in September 1870, and Frederick died in December 1871 from the ever-present "gastric fever." 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. Their second child George was born on 18 June 1869. 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. As one witness quoted in Mary Ann Cotton put it, Nattrass "died in a fit" and was "in great agony." Margaret had acted as substitute mother for the remaining children, Frederick Jr. and Charles, but in late March 1870 she died from an undetermined stomach ailment, leaving Mary Ann to console the grieving Frederick Sr. Peggy Fossett Net Worth, . Major Highways In The Southwest Region, Riley grew suspicious and alerted the police. Her stepson, Frederick Jr., and Robert, her infant son with Frederick, died early 1872. According to Mary Ann Cotton, Cotton wed Robinson in 1867. Of Mary Ann's 13 children, only two survived her: Margaret Edith (18731954) and her son George from her marriage to James Robinson. 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." On March 24, 1873, Mary Ann was hanged in a bungled execution. As she was sentenced to hang, the second hearing fizzled out. 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. Her mother, Margaret, died after Cotton visited the woman in March 1867. 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. contact the editor here. Sing, sing, oh what should I sing? This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 14:31. The census records, birth, death and marriage records also show no trace of him. 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 . February 27, 2023 endeavor air pilot contract No Comments . Insurance had been effected on his life and those of his sons. The insurance policy Mary Ann had taken out on (the still living) Charles' life still awaited collection. 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. Mary Ann Cotton's trial, for allegedly murdering her stepson Charles, was delayed for several months so that she could give birth. Mary Ann received a life-insurance payment of 5 10s 6d for Isabella. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Meet Mary Ann Cotton, "Britain's first female serial killer" and star of ITV's Dark Angel . 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. Their second child George was born on 18 June 1869. Mary Ann Cotton ( ne Robson; 31 October 1832 - 24 March 1873) was an English convicted murderer who was executed for poisoning her stepson. In late 1890, 17-year-old Margaret married Joseph Fletcher, a south Durham miner, and in 1892, they had a daughter, Clara, who was born at Windlestone. Doctor William Byers Kilburn, who had attended Charles, had kept samples, and tests showed they contained arsenic. Cotton took her daughter, Isabella Jane, who had been living with Margaret, with her. After George Ward's death and the subsequent insurance payment, Britannica reports, Mary Ann Cotton became a housekeeper for widower James Robinson in 1866. 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