Mary Ann Cotton 1839-1873 Durham

[Withnail]

So IS anyone related to her? !

More importantly, does anyone think she was guilty of all of the "murders" or does anyone think that she may have been poorly and needed some help?  I think a lot of things, but I change my mind each time I read something else about her!

[vickyhouse2002]

Hi Withnail,
I have just got a copy of Tony Whitehead's book as well. It still does not answer the question for me of how Mary Ann Cotton is related to Edward Hockworth who I have been told was a relation.
Or to the Crane/Reed families who also lived in Seaham at the same time. I am searching the book for answers but until I go through the censuses one by one I don't think I will find out.
I am still looking for a Hockworth/Reed marriage.
Still digging.
Vicky

[Withnail]

Hey Vicky,

No I had a look through the book and couldn't see any links???

Did you see the Martina Cole programme about her? It was "interesting"!! (That's me being kind!)

[vickyhouse2002]

Hi Withnail,
Yes I taped it as well just incase was mentioned. MAC had two children survive her says the book. One was born while she was in prison. If you want any relatives it's worth researching these two children.

I did find a website online from a young lady who's surname was Hockiday and wondering if Hockworth was Hockiday instead. This lady does have a website about the MAC story.I can't remember if she had a contact details.

Vicky

[Withnail]

Here's a question.... has anyone researched Quick-Manning the supposed father of Mary Ann's baby?

I've looked into him and there is no record of him at all.  No birth certificate and no death certificate.  No family.  I have tried all variations of the name and still nothing.  I am thinking he didn't exist.

Any views on this?!

[vickyhouse2002]

He did have a profession. I will have to have a look at the book again. If he was a professional man he should of left some sort of paper trail. Maybe looking at offical records hidden away may find some proof he exisited. Or maybe you could write to the author of the book and see what he says.

What exactly have you researched maybe there is something missing.

Vicky 

[vickyhouse2002]

http://shildonlynn.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/maryanncotton.pdf

John Quick- Manning Excise Officer some mention of West Auckland Brewery on this website.
Maybe looking at their records may find a mention of him.

Type in Quick-Manning into Google and see what come up.

Vicky

[Matt R]

This may help.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4197585


Note where it says about a quarter down the page, that

"Mary Ann Cotton's childhood was not a happy one. Her father had died falling into a mineshaft when she was eight, and she only narrowly escaped the workhouse because her mother remarried. Leaving behind the hard discipline of her stepfather at the age of 16, Mary Ann brought with her the one valuable lesson that money had to keep on coming in, no matter what the method".

Mary Ann is estimated to have been born in autumn 1832, so it may be that her father was dead before the 1841 census was taken. Thus no records of him. Hmmmm I'm gonna have a wee scrounge for him too...

Reaybo

[stanmapstone]

This may help.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4197585



Mary Ann is estimated to have been born in autumn 1832, so it may be that her father was dead before the 1841 census was taken. Thus no records of him. Hmmmm I'm gonna have a wee scrounge for him too...

Reaybo

Tony Whitehead's book has a facsimile of the page from the parish register showing her baptism 11th November 1832, and also the the page from the 1841 census showing her father and the rest of the family in East Murton.

Stan