Here is some of the info Kindly found by the wonderful Monicaleslie and typed up by her for all that may be interested, (thanks again ML !)
Mary Elizabeth Wilson was born, according to the Police Report, on 11 June 1889 (she says 1891) at Annfield Plain, County Durham. Her father was a coal miner.
She had a rather elementary education leaving school when she was 12.
She then went to work as a domestic servant. At first in public houses but later at Tanfield Vicarage for two years and at a farm at Medomsley for about 5 years. She then moved to Jarrow-on-Tyne as a general domestic worker to Mr Knowles, a small grocer. A few weeks later, she says, she married her employer’s son, Mr John Knowles, her first husband.
She is apparently uncertain about the date of her first marriage. She had told me that this took place 45 years ago and in December 1914.
She had six children by this marriage but two died in infancy from whoop cough, she says.........
Source: Medical Report to the DPP – 27 February 1958, H.M. Prison Durham
Mary Elizabeth Cassidy Sep 1889 Lanchester 10a 287 – the one we had as hot tip to the top!
Possible marriage for parents:
Marriages 2nd Qrt 1878
John Cassidy in Lanchester Vol. 10a Pg. 393 – two Marys as possible bride: Mary Raigon or Mary Ward. Possibly Raigon if you see this entry in 1861 Class: RG9; Piece: 3730; Folio: 48; Page: 12
The family we had found headed up by a John and Mary. Father John shows as a coke drawer in both 1891 and 1901. Daughter Mary born c. 1889, indexed as Mary L in 1891 and then more clearly in 1901 as Mary E Cassidy in 1901. All the family show as born in Catchgate Durham, except father John with an Irish birth.
John Cassedy 33
Polly Cassedy 33
John Cassedy 12
James Cassedy 10
Kate Cassedy 6
Mary L Cassedy 2
Michael Regan 30, boarder
RG12; Piece: 4088; Folio 23; Page 3
The family in 1901 in Dipton, Durham (RD Lanchester):
John Cassidy 41, coke drawer
Mary Cassidy 42 - shows as Polly in 1891
John Cassidy 21, coal miner
Kate Cassidy 15
Mary E Cassidy 11
Margaret Cassidy 8
Andrew Cassidy 3
RG13; Piece: 4666; Folio: 182; Page: 23
From the 1911 Census entries I viewed today:
Mary showing as Elizabeth Cassidy is living alone at 3 Prospect Terrace, Annfield Plain. Aged 21 and a domestic servant, b. Catchgate, Durham. She has signed the census form as E. Cassidy. The ‘E’ matches exactly the E she signed in her letters from Holloway Prison in future years.
Her family I think also in Annfield Plain, 10 Dufxxxx Terrace:
John Cassidy, 32, married c. 1903, a coal miner heaver, b. Durham
Elizabeth Cassidy, 26, b. Epsom Surrey
Mary Jane Cassidy, 4, b. Brooms Parish Durham
John Cassidy, 2, b. Stanley Parish Durham
Lawrence Cassidy, 3 months, b. Stanley Parish Durham
John Cassidy, boarder, widower, miner shifter, b. Limerick Ireland
Andrew Cassidy, boarder’s son, 14, miner stoker, b. Brooms Parish Durham
Kate Cassidy, boarder’s daughter, 26, b. Brooms Parish Durham Jumping back to 1881, before Mary’s birth, in Catchgate
John Cassidy 25, lab. in a coke yard (burner)
Mary Cassidy 23 b. Collierley, Durham, England
John Cassidy 1, b. Kyo Durham
Class: RG11; Piece: 4943; Folio: 7; Page: 8
Mary already had form prior to her later offences:
Lanchester P. Court: 25.05.11 – Larceny: 14 Days
Lanchester P. Court: 09.08.11 – False Pretences. Larceny (2): 2 & 1 mos. Consec. 1 month conct
