A timeline of the murderer, Mary Ann Cotton

1. Mary AnnCottontimeline:
1832, 31st
October: Mary Annisborn
1834: Her sisterMargaret wasborn but haddieda few monthslater.
1835: Her brotherRobertwas born.
1842, February: Mary’s fatherhadfell tohisdeathdowna miningshaft.
1843: Mary’s motherwas remarriedtoGeorge Stott.
1848: At sixteen,Maryhadrun awayfrom home.LivinginSouthHettonshe hadbecome a nurse.
1851: Mary returnedtohermothersand stepfathershome becomingadressmaker.
1852: Mary got marriedtoWilliamMowbrayandtheyhad movedtothe South-Westof England.
1856: Theirdaughter,Margaret Jane wasborn, andtheyhad movedbackto the North-East.
1858: There secondchild,Isabella,wasborn.
1860: Margaret Jane had passedaway.
1861: Margaret Jane the second wasborn.
1863: JohnRobertWilliamwasborn.
1864: Theirson JonRoberthad diedof gastricfever.
1865, January: WilliamMowbrayhaddieddue to an intestinal disorder.Movingtothe Seaham
harboursoon after,a relationshipstartedupbetweenMaryanda man namedJosephNattrass.At
the same time,the 2nd
Margaret Jane had passedawayfromtyphusfever.
ReturningtoSunderland,Maryhadcontinuedherworkof a nurse andhad senther remaining
daughter,Isabella,tolive withhermother.
1865, 28th
August: Mary married hersecondhusband,George Ward,whowas alsoone of her
patients.
1866, 20th
October: George Ward passedawayfrom a longillnessassumedtobe paralysisand
intestinal issues.
1866, November:Mary was hiredasa housekeeperforJamesRobinson.
1866, December:James’babysonJohnhad diedof gastric feverfollowedbyMary Annfalling
pregnant.
1867: Mary’s motherfell ill withhepatitiswithherdaughtercomingstraighttoheraid.
1867, Springtime:Althoughshe wasbeginningto recover,Margarethad died.WithMary’s
stepfathermovingontomarryinghisneighbour,HannahPaley.
1867, April-May:Returningtothe Robinsonswithherdaughter,Isabella,she soonpassedawaywith
stomachpainsfollowedbyJames’remainingtwochildren,ElizabethandJamesJr.
1867, 11th
August: The couple were married.
1867, November:Margaret (Mary) IsabellaRobinsonwasborn.

2. 1868, February: Theirdaughterhadpassedaway.
1869, 18th
June: TheirsonGeorge was born.
1869: Jamesgrewsuspiciousof Mary anddiscoveredshe wasstealingfromhim.Keepingcustodyof
George,he had thrownMary out.
1870: Desperate andhomeless,MarywasintroducedtoFrederickCottonbyhissisterandher
friend,MargaretCotton. Due to the deathof hissister,whilstactingasa substitute mothertohis
remainingtwochildren,FrederickJrandCharles,Mary had fell pregnantwhilstconsolingFrederick.
1870, 17th
September:The two hada bigamousmarriage.
1871, January: Theirson Robertwas born.
1871: Arrangingto rekindle alove withJosephNattrass,FrederickCottonhaddiedof gastricfever.
Movingcloserto him,Nattrassbecame Mary’s lodgerwhilstshe alsotendedto JohnQuick-
Manning/RichardQuickMann.
1872, March: Josephhadpassedawayfromgastricfeveras did FrederickJrand RobertwithMary
fallingpregnantwithJohn/Richardsbaby.Complainingtoa Parishofficial aboutthe lastlivingCotton
boy,CharlesEdward,he had thendiedaweeklaterraisingsuspicion.Hearingof the accusations,the
local newspapershadlatchedontothe storyandstartedpiecingbitstogether.
1872: A scientificinvestigationopenedupleadingtothe arrestof Mary Ann.
1873, 10th
January: Margaret EdithQuick-ManningCottonwasborn.
1873, 5th
March: Afterdelayingthe trial upto several months,itfinallybegunlastingonlyanhour
until the murdererwasdeclaredasguilty.
1873, 24th
March: Mary AnnCottonwas hungto herdeathas punishment.