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Sometimes our research is made "interesting" by the confusion caused by
alternate spellings of names, recorded ages and the like. For some time we
have had no information about the family of Hannah and James, having found no
significant records after their marriage. However, discovering that James
Robison and his family's surname was often recorded as Robinson led us to an
intriguing, though macabre, story. After a chance finding of the basic story
by David, much of the detailed research on this history was carried out by John
Copley.
Hannah Vawer was born in Sunderland on 18th February
1839. Exactly 16 years to the day, 18th February 1855, she married 22 year old
shipwright James Robison. Their marriage certificate declares Hannah to be 19
years of age, but this was obviously untrue.
Recorded in the 1861 census as living at 11, Church Street, Bishopwearmouth,
Sunderland, James and Hannah had by this time 2 children. William Greenwell
Robison was baptised on 8th March 1857. He had a sister born in 1859 who was
named Elizabeth. These two children are recorded in the census of 1861, being
aged 4 years and 2 years repectively.
After this census a further son was born, James Vawer Robison, baptized
25th October 1861. His father was registered as James Robison and his mother
as Anna (sic) nee Vawer. A daughter Mary Jane Robinson (note that the "n"
has crept into the surname) was then born during 1864 (according to the
1871 census data) and John Robinson was born in 1866.
Hannah died and was buried on 2nd December 1866, and recorded by Durham
Records Office as Hannah Robinson of Pallion, aged 27, wife of James Robinson
shipwright. Husband James with five children to care for, one a baby just 10
months old, took in a housekeeper, a widow by the name of Mary Ann Mowbray.
Mary Ann Mowbray was a nurse. She moved into the Robison/Robinson household on
20th December, 3 weeks after the death of Hannah. She had a daughter, Isabella
Jane Mowbray, who was living with Mary Ann's Mother. Her mother became ill,
and Mary Ann went to be with her. Her mother appeared to improve, but
complained of stomach pains and died in the spring of 1867 just 9 days after
Mary had arrived to be with her. Isabella therefore went back with Mary Ann to
live with James.
On 23rd December 1866, 3 days after Mary Ann's arrival, 10 month old John
died. His death was recorded as the result of Gastric Fever. Mary Ann acted
as a "comforter" to the now twice bereaved James, and as a result became
pregnant by him in Spring of 1867, around the time of her mother's death.
During April of 1867 three of the children died. 6 year old James Robinson
died on 20th April, 8 year old Elizabeth Robinson on 24th April and Isabella
Jane Mowbray around the 30th April. The only two remaining children in the
house therefore were William and Mary Jane. James had lost a wife and 4
children in 6 months, and must have been devastated.
James Robinson married Mary Ann on 11th August 1867 at St Michael's Church,
Bishopwearmouth. He was 34 years of age, and Mary Ann (born 31st October 1832)
was 34. Both fathers are detailed on the marriage certificate, William Robinson,
and Michael Robson, Robson being Mary Ann's maiden name. Their daughter,
Margaret Isabella Robinson, was born on 29th November of 1867 and baptised on
2nd February 1868 Durham Record office records her burial on 1st March 1868
aged 3 months, being "of Pallion, daughter of James Robinson, shipwright."
The couple had a second child, George, who was born 18th June 1869.
Mary Ann became insistant that James took out life insurance, and due to her
persistance James became suspicious of her motives. He discovered that she had
run up debts of £60 behind his back and had stolen more than £50 of money that
she was supposed to have put in the bank. She had also encouraged the children
to pawn household valuables on her behalf. He therefore "kicked her out". She
took their child George with her, but he was returned to James in early 1870.
In the 1871 census, James was living in Roseanna Street in Sunderland with
son William Greenwell, now 14, Mary Jane, his daughter of 7 years, and 1 year
old George. Also recorded was Franes (Frances?) Pratt, a 35 year old lady.
Whether she was just a lodger, a nurse for the children or companion for James
we do not know. However, in 1881 census James still had George, now 11, at
home which was still 14 Roseanna Street, and also a daughter, Alice, aged 9
years. The only other people present at the time were visitors Elizabeth Brown
and her (?) daughter Johanna.
Mary was living on the streets when a friend, Margaret Cotton, introduced
her to her brother, Frederick, who lived at the time in Northumberland.
Frederick was a Pit worker. He was a widower, and had two children, Frederick
Jr. and Charles Edward, who lived with his sister, Margaret. Margaret Cotton
died in March 1870. She had a "stomach complaint" recorded as cause of death.
Frederick was obviously upset, and Mary Ann was there again as his comforter.
As a result they married on 17th September 1870 in St Andrew's Church in
Newcastle on Tyne. At this time she was still married to James Robison/
Robinson. She had happily commited bigamy
Mary Ann persuaded Frederick to take out life insurance and also to move to
West Aukland in County Durham, where she was near to a former lover, Joseph
Natrass. Frederick died in December of that year of Gastric Fever! Her lover
moved in with her as a lodger. She got a job nursing a Customs and Excise
officer recovering from Smallpox. She was soon pregnant again and gave birth
to son Robert.
Frederick Cotton's son, Frederick Jr. died in March 1872, and Robert soon
after. Natrass, her lover, revised his will making a new one out favouring Mary
Ann. He then fell ill and died of Gastric Fever. She had also taken out
insurance on the life of Frederick's son Charles Edward.
She was asked to nurse a lady who was ill with smallpox. The request came
from Thomas Riley, who was not only a parish official but also an assistant
coroner. She complained that she could not look after her "stepson" Charles
Edward, and asked for him to be taken into the Workhouse. She was informed by
Riley that she would have to go into the workhouse too. Riley reported that
Mary Ann told him that Charles was a "sickly" child and that “I won’t be
troubled long. He’ll go like all the rest of the Cottons.” When Charles died
5 days later, Riley was immediately suspicious, and persuaded the doctor to
delay certification of the death. He then requested an investigation into the
cause of death. Mary Ann had apparently not gone to the doctor first after
Charles died, but to the office of the insurers! Mary Ann could not receive an
insurance payout as she had no death certificate. An inquest was held, where
she insisted that she had given Charles Arrowroot to try and treat his problems,
and accused Riley of having been annoyed at her having rejected advances which
he had made to her, his suspicions being therefore personal.
The jury returned a verdict of Natural Causes. However, the interest of the
public had been arroused. Local newspapers began to look into her past, and
discovered the number of deaths associated with her - 3 husbands, her lover,
her mother and a dozen children all who had died of gastric or intestinal
causes.
Before meeting James Robison, and during her marriage to William Mowbray,
Mary Ann had borne William a total of 8 children, 7 of whom had died of Gastric
Fever. They had moved home after the first 4 died taking just one child with
them. 3 more then died leaving only Isabella Jane, who had gone to live with
Mary Ann's mother. On William's death she had collected £35.00 in insurance.
She had after his death married George Ward, one of her patients on 28th August
1865. He continued to suffer ill health and intestinal problems, and died in
October 1866 just a short time before her attachment to James Robison.
After Riley's intervention, the doctor had taken samples from Charles' body.
They were analysed and they were found to be positive for Arsenic. She was
committed for trial, which was delayed while she gave birth to her 13th child
on 10th January 1873. The trial was begun on 5th March 1873. Mary Ann was
found guilty,
After her sentencing she wrote to a number of people asking for their help
to petition for clemency, and several did do so. Among her letters were two to
James Robison |
