Cotton, Mary Ann (1822–1873)

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Cotton, Mary Ann (1822–1873)

English murderer. Name variations: Mary Ann Mowbray. Born Mary Ann Robson in East Rainton, near Durham, England, 1822 (some sources cite 1833); hanged at Durham Co. jail, Mar 24, 1873; m. William Mowbray; m. George Ward (also seen as Wade); m. John Robinson; bigamously m. Frederick Cotton (died Sept 19, 1871); children: (1st m.) 5; (3rd m.) 1 and 4 stepchildren; (4th m.) 1 and 2 stepsons; (with an excise officer named Quick-Manning) 1; possibly others.

Britain's 1st female serial killer, used arsenic to poison an estimated 15 to 20 victims while often benefiting from their wills and insurance; ultimately suspected in deaths of husbands (except for John Robinson), her children (possibly as many as 10), a handful of stepchildren, a lover, a sister-in-law, and her own mother; finally charged with murder after death of stepson Charles Edward Cotton; tried at Durham Assizes for his murder, found guilty and hanged (1873).