Mary Ann Cotton 1839-1873 Durham

[armchair]

the death mask of mary ann cotton was last see at hartlepool in the basement of a museum or library

the last ones that visited mary ann in jail not her stepfather george stott, held the key they where well up in the chapel and church in murton i asked the daughter in-law of one but she said that she had not looked in his belongings, she has since died and her 3 children still have a lot to do with the church and I'm trying to find out where they are living. my 4th great grand father used to nurse mary ann cotton on his knee when she was a child as they all travel around as sinkers also in durham goal a book went missing on the burial places of the prisoners that where hanged and was kept by the vicars this info will be denied

[Withnail]

Thanks for your suggestion Evie.  I'll see if it works.

[Withnail]

Hi Armchair,

Why has the mask ended up in Hartlepool of all places..... I wonder? 

I hope it's being looked after.  I would like to see it, although that sounds a little morbid and from the info on the Mary Ann Cotton website about how she looked after she was take down, it does not sound like we'd get a true picture of how she would have looked anyway. But it would be good to know that it hasn't been lost or even been put into the wrong hands.

As for the family who last visited her in prison... what do you mean " they held the key"?   They held the key as to the situation of the mask and her belongings? 

I don't think that the place where she is buried within the prison would be of any use to anyone anyway, would it?  I hadn't really thought about that until now! Although that book sounds interesting.  I wonder why they would deny having it?

Thanks for your reply
Withnail

[stanmapstone]

I was not aware that posts to the Lighter Side and, the Totally Off Topic don't count. Could not this topic be transferred to the Durham board, then all the posts will count. 

Stan

[armchair]

hi, evie are the douthwaites in your tree from south hetton if so it is possible that there is a clue with mary ann cotton yours armchair

[Evie]

Hi armchair

To be honest I am not up to speed with my Douthwaites. From what I can see at a glance they were from Yorkshire in the early 1800's then moved towards Houghton Le Spring, Ryhope, West Auckland and Brandon and Byshottles. There are some I haven't looked at yet within the family group.

Was there a specific time window you were looking at or a name?

Thank you

Evie

[Robhall84]

Hi Vicky,

We have spoke on GenesReunited before, Im the great grandson of Elizabeth Ramshaw (nee Pearson).

I was going to attend Edna's funeral but had to work but my mother (edna's cousin) went. Edna, is correct, her granmother, my great grandmother was at first married to Joseph Ramshaw and then later married Edward (Ted) Hocksworthin 1926. However i dont know if its correct that the last two children Elizabeth had were Hocksworth's and not Ramshaw's. My grandmother was the last child born by Elizabeth and it would make Edward and not Joseph Ramshaw my Great grandfather. My grandmother's birth cirtificate does state Joseph Ramshaw. But who knows, i have heard that joseph was lost in WW1 at some point and my grandmother was born in 1922!!! so im confused to say the least.

I had never even heard of Mary Ann Cotton but would be interested to find if their is a connection.

Regards Rob

[vickyhouse2002]

Hi Rob,
Yes of course I remember you. It was Edna who mentioned that MAC was related to her family tree which was the Ted Hockworth. I have since been told about him in the census but as yet I have not followed this up.

To Withnail - I have just been reading and catching up with the goings on here and wondering if Michelle could leave out a list of messages and see if MAC leaves any replies. That would be interesting. See if MAC can answer any of our questions - if Michelle has not sold the house and left by now.

This is weird as I know Hartlepool very well. I will ask my friends there, one works for the museum service to see if MAC death mask is still there. I have to just follow this up as it will be so spooky.

Still very interested to see if I can work out my link to MAC and glad to see this thread is still buzying with messages.

Rob - always good to hear from you. PM me soon.

Regards
Vicky   

[vickyhouse2002]

http://www.dur.ac.uk/4schools/Crime/Crimeintro.htm

Mary Ann Cotton for school children history.