Victorian Murderess by Paige Temperley

The tale of Mary Ann Cotton, the Victorian Murderess, is a dark one. Widely believed to be one of the UKs only female serial killers, it is likely she killed 11 of her 13 children and three of her four husbands for their insurance policies. Her preferred choice of killing was poison. Mary lived some of her life in Sunderland, marrying at St Peters Church and is believed to have lived on Low Street for some of her life- and this is the version of history we have chosen to believe! Mary was eventually caught, convicted and hanged at Durham Gaol in 1873.

Lyrics Young Mary Ann Cotton born and bred in Low Moorsley Came into the world on the day of Halloween She’d grow up to marry first William Mowbray Off they’d fleet to the town of Devon by the sea There she birthed 5 children sadly 4 would not survive She said a wave of Gastric fever took them out before their time On return to her home town 4 more would live and die Including Mr Mowbray life insured for 35 She said…

Chorus Tra la la la la la la What’s a little kill? I’ll boil that tea until we see another one fall ill Tra la la la la la la Whoever could be next? I’ll cash those cheques and clear my debts A Victorian Murderess

Verse 2 Just a short while later down at the infirmary Working as a nurse she’d meet her next husband to be At St. Peters church to Mr George Ward she would wed A mere 14 months later, insurance claimed, he was dead

One month on now she’d become a housekeeper to James - A widower with a young family and a keen writer of a plays 6 funerals and a wedding now thats what the story says He’d claim custody of their living child and send her on her way She said…

Chorus Tra la la la la la la What’s another kill? I’ll boil that tea until we see another one fall ill Tra la la la la la la Whoever could be next? I’ll cash those cheques and clear my debts A Victorian Murderess

Verse 3 Next came Frederick Cotton, unlucky number 4 Now Mary was a biggomist who never was divorced Again pregnant she fell, now with baby number 12 Ol’ Frederick would get stomach pains and soon become unwell

She lined up a lover by the name of Joe Natrass He’d soon meet his fate as a more sickly fella passed Enter Mr Quick-Manning suffering from the small pox Another two bodies were soon carried out in a box She said…

Chorus Tra la la la la la la What’s another kill? I’ll boil that tea until we see another one fall ill Tra la la la la la la Whoever could be next? I’ll cash those cheques and clear my debts A Victorian Murderess

Verse 4 Soon down at the workhouse she’d try to leave her step child Clashing with Thomas Riley who told her request denied ‘I won’t be troubled with him much longer’ she would say Leaving Riley suspicious when young Charles would fade away

Alt Chorus Tra la la la la la la Mary was put on trail Found guilty of the murder of her very own stepchild Tra la la la la la la Sentenced now to death A hanging was the fate Of the Victorian Murderess