Find Ancestors

Has anybody ever wondered if they had a killer in the family? I was reading a book this week called " Lady Killers" and there are quite a few in there that were pre 1900. Out of interest I looked on the 1891 to see if I could find one of them and yep she was there in Broadmoor. Here are some names that may of been of interest: Amelia Elizabeth Dyer, Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, Euphrasie Mercier and Christiana Edmunds are amongst the few. Laurie

No, but got a HORSE THIEF. Hung the same time and place as Dick Turpin. Two different kinds of thieves

I think it would be quite interesting to find a murderer from 100 years ago unfortuately somebody I've found in my tree has just committed a murder this year, I'm so glad I didn't try and make contact with him! Tracey

Talking of murders again, at Leicester Record Office the other day I was looking at 2 books with a little story about each hanging that has taken place in England, It was a bit gruesome but interesting aswell.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING SITE, if you fancy looking up some criminals ;) http://www.fred.net/jefalvey/execute.html

I have one. Shot his wife and was hanged at Armley Leeds 1927. Checked it out with the local paper on line and found the front page from that time with all the details and a photograph of the scene of the crime. It even had two bowler hatted detectives door knocking for witnesses and an X marks the spot where the body lay. Another success for the Pierrpont family.(Executioners) I think the Sheriff might stretch my neck if he could find me.

lol ! Robin you are lucky to be able to view your local paper on line.

Hi Laurie, is there anything you could tell me about Amelia Elizabeth Dyer, you mentioned above. Or somewhere that I can read about her please. Thanks, M.

I saw a programme on tv a while ago about a young woman in the 1700's who was hung for murder, her body taken for dissection and they found she was still alive so the surgeons resuscitated her and eventually she was pardoned and went on to live a long life.

Hi Morfydd, Amelia was a "baby farmer" whose work only came to light in 1896. Mothers who didn't want their babies would pay Amelia money to find them a loving home. Instead she would kill them. She used many diferent names and had several short spells in lunatic asylums. One name she used was Mrs Harding and at one point lived with her daughter Polly and son-in-law Arthur Palmer. She eventually hung in Holloway. It doesn't say how old she was or have the date she died. She's in a book called "Lady Killers by Joyce Robins. If you want I can see if she is on the 1901. Laurie

Can't wait till I write the book and tell my snobby aunt, (who cannot believe she is not descended from Royalty), that we have a tried and failed murderess as an ancestress who believed SHE was descended from the kings of Egypt.!! George of Solihull you'd love to read the rest of the papers from B'ham that I received!!!!!!! Marlene

Hi Laurie, Yes I would be grateful for any info, does it say where she was originally from? I would like to find out if she has any connections with my Gloucestershire Dyers. I will certainly look for this book too when I am next in the Town Library. Thanks a lot. M.

On the other side of the coin, does anyone know if there is a list of victims of murder; other than trawling through local newspapers.

I have discovered that a gt gt granduncle of mine was in Broadmoor in the 1881, 91 and 1901 censuses. I don't think he was there for sheepstealing! I am trying to see if I can find more info. He was also in Gloucester Gaol in 1862 with his brother and I have sent off for info about that. Will keep you posted. This is on my mother's side of the family. On my father's side, he had several uncles who became policemen and (hopefully) upheld the law, though one of them left the force saying he couldn't serve God and the devil at the same time! He later ended up in an asylum, so I have insanity on both sides of my family! Helen, who was at Twickenham yesterday to see her team win!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just vistited the site recomended by smiley sammy, and trawling through the executions I noticed a Fredrick Hunter 1890 executed for murdering his wife, And I have a Gt Grandad called Fredrick Hunter who died in Birmingham 1890, I wonder if it was him, if it was it was a very well kept family secret. I will have to investigate now. Patricia

Hi, In this book they do give some of the victims' names. Dorothea Waddingham killed a Mrs Baguley and her daughter (52yrs) Ada Baguley. Amelia Dyers victims were babies that did not have names. One was the daur of Evelina Marman who was a barmaid in Cheltenham and another was a child of Elizabeth Goulding. Mary Pearceys victims were Phoebe Hogg (nee Styles) and her young baby. Christiana Edmunds victim was 4yr old Sidney Barker and another for you: Mary Ann Cottons victims that are known about were Charlie Cotton, Robert Cotton, Frederick Cottonj to name a few!! Laurie

Hi Laurie. I to have a murderess in my family tree, Way back in 1825 a distant cousin Hannah Reed pushed her husband James in the canal at Foxton in Leicester, story has it that at 36 she fell in love with a boy of 18, had a child by him and planned to get rid of the husband to be with her young lover. She hung for her husbands murder. I've seen the reports on the trial and her execution on the Times site. Is she mentioned in the book you have?, as i've heard of the book and wondered whether its worth buying. Michele

Hi Michele, Sorry there is nothing about her in this book. It seems to have a lot of women who committed more than one murder and by methods like poisoning, torture etc. Laurie

Hi Laurie, Thanks for looking, certainly sounds like there were a lot of wicked women around in those days Michele

Hi Morfydd, Sorry for the delay, I cannot see her on the 1901 so she may have been executed before then. There is one more thing I can try and that is going through one of the prison's lists from 1901 and see if I can see her. Her name may of been mis transcribed. I also looked for her daur and s-i-law on various census' but nothing. (But it is quite hard as there are no ages for any of them in this book) Laurie